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Almost a third of corporate leaders have observed a noticeable increase in digital intrusions targeting their distribution systems during the past six months, as recent digital attacks on well-known companies have highlighted this increasing danger to modern businesses.

Digital risks climb priority lists for supply chain executives

Cybersecurity threats have moved up the hierarchy of priorities for supply chain executives at multiple businesses worldwide across various industries including manufacturing, utilities and tech, according to recent professional survey performed in September.

Major security breaches result in significant economic damage

Current cyber attacks at several prominent companies have cost them millions of pounds, moving online protection from being mostly the responsibility of IT departments to becoming a primary preoccupation for senior management and top executives.

The essence of international commerce, the manner in which we look at international logistics networks and the online logistics landscape are ever more interconnected,

stated a prominent sector leader.

International considerations compound logistics worries

Earlier this year, purchasing directors were particularly worried about geopolitical instability, including continuing conflicts in various areas, along with commercial regulations that weighed on global commerce.

Nevertheless, cyber threats are now competing with global tensions and trade disagreements as the most significant risk for organizations of international trade associations.

Survey shows extensive impact

The study discovered that almost one-third of managers indicated that organizations within their logistics networks had been compromised by cyber incidents in previous months.

Major automotive impact

A notable automotive manufacturer experienced factory closures and was found itself incapable to manufacture cars for an entire month, following a cyber-attack that forced the company to disable digital infrastructure across various global facilities.

The financial consequences of this 30-day manufacturing halt at Britain's largest automotive employer has been calculated at approximately one hundred twenty million pounds in missed earnings, or 1.7 billion pounds in foregone income, according to expert assessment from a commercial economics academic.

Recent global incidents

During the autumn, a prominent international drinks manufacturer became the most recent organization to be forced to cease operations at its home country facilities following a cyber-attack.

The company, which maintains several production facilities in Japan producing drinks and additional items, reported that its sales management systems, along with shipping operations and client support functions, had been disrupted following a systems outage triggered by the digital intrusion.

Increasing interconnectedness produces risks

Companies are increasingly enabled by external entities. Gone are the times of thinking an business as an unit working in independence.

Latest high-profile digital breaches have acted as a important lesson to organizations to allocate resources to strong online protection systems, to safeguard their business activities and retain client faith, encouraging them to analyze how their supply chains could become likely targets for digital attackers.