🔗 Share this article Approximately a third of business leaders note increase in digital threats on distribution systems Roughly 30% of company heads have witnessed a marked increase in online breaches targeting their supply chains during the past six months, as recently reported security incidents on well-known companies have highlighted this increasing risk to today's organizations. Cyber threats rise worry scales for supply chain executives Digital security concerns have advanced the hierarchy of concerns for procurement managers at numerous organizations internationally across multiple industries including industrial, power and technology, according to latest industry research carried out in the ninth month. High-profile cyber incidents lead to substantial economic damage Latest digital intrusions at multiple well-known corporations have resulted in losses of millions of money, moving digital security from being primarily the focus of IT departments to becoming a primary concern for executive leadership and company directors. The nature of international commerce, how we look at global supply chains and the online logistics landscape are ever more linked, stated a senior professional association head. Global factors compound supply chain anxieties In the first half, purchasing directors were particularly anxious about international tensions, including persistent disputes in several parts of the world, along with international tariff measures that weighed on global commerce. However, cyber threats are now competing with global tensions and trade disagreements as the main danger for participants of international trade associations. Study indicates widespread impact The study revealed that 29% of directors reported that companies within their distribution systems had been targeted by cyber incidents in recent months. Significant automotive impact A notable car company experienced production shutdowns and was found itself incapable to produce vehicles for an entire month, following a digital breach that required the organization to turn off IT networks across several global facilities. The economic impact of this four-week manufacturing halt at the UK's biggest automotive employer has been calculated at approximately £120 million in lost profits, or £1.7 billion in missed sales, according to university research from a business economics academic. Latest global examples More recently, a major international drinks manufacturer became the newest business to be required to stop production at its domestic factories following a cyber-attack. The corporation, which operates several industrial sites in Japan producing alcoholic beverages and other products, reported that its order processing capabilities, along with shipping operations and client support operations, had been interrupted following a systems outage caused by the cyber-attack. Growing connectivity generates weaknesses Organizations are increasingly supported by partner companies. Have disappeared the days of thinking an organization as an entity functioning in independence. Recent major security incidents have functioned as a clear warning to businesses to devote funding to robust online protection systems, to protect their business activities and preserve customer confidence, prompting them to examine how their distribution systems could become likely objectives for digital attackers.