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Roughly one-third of corporate leaders have witnessed a marked surge in cyber-attacks targeting their logistics networks during the last six-month period, as high-profile digital attacks on major corporations have underscored this growing risk to today's organizations.

Cyber threats move up worry scales for procurement managers

Cybersecurity threats have advanced the hierarchy of worries for purchasing directors at numerous organizations worldwide across diverse sectors including industrial, utilities and tech, according to latest professional survey conducted in September.

High-profile digital attacks cause considerable monetary impacts

Latest digital intrusions at multiple prominent companies have led to financial impacts of millions of pounds, transitioning cyber resilience from being mainly the focus of technology teams to becoming a significant preoccupation for corporate boards and company directors.

The nature of global trade, the way we consider worldwide distribution systems and the digital logistics landscape are ever more linked,

commented a senior professional association head.

Geopolitical elements add to supply chain concerns

Earlier this year, procurement executives were particularly worried about global conflicts, including persistent tensions in several regions, along with trade policies that weighed on worldwide business.

Nevertheless, digital security risks are now matching geopolitical shocks and trade disagreements as the most significant risk for participants of worldwide commercial organizations.

Research shows widespread impact

The research found that almost one-third of executives stated that businesses within their distribution systems had been compromised by cyber incidents in recent months.

Significant automotive impact

A notable car company experienced production shutdowns and was found itself incapable to manufacture cars for four weeks, following a cyber-attack that compelled the company to disable computer systems across several overseas operations.

The economic impact of this 30-day manufacturing halt at the United Kingdom's primary car manufacturer has been calculated at approximately one hundred twenty million pounds in foregone income, or 1.7 billion pounds in foregone income, according to university research from a commercial economics professor.

Latest international incidents

In late September, a well-known Japanese brewing group became the latest organization to be required to halt manufacturing at its home country facilities following a digital breach.

The company, which operates multiple manufacturing plants in the Asian nation producing drinks and various goods, announced that its order processing capabilities, along with delivery systems and client support services, had been interrupted following a technical failure resulting from the digital intrusion.

Increasing connectivity produces weaknesses

Businesses are increasingly assisted by external entities. Have disappeared the days of viewing an company as an unit functioning in isolation.

Latest high-profile security incidents have functioned as a strong reminder to organizations to invest in robust online protection systems, to safeguard their internal functions and maintain client faith, prompting them to investigate how their distribution systems could become potential objectives for cyber criminals.