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Almost 30% of corporate leaders have reported a marked rise in cyber-attacks targeting their supply chains during the past six months, as high-profile digital attacks on well-known companies have underscored this increasing danger to modern businesses.

Online security issues climb worry scales for purchasing directors

Digital security concerns have advanced the ranking of priorities for procurement managers at numerous companies internationally across diverse industries including production, energy and tech, according to recent sector analysis carried out in the ninth month.

High-profile security breaches lead to significant economic damage

Recent digital intrusions at various prominent businesses have cost them substantial sums of pounds, transitioning online protection from being primarily the concern of IT departments to becoming a primary preoccupation for executive leadership and top executives.

The nature of global trade, the manner in which we look at global supply chains and the online logistics landscape are progressively interconnected,

commented a senior industry executive.

Global elements intensify logistics concerns

In the first half, supply chain managers were particularly anxious about geopolitical instability, including continuing conflicts in multiple parts of the world, along with trade policies that impacted global commerce.

Nevertheless, digital security risks are now matching geopolitical shocks and trade disagreements as the primary threat for participants of global business groups.

Research shows broad impact

The survey found that almost one-third of managers reported that businesses within their logistics networks had been targeted by security breaches in previous months.

Substantial car manufacturing consequences

A notable automotive manufacturer experienced manufacturing stoppages and was found itself incapable to manufacture cars for a full month, following a digital breach that forced the business to turn off computer systems across various international locations.

The monetary effect of this month-long factory closure at Britain's largest vehicle producer has been calculated at approximately 120 million pounds in lost profits, or 1.7 billion pounds in foregone income, according to expert assessment from a business economics academic.

Latest worldwide cases

More recently, a prominent Japanese brewing group became the most recent organization to be required to stop production at its domestic factories following a cyber-attack.

The company, which manages multiple industrial sites in its home country producing drinks and additional items, reported that its transaction handling functions, along with shipping operations and customer service services, had been halted following a network disruption triggered by the cyber-attack.

Expanding interconnectedness generates weaknesses

Companies are increasingly assisted by partner companies. No longer exist the times of thinking an business as an entity functioning in separation.

Recent prominent cyber-attacks have acted as a strong reminder to companies to allocate resources to comprehensive digital defences, to secure their internal functions and maintain consumer trust, encouraging them to examine how their supply chains could become likely focus points for digital attackers.