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Almost a third of company heads have witnessed a marked rise in cyber-attacks targeting their supply chains during the previous half-year, as high-profile digital attacks on well-known companies have underscored this expanding risk to modern businesses.

Digital risks move up concern rankings for procurement managers

Cybersecurity threats have climbed the list of concerns for purchasing directors at numerous organizations internationally across multiple industries including production, utilities and technology, according to latest professional survey carried out in September.

Major digital attacks result in substantial financial losses

Latest cyber attacks at several well-known businesses have led to financial impacts of tens of millions of pounds, moving digital security from being mainly the focus of IT departments to becoming a significant preoccupation for senior management and top executives.

The nature of international commerce, the way we view global supply chains and the digital logistics landscape are ever more connected,

commented a senior professional association head.

Global considerations add to logistics concerns

In the first half, supply chain managers were particularly anxious about geopolitical instability, including ongoing disputes in various areas, along with commercial regulations that impacted worldwide business.

However, online attacks are now competing with geopolitical shocks and tariff disputes as the primary danger for members of international trade associations.

Study indicates widespread consequences

The study revealed that nearly 30% of managers reported that businesses within their supply chains had been attacked by security breaches in previous months.

Significant automotive effects

One prominent vehicle producer experienced manufacturing stoppages and was unable to manufacture cars for a full month, following a digital breach that required the business to turn off computer systems across various global facilities.

The financial consequences of this 30-day factory closure at the United Kingdom's primary vehicle producer has been calculated at approximately one hundred twenty million pounds in foregone income, or one point seven billion pounds in missed sales, according to university research from a commercial economics expert.

Current worldwide examples

In late September, a well-known Asian beverage company became the most recent corporation to be compelled to cease operations at its local plants following a security incident.

The organization, which maintains numerous production facilities in its home country producing beer and other products, reported that its sales management systems, along with delivery systems and call center operations, had been halted following a systems outage resulting from the cyber-attack.

Expanding connectivity produces weaknesses

Organizations are increasingly enabled by external entities. No longer exist the era of considering an organization as an entity functioning in independence.

Latest high-profile digital breaches have acted as a important lesson to businesses to devote funding to robust cybersecurity measures, to secure their internal functions and retain customer confidence, prompting them to analyze how their supply chains could become potential focus points for hackers.