Rising Cyber Threats in Manufacturing: Velo3D Highlights Crucial Security Statistics

Velo3D published an interesting set of statistics regarding security in additive manufacturing.

Security is often an afterthought by managers that are primarily seeking to “just get the work done”, but it is actually quite important.

Security is not something that is encountered everyday, but rather in distinct incidents. The impact of those incidents occurring can be quite catastrophic, although they may happen rarely. The low risk of occurrence mistakenly leads some to leave the topic of security at a low priority.

What is the risk, exactly? There are several:

• Data can be exposed to the public, revealing customer information and innovations
• Data can be stolen by competitors and other countries, compromising projects and capabilities
• Operations can be altered, leading to incorrect results
• Operations can be shut down

That last one is perhaps the biggest risk. I’m sure you’ve read stories of hospitals, banks and other companies being shut down due to ransomeware attacks. In these situations, malware somehow gets onto internal networks and either delete or encrypts enough data to stop operations. The organization is then asked to pay a ransom for release of the files, typically using anonymous and untraceable cryptocurrencies. In some cases, payment is accepted, but decryption does not occur.

Velo3D explained that their systems adhere to the “most stringent cybersecurity standards set by the U.S. Department of Defense”, something that not all 3D printer manufacturers have yet achieved. This would minimize the risk potential for operations involving their equipment.

However, their recent post listed a number of disturbing trends, which include the following:

• 57% of manufacturers have experienced a cybersecurity incident in the past year
• The number of cyberattacks targeting industrial control systems (ICS) grew by 500% in 2022
• The number of cyberattacks targeting industrial control systems (ICS) grew by 500% in 2022
• Estimated cost of a cybersecurity incident in
• manufacturing is now US$4.2M
• The US accounted for 25% of all ransomware attacks globally in 2022
• Only 59% of encrypted data was recovered after cyberattacks in the manufacturing sector, with the average remediation cost exceeding a million dollars
• Data breaches led to an increase in pricing of business offerings for 57% of companies

These are serious statistics, and if your company has not yet experienced an attack, it surely will in 2024.

The message here is that 3D printer manufacturers provide some of the infrastructure used by companies, and it’s critical that this portion be capable of cyber defense.

Does your company apply sufficient security precautions? Is your equipment able to handle cyber attacks? What security certifications have been obtained?

If these questions haven’t yet been asked, perhaps they should be.

Via Velo3D