Made Smarter Yorkshire, the Government-backed technology adoption programme, has launched a new £400,000 cyber security initiative to help SME manufacturers protect their people, systems and operations as factories become increasingly digital and connected.
The Government-funded pilot is being delivered with Sheffield Hallam University and will create Cyber Security Champions inside Yorkshire businesses, giving employees the skills and confidence to spot threats, encourage safer working practices and build stronger cyber defences.
Launching in September, manufacturers will be able to access four levels of fully funded support, ranging from basic cyber awareness through to internationally recognised ISO 27001 accreditation.
The Yorkshire pilot could also help shape how cyber security support is delivered through Made Smarter across England.
The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), the part of GCHQ which protects the UK from cyber threats, has warned of a growing risk to the UK, with nationally significant incidents more than doubling in its latest published annual figures.
Government research has found that a cyber attack costs a UK business an average of £190,000, contributing to an annual economic cost of £14.7 billion.
For manufacturers, the stakes can be particularly high. Digital technology now connects everything from machinery and production systems to suppliers and customers, meaning a cyber incident can quickly become much more than an IT problem. It can stop production, delay orders and increase costs.
People are also central to cyber security. While threats continue to evolve, human error remains the most common cause of security incidents, making awareness and safer working practices vital to protecting a business.
Research by Make UK, the manufacturers' organisation, found that nearly one in three manufacturers had experienced a serious cyber incident, either directly or through their supply chain, in the previous 12 months.
It also identified affordability and a lack of awareness of available support as the biggest barriers to improving cyber resilience and called for support to be easier for SMEs to navigate, including embedding cyber resilience training into digital adoption programmes such as Made Smarter.
Jessica Armitage, programme manager for Made Smarter Yorkshire (pictured) said: “Cyber attacks are no longer something manufacturers can afford to think will happen to somebody else. Digital technology is creating huge opportunities, but the more connected a business becomes, the more important it is that cyber security develops alongside it.
“This isn't simply an IT problem. An attack can stop production, delay orders, increase costs and disrupt customers and suppliers. For smaller manufacturers, one of the biggest challenges can simply be knowing where to start.
“That's why we've made this support fully funded and accessible to businesses at different stages of their journey. We want to help manufacturers take that first step, develop people who can champion cyber security within their business, and provide a pathway to keep strengthening their resilience.”
Dharmendra Shadija, Head of School, School Of Computing and Digital Technologies, Sheffield Hallam University, added: “We are delighted to be working with Made Smarter Yorkshire to help manufacturers build the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to protect their businesses.
“Our experts in cyber security, digital forensics and organisational change will help businesses understand the risks they face and, just as importantly, develop people who can champion safer working practices and make cyber awareness part of everyday working life.”
The cyber security support will also connect manufacturers into the wider Made Smarter programme, including specialist advice and consultancy, digital roadmaps, skills and leadership development, internships and, where appropriate, grants towards new technology.
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