Cybersecurity Emerges as Top Growth Obstacle for Industrial Firms
Event summary
- Rockwell Automation's study of 1,560 industrial decision-makers found 35% view cybersecurity as a top growth obstacle.
- 46% of organizations experienced a cyber incident in the past year, yet 90% claim confidence in their cybersecurity posture.
- 62% have invested in cybersecurity platforms, ranking it second-highest for ROI among technology investments.
- 45% plan to integrate AI/ML into cybersecurity efforts within the next 12 months.
The big picture
As industrial firms accelerate digital transformation, the convergence of IT and OT systems is creating new cybersecurity vulnerabilities. Rockwell Automation's findings highlight how cybersecurity is becoming a strategic differentiator, with firms recognizing its direct impact on operational continuity and competitive advantage. The integration of AI into cybersecurity defenses represents both an opportunity and a challenge as organizations seek to balance innovation with risk management.
What we're watching
- Confidence Gap
- How the disconnect between high incident rates and organizational confidence will impact cybersecurity spending.
- AI Integration
- The pace at which AI/ML adoption in cybersecurity will translate to measurable risk reduction.
- IT/OT Convergence
- Whether securing IT/OT architecture can deliver the promised business outcomes amid rising vulnerabilities.