CHICAGO — July 22, 2020 — Less than 40% of respondents in Sikich’s 2020 Manufacturing and Distribution Report said they perform important data breach prevention activities, such as penetration testing, phishing exercises on employees and assessments of vendors’ data security efforts. However, manufacturers and distributors remain vulnerable to breaches. Nearly half of respondents said their companies experienced cyberattacks during the past 12 months.
“Cybersecurity is an essential part of a company’s operations, but too few manufacturers and distributors take the necessary precautions to protect sensitive data,” said Brad Lutgen, partner-in-charge of Sikich’s cybersecurity team. “The coronavirus pandemic, which sent many office workers to insecure remote environments, has only elevated the risk these companies face. Manufacturers and distributors must commit to a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy that includes everything from technical updates to employee training.”
