Ransomware is the new omnipresent cybersecurity threat to manufacturing – all security attacks that took down automation operations since 2020 were targeted ransomware. Ransomware is a threat to manufacturers as it can halt production and disrupt day-to-day operations. With the digital transformation of the manufacturing process, cyber risk management and cyber risks are constantly changing as threat landscapes and attack surfaces expand, requiring security visibility into all IT, OT, and IoT systems across all facilities.

Temperature-sensitive products like vaccines, drugs, chemicals, or foods like seafood, meat, or dairy, require temperature-controlled environments across their entire supply chain. A slight fluctuation in temperature and the whole batch of products may be spoiled or damaged completely.

Commuter, subway, light rail, and high-speed passenger rail systems are popular modes of mass transportation and are particularly important for cities undergoing rapid urbanization. Rail system digitalization provides many advantages like automated train control (ATC), predictive maintenance, vehicle tracking, and automated fuel and fleet management to ensure maximum security, safety and efficiency of operations.

Current IT monitoring systems are not designed to operate in challenging and dangerous environments, such as the ones found in underground mines. They won’t tolerate dust, high/low temperatures, humidity, or explosions. If a device were to withstand such conditions, providing reliable and fast communications to various dispersed in-field sensors, video cameras is still a pretty challenging endeavor.

Electrical power consumption continues to grow at a rapid pace globally, and therefore it is essential to efficiently manage power distribution to ensure reliability and reach. The development of remote substation control and automation has become fundamental to the operation of the electricity network.  

The landscape of web threats has grown significantly, and as enterprises migrate to the cloud and expand their remote sites/branch locations, providing open always-connected access to the internet leaves the company vulnerable to several threats, such as malware, fraud, and other complications. Many organizations are realizing that the risk is especially high for web-based threats, and a more advanced and integrated approach is needed to secure against external and internal risks.

To stay in pace with the ever-increasing user expectation for instant access to information, service providers and businesses need the agility to scale on demand and launch new products and services as quickly as they are requested. Open architecture like Open RAN can provide more flexibility and cost-effective deployment options for operators and enterprises.