As manufacturers advance smart operations, the integration between IT and OT increases the risk of cyberattacks. Manufacturers are beginning to use artificial intelligence (AI) to help manage these risks to strengthen protection.
This is according to a new report from Rockwell Automation, which is based on feedback from 1,560 respondents from 17 of the top manufacturing countries with roles from management up to the C-suite.
The survey was conducted in association with Sapio Research. It sampled from a range of industries including consumer packaged goods, food and beverage, automotive, semiconductor, energy, life sciences and more.
Key findings from the Asia-Pacific region show that 94% of APAC manufacturers have invested in or plan to invest in AI/ML and Generative or Causal AI over the next five years.
Among APAC businesses, 46% believe AI/ML will help address workforce shortages, while 42% are adding or using technology to create more engaging jobs.
Also, 47% of APAC manufacturers said quality control is the top use-case for AI, followed by cybersecurity (44%) and process optimization (43%).
Further, 95% of APAC manufacturers said cybersecurity practices and standards are moderately to extremely important, but 28% cited lack of leadership awareness or underestimation of cybersecurity threats as a key challenge.
“Our latest research confirms what we’re seeing firsthand: Cyber risk is now one of the top threats to manufacturing growth.,” said Stephen Ford, VP and CISO at Rockwell Automation.
“As IT and OT become more connected, the attack surface is expanding. You can’t protect tomorrow’s enterprise with yesterday’s tools,” said Ford. “AI is a critical part of the modern security stack, enabling manufacturers to detect threats in real time, maintain productivity, and stay ahead in an increasingly aggressive threat landscape.”
Workforce development continues to be a major hurdle. A shortage of skilled talent, training challenges and rising labor costs remain significant barriers to competition.
As manufacturers recruit the next generation, cybersecurity and analytical skills are also becoming hiring priorities, reinforcing the need to align technical innovation with human development.
“Cybersecurity has become a business enabler,” said Ford. “It’s no longer just about preventing threats, it’s about empowering transformation with confidence. The most forward-thinking manufacturers are proactively leveraging advanced technologies like AI to stay ahead of evolving risks.”
