Honeywell Survey Shows Low Adoption of Industrial Cyber Security Measures

A new study showing industrial companies are not moving quickly to adopt cyber security measures to protect their data and operations, even as attacks have increased around the globe, was released by Honeywell in a Dec. 6, 2017 press release. The survey, “Putting Industrial Cyber Security at the Top of the CEO Agenda,” was conducted by LNS Research and sponsored by Honeywell.

The survey polled 130 strategic decision makers from industrial companies about their approach to the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and their use of industrial cyber security technologies and practices. Among the findings were:

• More than half of respondents reported working in an industrial facility that already has had a cyber security breach.

• 45% of the responding companies still do not have an accountable enterprise leader for cyber security.

• Only 37% are monitoring for suspicious behavior.

• Although many companies are conducting regular risk assessments, 20% are not doing them at all.

“Decision makers are more aware of threats, and some progress has been made to address them, but this report reinforces that cyber-security fundamentals haven’t been adopted by a significant portion of the industrial community,” said Jeff Zindel, vice-president and general manager, Honeywell Industrial Cyber Security, in the press release. “In order to take advantage of the tremendous benefits of industrial digital transformation and IIoT, companies must improve their cyber-security defenses and adapt to the heightened threat landscape now.”

Honeywell recommends that industrial organizations make industrial cyber security part of digital transformation strategies, get external help if needed, empower leaders, and break down silos between informational technology and operational technology organizations.

“Cyber security needs to be part of every CEO’s agenda to ensure the effective, immediate, and long-term deployment of strategies and technologies such as IIoT,” said Matthew Littlefield, president and principal analyst, LNS Research. “In short, in order for a business to succeed on its digital transformation journey, it needs to succeed with industrial cyber security.”

Source: Honeywell