Security in Manufacturing Systems in the Age of Industry 4.0: Pitfalls and Possibilities

Abstract

The manufacturing industry is swiftly entering Industry 4.0, wherein the supply chains, operations, factories and customers are becoming digitally interconnected. This interconnection, coupled with advanced automation driven by technologies such as robotics, cloud computing, artificial intelligence and big data, makes the manufacturing systems increasingly vulnerable to cyber-attacks. The motive and impact of these attacks may vary, but all such attacks cost time and money to the manufacturers and their customers. If these challenges are not adequately addressed, Industry 4.0’s true potential may never be realized. It is, therefore, imperative for the manufacturers to have a well-designed mitigation plan in place to secure their systems from such attacks. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to explore the numerous possibilities offered by these advanced technologies and also to identify the pitfalls in the existing security measures of manufacturing systems. The study also focuses on evaluating the level of awareness and preparedness for potential future cyber-attacks. Based on the findings, the study suggests several strategies to mitigate these attacks, which would possibly serve as a valuable reference for practitioners and other researchers.