61% of Cybersecurity Professionals Plan AI Adoption as Manufacturing Faces Growing Cyber Risks

Rhea-AI Summary

Rockwell Automation (NYSE: ROK) has released cybersecurity findings from its 10th annual State of Smart Manufacturing Report, surveying over 1,500 manufacturing leaders across 17 countries. The report reveals that cybersecurity (30%) now ranks as the second highest external risk after inflation and economic growth (34%).

Key findings show that 61% of cybersecurity professionals plan to adopt AI and machine learning for security within 12 months, while 48% identified securing converged IT/OT architecture as crucial for future success. Additionally, 38% of manufacturers plan to leverage existing data for protection, and 53% of large companies ($30B+) consider cybersecurity skills extremely important.

Positive

• 61% of cybersecurity professionals planning AI adoption for security, outpacing general manufacturing by 12 percentage points
• Strong focus on cybersecurity with 38% of manufacturers planning to use data for protection
• 48% of cybersecurity professionals prioritizing securing converged IT/OT architecture
• 53% of large companies recognizing cybersecurity skills as extremely important

Negative

• Expanding attack surface due to increasing IT and OT integration
• Shortage of skilled cybersecurity talent and training challenges
• Rising labor costs impacting competitive ability
• Cybersecurity now ranks as a top external risk (30%), indicating growing threats

Insights

Cybersecurity Analyst

Rockwell's report reveals cybersecurity has become a critical boardroom issue, with 61% of security professionals accelerating AI adoption to combat growing manufacturing threats.

Rockwell Automation's 10th annual manufacturing report provides crucial insights into the evolving cybersecurity landscape for industrial operations. The finding that cybersecurity now ranks as the second highest external concern (30%) behind only economic conditions (34%) signals a fundamental shift in how manufacturing executives perceive digital threats.

The accelerated adoption of AI for security purposes among 61% of cybersecurity professionals – outpacing general manufacturing by 12 percentage points – indicates a growing recognition that conventional security approaches are insufficient against sophisticated threats targeting converged IT/OT environments. This represents a significant strategic pivot as manufacturers seek to protect increasingly connected operations.

What's particularly noteworthy is the 48% of security professionals identifying converged architecture security as crucial for positive outcomes – 11 percentage points higher than the average respondent. This highlights the specialized understanding among security teams about vulnerability risks at the intersection of information and operational technologies.

The elevation of cybersecurity from a technical concern to a boardroom priority reflects the existential business risks that cyber threats now pose. With 38% of manufacturers planning to leverage existing data sources for protection, we're seeing a pragmatic approach to cybersecurity that balances innovation with practical implementation.

For larger enterprises ($30 billion+), the 53% emphasis on cybersecurity practices as extremely important skill sets indicates that cybersecurity competency is increasingly viewed as a competitive differentiator rather than merely a compliance requirement. This aligns with the ongoing challenge of skilled talent shortages, suggesting that organizations with stronger security capabilities may gain advantages in both risk management and talent acquisition.

Global State of Smart Manufacturing Report finds cybersecurity is now the top external concern after economic conditions

MILWAUKEE, Aug. 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE: ROK), the world's largest company dedicated to industrial automation and digital transformation, today released the cybersecurity findings from its 10^th annual "State of Smart Manufacturing Report." Drawing insights from more than 1,500 manufacturing leaders across 17 of the top manufacturing countries, the report reflects how cybersecurity is becoming a central business issue. One third of respondents have direct information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT) cybersecurity responsibilities.

As manufacturers advance smart operations, the integration between IT and OT increases the risk of cyberattacks. The report shows that manufacturers are beginning to use artificial intelligence (AI) to help manage these risks to strengthen protection.

"Cybersecurity is no longer just a technology issue — it's a boardroom issue," said Stephen Ford, vice president and chief information security officer at Rockwell Automation. "As IT and OT become more connected, the attack surface is expanding. Our latest research confirms what we're seeing firsthand: Cyber risk is now one of the top threats to manufacturing growth. You can't protect tomorrow's enterprise with yesterday's tools. 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."

Key global cybersecurity findings include:

• Cyber threats are among the most serious external risks. Cybersecurity (30%) now ranks among the top external risks, second only to inflation and economic growth (34%).
• Security teams accelerate AI adoption. 61% of cybersecurity and IT professionals plan AI and machine learning (ML) adoption for security in the next 12 months, outpacing general manufacturing by 12 percentage points.
• Cybersecurity tops smart manufacturing use cases. 38% of manufacturers plan to use data collected from current sources to drive protection.
• IT/OT security takes center stage. 48% of cybersecurity professionals identified securing converging architecture as a key to positive outcomes over the next five years, compared to just 37% on average.
• Cyber readiness is a growing talent priority. More than half (53%) of respondents from companies of $30 billion or more identified cybersecurity practices and standards as extremely important skill sets, compared to 47% of all respondents.

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."

The full findings of the report can be found here.

Methodology
Rockwell's 10^th annual State of Smart Manufacturing Report analyzed feedback from 1,560 respondents from 17 of the top manufacturing countries with roles from management up to the C-suite and was conducted in association with Rockwell Automation and Sapio Research. The survey sampled from a range of industries including Consumer Packaged Goods, Food & Beverage, Automotive, Semiconductor, Energy, Life Sciences, and more. With a balanced distribution of company sizes with revenues spanning $100 million to over $30 billion, it offers a wide breadth of manufacturing business perspectives. Note that data and statistics referenced in this release may be sourced from the raw survey data and not included in the report itself.

About Rockwell Automation
Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE: ROK), is a global leader in industrial automation and digital transformation. We connect the imaginations of people with the potential of technology to expand what is humanly possible, making the world more productive and more sustainable. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Rockwell Automation employs approximately 27,000 problem solvers dedicated to our customers in more than 100 countries as of fiscal year end 2024. To learn more about how we are bringing the Connected Enterprise to life across industrial enterprises, visit www.rockwellautomation.com.

 

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SOURCE Rockwell Automation, Inc.

FAQ

What are the key cybersecurity findings from Rockwell Automation's (ROK) 2025 manufacturing report?

The report reveals that cybersecurity (30%) is now the second-highest external risk after economic conditions, with 61% of security professionals planning AI adoption within 12 months, and 48% focusing on securing IT/OT architecture.

How many manufacturing leaders participated in Rockwell Automation's 2025 cybersecurity survey?

The survey included 1,560 respondents from 17 of the top manufacturing countries, spanning industries like Consumer Packaged Goods, Food & Beverage, Automotive, Semiconductor, Energy, and Life Sciences.

What percentage of ROK survey respondents are planning AI adoption for cybersecurity in 2025-2026?

61% of cybersecurity and IT professionals plan to adopt AI and machine learning for security in the next 12 months, which is 12 percentage points higher than general manufacturing.

What are the main cybersecurity challenges facing manufacturers according to Rockwell's 2025 report?

Key challenges include expanding attack surface due to IT/OT integration, shortage of skilled talent, training challenges, and rising labor costs. Additionally, 38% of manufacturers plan to use existing data for protection.

How important are cybersecurity skills for large manufacturing companies in 2025?

53% of respondents from companies with $30 billion or more in revenue identified cybersecurity practices and standards as extremely important skill sets, compared to 47% of all respondents.