From robots to risk: Identity security in the age of industry 5.0

Powered by artificial intelligence and advanced technologies, machines are revolutionising industrial processes. 

Manufacturing has long been the heartbeat of Southeast Asia’s (SEA) economy, contributing significantly to the GDP of key markets like Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam. Especially over the past two decades, the region has transitioned from being an emerging player in the global manufacturing landscape to a critical lever in the international manufacturing ecosystem.

Undeniably, the region’s swift pace of adoption of digital technologies has impacted the manufacturing industry, driving its evolution from Industry 4.0 to Industry 5.0. In this new era, seamless human-machine collaboration takes centre stage. Powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced technologies, machines are revolutionising industrial processes. The global industrial robots market is a testament to this, with the number of robots per 10,000 employees more than doubling from 74 units seven years ago to a record 162 units in 2023.

The increasing integration of robots and automation has led to numerous non-human roles and identities within manufacturing environments. This exacerbates the existing cybersecurity challenges within the sector, which already faces significant risks due to unmanaged workforce identities, ungoverned third-party access, and the increasing complexity of the identity landscape with the integration of machines. These heightened risks have contributed to an average breach cost of $5.56m within the sector.

From Industry 4.0 to human-centric 5.0
Driven by technological advancements, economic pressures, and societal demands, the manufacturing industry has undergone a significant transformation. For one, e-commerce, facilitated by high mobile penetration rates in countries like Singapore and Malaysia, has significantly impacted supply chain management. This growth in e-commerce has fuelled demand for customised products and swift delivery, forcing traditional manufacturers to invest in automation and machinery in order to keep up with the surge in demand. 

Building upon the foundations of Industry 4.0, technologies like autonomous mobile robots and machine vision systems are increasingly employed to automate mundane and repetitive tasks, such as material handling and quality control, in this next stage of Industrialisation. This not only enhances efficiency and accuracy but also liberates human workers from tedious labour, allowing them to focus on higher-value activities and fostering a more collaborative workforce. 

Yet, the relentless pressure to remain competitive often leads manufacturers to prioritise rapid upgrades without having adequate cybersecurity measures in place to protect their assets. This leaves many of them vulnerable to cyberattacks – with ransomware attacks particularly prevalent in the sector. This vulnerability is evident in Singapore, where the manufacturing sector experienced the highest number of ransomware attacks in 2023. A SailPoint report also revealed that only 10% of cyberattacks were random, meaning that 90% of breaches were specifically company targeted. This alarming statistic should serve as a wake-up call for manufacturers, underscoring the need for robust defences against sophisticated attacks.  

Challenges manufacturers face today  
Whilst ransomware remains a threat, attackers are increasingly targeting machine identities, driven by the proliferation of AI and automation. This is a significant concern for manufacturers, with the same report indicating that 90% of them manage over 2,500 active identities, many of which belong to machines.

The report also revealed that 74% of manufacturers found machine identities more difficult to secure than human identities. These identities are often dispersed across various cloud environments, hindering centralised visibility and control – a concern shared by 71% of respondents. This lack of oversight creates significant security gaps, allowing attackers to exploit vulnerabilities and manipulate machines to perform unauthorised actions or steal sensitive data.

Furthermore, collaborations with third-party vendors further expand the attack surface, creating numerous entry points for threat actors. This interconnectedness increases the risk of network intrusions, enabling attackers to leverage compromised systems and potentially monetise their actions.

Adding to these challenges are disaggregated identity security teams, manual processes, slow access changes, and a lack of clear, real-time reporting. These issues not only hinder operational efficiency but also point to underlying deficiencies in identity security solutions.

Whilst identity-related challenges are often recognised as potential issues, they frequently translate into significant and costly business disruptions. As organisations continue to invest in identity security programmes, a sense of urgency is crucial. 

Building a secure foundation 
Managing an ever-growing number of identities manually has become unsustainable for manufacturers. Downtime due to cyber threats, whether internal or external, is no longer just a cybersecurity issue but a critical business risk that directly impacts competitiveness.

To thrive in today’s dynamic environment, manufacturers must embrace unified identity security ecosystems. These ecosystems streamline security management, providing a centralised view of all identities and enabling the secure management of employees, non-employees, and machine identities across various locations. By leveraging automation and AI, manufacturers can effectively manage and secure all types of identities and their associated data at scale.

Modern identity security solutions are crucial for success. These solutions should automate manual tasks, provide real-time visibility across the entire identity landscape, and proactively identify and address compliance issues and anomalous activities. This not only enhances security but also alleviates the burden on security teams.

By prioritising robust identity security and implementing the right strategies, manufacturers can ensure business continuity, drive innovation, and play a vital role in propelling SEA forward as a high-value production hub.