Article by Michael Murphy, director, operational technology (OT), Asia Pacific, Fortinet
Australia’s manufacturing sector is entering a new phase of digital transformation. Artificial intelligence (AI), automation, and connected operational technologies are reshaping production environments, helping manufacturers improve productivity, strengthen supply chain resilience, and remain globally competitive.
The recent “AI in Australia’s interests” announcement by the Australian Government reinforces the growing importance of AI as a driver of Australia’s future economic growth, with advanced manufacturing expected to play a significant role in that transformation.
As manufacturers embrace these technologies, cybersecurity has become an equally important consideration. In June, the Five Eyes cybersecurity agencies, including the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD), warned that AI is increasing both the speed and sophistication of cyber threats, urging organisations to treat cyber resilience as a strategic business priority rather than simply an IT responsibility.
For manufacturers, that advice couldn’t be more relevant.
Today’s production environments are more connected than ever before. Industrial control systems, sensors, robotics, cloud platforms, and remote maintenance technologies are creating unprecedented visibility and operational efficiency. However, every new connection also creates another potential entry point for cyber attackers.
Unlike many cyber incidents affecting traditional IT systems, attacks on operational technology (OT) can have immediate physical and operational consequences. Production lines can be interrupted, supply chains disrupted, and worker safety placed at risk. In an industry where uptime directly affects profitability and customer commitments, cybersecurity has become a fundamental component of operational resilience.
This growing convergence between IT and OT is changing how manufacturers approach cyber risk. Historically, factory systems operated separately from enterprise networks. Today, manufacturing organisations increasingly rely on integrated environments that let production data flow seamlessly across engineering, operations, and business systems. While this connectivity creates significant business value, it also requires organisations to rethink how they secure operational environments.
Encouragingly, manufacturers are making progress.
Fortinet’s latest State of Operational Technology and Cybersecurity Report found organisations continue to improve their OT cybersecurity maturity, with stronger executive engagement, greater collaboration between IT and OT teams, and improved visibility across industrial environments. These findings suggest manufacturers increasingly recognise that cybersecurity is a business resilience issue that supports safe and reliable operations, rather than just a technical issue.
However, the research also shows cyber incidents affecting OT environments remain common. As industrial environments become more connected and threat actors continue adapting their techniques, resilience depends on continually strengthening cybersecurity instead of viewing it as a one-time investment.
One of the most significant opportunities for manufacturers is improving visibility across operational environments.
Many Australian manufacturers operate facilities that have evolved over decades, combining modern digital technologies with legacy industrial equipment that continues to perform critical production functions. Without a comprehensive understanding of every connected asset, organisations cannot effectively assess vulnerabilities, detect abnormal behaviour, or respond quickly when incidents occur.
Visibility forms the foundation of effective cyber resilience. Knowing exactly what assets exist across operational environments means organisations can better understand operational dependencies, prioritise remediation efforts, and make informed decisions about where security investments will have the greatest impact.
At the same time, manufacturers must recognise that legacy equipment is often an operational necessity rather than a cybersecurity weakness that can simply be replaced. Industrial assets are designed for long service lives, and wholesale replacement is rarely practical. Instead, manufacturers should focus on reducing risk through network segmentation, continuous monitoring, secure remote access, and layered security controls that protect critical systems while letting production continue uninterrupted.
AI also presents opportunities beyond manufacturing productivity. It can strengthen cyber defence by helping organisations detect anomalies more quickly, analyse large volumes of operational data, and improve incident response. Used responsibly, AI has the potential to become an important tool for protecting increasingly complex industrial environments.
Ultimately, cybersecurity is becoming inseparable from manufacturing performance. Decisions about digital transformation, operational efficiency, and AI adoption increasingly influence cyber risk, making collaboration between engineering, operations, and cybersecurity teams essential.
Australia’s manufacturers have always embraced innovation to remain competitive. Today’s transformation is no different. The organisations that will be best positioned to succeed are those that build cybersecurity into every stage of their digital transformation as a core enabler of resilient, efficient, and sustainable operations.
As Australia’s manufacturing sector continues to modernise, resilience will depend not only on adopting new technologies and securing them well. Manufacturers that also strengthen visibility across operational environments, protect critical systems, and integrate cybersecurity into business decision-making will be better placed to maintain production, support their workforce, and capitalise on the opportunities created by the next generation of industrial innovation.
