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Supplier Impersonation Fraud is Now an Operational Risk for Industrial Manufacturers

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Industrial manufacturing environments are becoming increasingly digitised, with robotics, automation systems, and connected supply chains driving efficiency across production and logistics.

However, this growing digital interdependence has also introduced new cybersecurity risks that extend beyond traditional IT boundaries.

One of the most overlooked threats is supplier impersonation fraud, where attackers exploit trusted vendor relationships to manipulate procurement workflows, redirect payments, or inject fraudulent invoices into automated systems. [Read more…] about Supplier Impersonation Fraud is Now an Operational Risk for Industrial Manufacturers

Why Factory Automation Now Depends on Software-Savvy Workers

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Automation is becoming a software problem. The deeper robots move into production, the more workers need to be confident handling dashboards, updates, alerts and data-driven decisions.

The old image of factory automation was a robot arm behind a safety cage, doing one repetitive task faster than a human being ever could. But whilst robots weld, lift, assemble and pack at speeds fast enough to warrant their own keepers and still save thousands of man-hours, the knowledge of that robot engineer is increasingly software-based.

Meanwhile, the International Federation of Robotics said that, worldwide, more than half a million industrial robots were installed in 2024 alone, topping up a figure approaching 5 million robots in operational use. [Read more…] about Why Factory Automation Now Depends on Software-Savvy Workers

Why Network Security is Critical in the Age of Robotics and Automation

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A few years ago, “network security” usually meant protecting laptops, servers, and the office Wi‑Fi (which somehow always died in the conference room).

In 2026, that definition feels too small. Networks don’t just carry email and video calls anymore; they carry instructions that move real machines.

Robots in warehouses, automated conveyor systems, industrial sensors, smart cameras, access control systems, autonomous guided vehicles (AGVs), and even building management systems all of them rely on a network to coordinate what happens next. [Read more…] about Why Network Security is Critical in the Age of Robotics and Automation

Digi International launches new serial device servers for modern IP networks

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Digi International, a provider of IoT connectivity products and secure connectivity solutions, has launched Digi Connect EZ 4 TS and Digi Connect EZ 8 TS, next-generation serial device servers designed to help organizations modernize legacy serial infrastructure with enhanced security and centralized management – without requiring enclosure or wiring changes. 

The EZ TS family builds on the current Digi Connect EZ platform and provides an efficient transition path for existing ConnectPort TS and PortServer TS deployments, while introducing new capabilities for today’s IT and OT requirements. [Read more…] about Digi International launches new serial device servers for modern IP networks

Why Tech Travelers Need a Personal Killswitch for Hotel Wi-Fi

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Commissioning a project at a remote facility usually involves a suitcase full of proprietary hardware and a laptop housing months of R&D.

In other words, it usually means moving through the world with what feels like your entire life on your back. You may not be as slow as an IRL snail, but you’re certainly as vulnerable as one…

We are accustomed to air-gapped systems and rigid safety protocols on the factory floor. However, the moment the day ends and we retreat to a hotel, that security posture often relaxes as we rely on guest networks that are fundamentally at odds with the sensitivity of the data we carry. [Read more…] about Why Tech Travelers Need a Personal Killswitch for Hotel Wi-Fi

How Access Control Systems Integrate with Industrial IoT for Real-Time Security Automation

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Industrial environments are undergoing a massive transformation driven by the Industrial Internet of Things. Factories, energy plants, and logistics hubs are now powered by connected sensors, edge devices, and intelligent control systems that continuously exchange data in real time.

The scale of this transformation is significant. By 2025, the number of industrial IoT devices is expected to reach over 152 million globally, with the market projected to grow from $194.4 billion in 2024 to $286.3 billion by 2029.

At the same time, IoT security risks are rising sharply, with over 50 percent of IoT devices having critical vulnerabilities and one in three data breaches now involving IoT components. [Read more…] about How Access Control Systems Integrate with Industrial IoT for Real-Time Security Automation

7 Best Dedicated IP VPNs for Industrial IoT Security: Static IP for OT Firewall Whitelisting

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Factories, utilities, and smart buildings rely on remote access – and so do attackers. The 2025 SANS State of ICS/OT Security survey found that unauthorized external access sparked 50 percent of last year’s industrial cyber incidents.

The usual fix is to “just use a VPN,” but consumer services rotate exit IPs, forcing firewalls to block you along with the bad actors.

A dedicated-IP VPN provides one unchanging address the plant can trust, so you can lock an allow-list and sleep at night. We tested seven options built for OT realities; here’s what we found. Ready? Let’s dig in. [Read more…] about 7 Best Dedicated IP VPNs for Industrial IoT Security: Static IP for OT Firewall Whitelisting