The Leading Edge Alliance (LEA) released the 2019 Manufacturing Outlook and Insights Report. Contained within the report was a finding that in 2019:

  • 75% of manufacturers surveyed plan to invest or prioritize cybersecurity spending
  • 54% of manufacturers will be increasing spending on technology or intelligence
  • Of those focused-on technology developments, 34% stated that cybersecurity is a top priority.

"Across the board, manufacturers are optimistic about the regional economy, sector growth, and increasing revenue expectations in 2019. In all aspects of business — technology will lead the charge. Spending will increase on big data, and business intelligence, while cybersecurity will be the top priority for the rise of the Chief Security Officer. As hurdles abound, so do strategies for increasing productivity and improving efficiency."

Depending on the size of the manufacturer, it does not always make sense to add a full-time Chief Security Officer (CSO) to the C-level executive suite. As an alternative to bringing the CSO role in-house, Delap is seeing an increasingly popular trend to outsource the role. The rise of the virtual CSO (vCSO) is coming into its own, with numerous companies choosing to go this route. Coupling a vCSO with a managed security services provider can lower your annual spending on security by as much as 70% (compared to an in-house solution).

Outsourcing cybersecurity protection allows your firm to focus on core competencies and provide the layers of protection your company and customers need to defend against the rapidly changing threat landscape in 2019.

If you would like to learn more about Delap's vCSO program or managed IT services please contact us today.

2019 NATIONAL MANUFACTURING OUTLOOK SURVEY RESULTS