The Australian Cyber Security Centre’s Annual Cyber Threat Report 2024–25 shows there were over 87,400 cybercrime reports, or one every six minutes for the year. The average cost to businesses surged by 50% to $80,850. This underscores the growing financial impact of cyber threats.
The report identifies email compromise (19%), business email compromise fraud (15%), and identity fraud (11%) as the top cybercrimes affecting businesses.
GMC Technology Partner, eManaged provides a comprehensive overview of protecting your business through a tech refresh, why phishing is hammering manufacturers and signs your tech is holding you back.
In their article, When to Refresh Your Tech – and How to Stop Phishing from Stopping Production: eManaged discusses why phishing is hammering manufacturers (and how to stop it):
Attackers love busy environments with tight deadlines. That’s manufacturing.
What’s changed:
- Better fakes: Emails and websites that look exactly like your bank, supplier, or freight partner.
- “Reply-to” tricks: You think you’re answering a trusted contact—really, you’re writing to a criminal.
- Payment switch scams: “New bank details attached.” One rushed approval and money is gone.
- Cheap, automated tools: Anyone can launch convincing scams at scale.
Simple habits that cut risk fast:
- Pause on money, passwords, or personal details. No exceptions.
- Verify on a second channel: call the supplier using the number you already have, not the one in the email.
- Check links before you click; when in doubt, type the website yourself.
- Turn on multi-factor authentication (MFA) so a stolen password isn’t enough.
- Limit access: not every account needs keys to the kingdom.
- Make reporting easy: a single “looks suspicious” button beats silence.
Why a Tech Refresh Matters Now (for factories, not just offices)
Stronger security without slowing production – Ransomware and fake emails don’t care how tight your schedule is. A refresh closes easy gaps—old operating systems, risky default settings, weak passwords—and puts guardrails in place so one mistake doesn’t shut the plant.
Compliance without surprises – Manufacturers carry sensitive drawings, supplier contracts, certifications, and customer requirements. Out-of-date systems mean missed patches, unsupported software, and avoidable audit findings. Refreshing your environment reduces “unknown unknowns” before auditors (or insurers) find them.
Reliable backups you can actually restore – Backups that fail quietly are a hidden risk. A refresh verifies that data—and machine programs, recipes, and ERP—are backed up, tested, and ready to restore quickly, even if attackers try to wipe them.
A platform for modern tools – From smarter scheduling to quality dashboards, new tech only helps if the foundation is healthy. A refresh makes sure your core systems can safely adopt the tools that improve throughput and reduce scrap—without adding more drama.
Read more and download free resources from eManaged to help protect your business here.