Towards a sustainable future: developing a cybersecurity framework for manufacturing

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to propose a cybersecurity framework that prioritizes sustainability in the manufacturing sector by identifying necessary resources and capabilities for effective cybersecurity management. The proposed framework aims to enhance resource protection and safeguard data confidentiality, integrity and accessibility, provide proactive steps for predicting cyber threats and highlight the importance of educating employees at all levels of the organization.

Design/methodology/approach

A thorough review of existing literature and analysis was conducted to develop the proposed cybersecurity framework. Several frameworks, including the NIST cybersecurity framework, were reviewed to identify the necessary skills and resources required to combat cyber threats and keep businesses sustainable.

Findings

The proposed framework includes proactive steps, such as predicting cyber threats, and emphasizes the importance of educating employees and raising awareness at all levels of the organization. Resilience is also emphasized, which refers to an organization's ability to recover and continue operations following a cyberattack. Implementing this framework may require a significant budget and time investment, and small organizations may face limitations in applying all aspects of the framework.

Originality/value

This study proposes a cybersecurity framework that prioritizes sustainability in the manufacturing sector, which provides added protection for organizations. The framework's key functions can be adopted partially or fully, making it suitable for organizations of varying sizes. Future research can focus on addressing the framework's limitations and shortcomings to further reduce cyber risks for sustainable manufacturing, establishing the scale of an industry based on its economy and extending the framework to non-manufacturing businesses.

Citation

Alqudhaibi, A., Deshpande, S., Jagtap, S. and Salonitis, K. (2023), "Towards a sustainable future: developing a cybersecurity framework for manufacturing", Technological Sustainability, Vol. 2 No. 4, pp. 372-387. https://doi.org/10.1108/TECHS-05-2023-0022