The move from 'proprietary' to 'open standards' on the plant floor has brought with it increasing concerns for the security of vital plant data. There are many trends which have affected this need for greater security, including an increasing demand across the enterprise for access to information. From e-commerce drivers, to communication with the supply chain and other partners, intellectual property is getting more exposure today, while at the same time being more core to a company's competitive advantage. There has also been much talk of the possibility of 'cyber attack', but in reality the problem is more likely to originate much closer to home and it is important to understand who the 'enemy' is before you can build a suitable defence. An ARC survey conducted in 2002 identified that 25% of manufacturing disruptions are addressable and possibly avoidable. One in 8 was caused by an employee mistake, with another 1 in 8 being deliberate and caused by disgruntled employees, ex-employees or business competitors.
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