UK manufacturing recorded 1.84 million ransomware events in the first five months of 2026. For local manufacturers, the message is clear: cyber security is now just as crucial a part of keeping the factory running as maintenance and staffing levels.
A ransomware attack is no longer just an IT problem.
For a manufacturing business in particular, it can mean halted production, missed deliveries, unavailable systems, disrupted suppliers and difficult conversations with customers. Even a relatively short outage can create pressure across the whole operation.
New figures from SonicWall, reported by IT Brief UK, show that UK manufacturing was the most targeted sector for ransomware during the first five months of 2026 according to their data.
The research recorded:
- 1.84 million ransomware events across monitored UK manufacturing environments
- 15.8 million intrusion prevention system events
- 12.2 million malware threats
- Intrusion attempts running at around 28% above 2025 levels on an annualised basis
The figures came from just 364 sensors, so they should not be read as a count of every attack against every manufacturer in the UK. But they do show the level of attention being directed at industrial businesses.
For many of our customers, and manufacturers across Sheffield, South Yorkshire and the wider region, it is a timely warning.
Why are manufacturers being targeted?
Manufacturing businesses are attractive targets because disruption can be expensive and immediate.
A factory may depend on a mixture of:
- Production systems
- Manufacturing execution systems
- Enterprise resource planning software
- Older operational technology
- Modern cloud applications
- Remote access tools
- Connected equipment and devices
- Systems shared with suppliers and customers
That mixture is often necessary. It is also difficult to secure consistently.
The latest figures suggest that attackers are not simply scanning every business at random. A significant proportion of the ransomware activity was concentrated on a small number of specialist sensors, suggesting that higher-value facilities may be receiving more focused attention.
The problem for manufacturers is that technology cannot always be updated as quickly as it can in an office environment. A patch that is routine in a standard IT system may need more planning when it touches production, plant equipment or a system that cannot easily be taken offline.
As SonicWall’s research highlights, attackers are looking at both older infrastructure and newer digital services.
That means manufacturers cannot afford to focus on just one part of the environment.
The real risk is not just losing data
Ransomware is often discussed as a data protection issue. For manufacturers, the consequences can be wider.
A successful attack could affect:
- Production planning
- Stock and purchasing systems
- Customer orders
- Engineering documentation
- Warehouse and logistics processes
- Email and internal communications
- Remote support
- Supplier relationships
- Health and safety records
- Financial and payroll systems
If the systems needed to run the operation are unavailable, the business may be unable to produce, ship or invoice as normal.
For a local manufacturer supplying larger organisations, the impact may travel further. A delay at one site can create problems for customers, transport providers and other businesses further along the supply chain.
What should manufacturers do now?
The right response is not to buy another security product and hope for the best.
Manufacturers need to understand what they rely on, what would happen if it disappeared and how quickly they could recover.
1. Identify the systems that production depends on
Start with the basics.
Which systems are essential to keep the business operating? Which ones are needed for production, scheduling, stock, customer orders, finance and communication?
This should include older systems and operational technology, not just laptops and cloud applications.
A simple list of critical systems is more useful than a long document nobody maintains.
2. Check what is actually backed up
Many businesses believe they have good backups because backup jobs are running.
That is not enough.
A backup can fail silently, miss important systems or be configured with retention periods that do not match the business risk. We treats backup monitoring and backup verification as separate controls because a successful backup job does not automatically prove that the data can be recovered.
You should be able to answer:
- What is protected?
- What is not protected?
- When did the last successful backup run?
- Has the backup been verified?
- How long would recovery take?
- Who is responsible for starting the recovery process?
Has a restore actually been tested?
3. Review endpoint and device protection
Manufacturing environments may include office devices, engineering workstations, laptops, servers and specialist equipment.
Every device that connects to the wider business environment should be accounted for and protected appropriately.
That means checking:
- Whether security software is installed and healthy
- Whether devices are reporting correctly
- Whether important updates are being applied
- Whether old or unsupported devices are still connected
- Whether exceptions have been documented and reviewed
- Whether compromised devices can be isolated quickly
Endpoint security is not a one-off installation. It needs ongoing monitoring and action when devices fall out of compliance.
4. Prioritise vulnerabilities based on business impact
Manufacturers do not have unlimited time or a completely risk-free way to update every system.
The answer is to prioritise intelligently.
A vulnerability affecting an internet-facing system, remote access tool or production-related application may deserve attention before a lower-risk issue on an isolated device.
A structured vulnerability management process can help businesses to track:
- Which weaknesses are present
- Which systems are affected
- How serious the risk is
- What action is required
- Who owns the fix
- When it needs to be completed
- Which exceptions have been accepted
The important thing is to avoid a situation where serious vulnerabilities are known but remain open indefinitely.
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5. Agree what happens during an incident
When an attack is underway, people need to know what to do.
You should have clear arrangements for:
- Declaring a cyber incident
- Isolating affected systems
- Contacting senior decision-makers
- Engaging IT and security support
- Communicating with staff
- Managing customer and supplier updates
- Preserving evidence
- Recovering systems in the right order
- Recording lessons learned
The first few hours can make a significant difference. A documented response plan helps reduce hesitation and stops several people making conflicting decisions at the same time.
Local manufacturers do not need to tackle this alone
For SME manufacturers in particular, cyber security can feel like another major responsibility added to an already busy operation.
There may not be a dedicated security team. IT may be shared across several sites. The person responsible for technology may also be responsible for systems, suppliers, budgets and day-to-day support.
That is where a practical external partner can help.
The aim should not be to make the business more complicated. It should be to create a clearer view of risk, make sure critical systems are protected and provide support when something needs attention.
At One2Call, that can include areas such as managed backup, backup verification, endpoint security, vulnerability management, managed detection and response, and incident response coordination. These services are designed to support ongoing operational resilience rather than simply produce a report and leave the business to work out what happens next.
6 key questions for manufacturers need to ask
The latest ransomware figures are worrying, but they are also useful because they give manufacturers a reason to review the basics.
The most important question is not “could we be attacked?” The answer to that is yes.
The more useful questions are:
- What would stop production?
- Which systems would we need first?
- How confident are we in our backups?
- How quickly could we isolate a problem?
- Who would take charge?
- What would we tell customers if systems were unavailable?
For our local manufacturers in Sheffield and South Yorkshire, resilience should not just be about protecting files. It's also about protecting the ability to keep people working, orders moving and customers supplied.
That is the standard worth working towards.
Frequently asked questions
Why is UK manufacturing being targeted by ransomware?
Manufacturers often rely on a mixture of older operational technology, production systems, cloud services and internet-connected applications. Attackers may see these environments as valuable because a successful disruption can affect production, revenue and supply chains.
How many ransomware attacks affected UK manufacturing in 2026?
SonicWall recorded 1.84 million ransomware events across 364 monitored UK manufacturing sensors between January and May 2026. The figure represents monitored events, not every attack against every UK manufacturer.
What is the biggest ransomware risk for a manufacturer?
The biggest risk is usually operational disruption. A ransomware incident may affect production, stock, orders, logistics, finance, communications and customer commitments — not just stored data.
Are backups enough to protect a manufacturing business?
No. Backups need to be monitored, verified and tested. A successful backup job does not automatically prove that the data can be recovered when the business needs it.
What should a local manufacturer do after reading this?
Start by identifying critical systems, checking backup coverage and recoverability, reviewing endpoint protection, prioritising serious vulnerabilities and confirming who would lead the response to an incident.
How can an IT partner help manufacturers with ransomware risk?
An IT and security partner can help monitor backups, verify recoverability, protect endpoints, track vulnerabilities, monitor security events and coordinate the response when an incident occurs.
If you’re a manufacturer in Sheffield, South Yorkshire or the surrounding region, One2Call can help you review where your biggest operational risks sit and what practical steps would reduce them.
