Simplifying industrial cybersecurity in a time of rising risk

Manufacturers face a trio of converging challenges: Cyberthreats are escalating, regulations are tightening, and operational environments are becoming more complex. The traditional approach to operational technology (OT) security is no longer working.

Manufacturers need to respond by moving toward platform-based cybersecurity to reduce risk and improve resilience. An ARC Advisory Group report published in April 2026 provides details.

ARC Advisory Group Report

How Acronis addresses primary industrial cybersecurity challenges through platformization

For years, manufacturers have relied on a collection of point solutions for cybersecurity. Each tool might address a specific function adequately, but together they create a fragmented environment that’s difficult to manage and exposed to risk. Complexity is a liability.

Cyber incidents have become a major driver of dangerous and expensive unplanned downtime across manufacturing and critical infrastructure. Globally, unplanned downtime costs exceed $1 trillion, ARC estimates.

At the same time, OT teams are stretched thin. Many organizations face talent shortages, budget constraints and increasing responsibilities. Managing multiple vendors, tools and integrations is simply no longer sustainable.

Regulatory pressure is adding urgency to the situation. Regulatory frameworks like NIS 2 and the Cyber Resilience Act are introducing stricter requirements for cybersecurity governance, reporting and risk management across both IT and OT environments.

Organizations must now demonstrate visibility and control across their entire infrastructure while documenting their security posture in detail. That makes fragmented toolsets that increase complexity and reduce efficiency increasingly difficult to justify.

As a result, according to ARC, many manufacturers are shifting their strategies. Instead of stitching together multiple solutions, they are investing in integrated platforms that simplify operations and improve security outcomes.

The ARC report identifies platformization as a key trend shaping the future of industrial cybersecurity. By consolidating multiple capabilities into a single platform, manufacturers can reduce complexity while strengthening their defenses.

A platform approach enables teams to unify backup, cybersecurity and management within one environment. That approach not only streamlines operations but also improves visibility and coordination across IT and OT systems.

The benefits are tangible. Organizations can detect threats faster, respond more effectively and reduce the operational burden on already constrained teams. A unified platform also makes compliance and risk management easier by providing a single source of truth.

The ARC report highlights Acronis as a provider that has successfully embraced platformization. Acronis delivers a full cyber protection platform that integrates security, data protection and infrastructure management.

That kind of unified approach is particularly valuable in industrial environments where legacy systems remain common. Acronis Cyber Protect continues to support older operating systems that many vendors no longer cover, so manufacturers can secure critical assets without costly upgrades.

In addition, Acronis Cyber Protect uses a single agent architecture to deliver multiple capabilities through one solution. That approach reduces deployment complexity while improving consistency across environments.

A key differentiator in Acronis Cyber Protect is its use of AI-driven technologies. The report highlights how behavioral analysis and machine learning enable real-time detection of threats, including ransomware and zero-day attacks.

By establishing baselines of normal system behavior, Acronis Cyber Protect can identify anomalies and stop attacks before they cause damage. AI also supports automated response and remediation so teams can act quickly even with limited resources.

This shift from reactive to proactive security is essential in industrial settings where downtime can have immediate and severe consequences.

As industrial environments become more complex and connected, their attack surfaces continue to grow. At the same time, organizations must balance security with operational efficiency and regulatory compliance.

Platformization offers a practical path forward. By simplifying cybersecurity architecture and integrating critical functions, organizations can reduce risk while improving performance and resilience.

The ARC report makes it clear that this is a strategic shift that will define how industrial organizations approach cybersecurity in the years ahead.

Download the full ARC report to explore how platform-based cybersecurity is transforming OT environments and why Acronis is positioned to lead this shift.

ARC Advisory Report

How Acronis addresses primary industrial cybersecurity challenges through platformization