The UK Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill is progressing through the House of Lords this month. It is intended to strengthen cyber security requirements for organisations providing essential services and digital services.
The proposed reforms include wider coverage of data centres and managed service providers, expanded cyber incident reporting and new regulatory powers. Under the proposed reporting regime, certain incidents would require an initial notification within 24 hours and a fuller report within 72 hours.
The next key date is 2 November 2026, when the Lords Third Reading is scheduled.
Cyber security within the manufacturing sector was in the spotlight last year after a major incident caused huge disruption at Jaguar Land Rover and throughout its supply chain.
And again in recent weeks, the issue again hit the headlines when an unprecedented attack hit hundreds of supermarkets across France on the night of October 11–12, 2026, when hackers gained remote access to refrigeration and freezer systems and forced temperatures up to 50°C (122°F).
This caused widespread food spoilage of fresh and frozen goods, small electrical fires and estimated national losses running into millions of euros
And then last week, AI identified vulnerabilities within the PHP programming language that’s been used in website construction since the early 2000s. This left governments and agencies around the world scrambling to contain the fallout of the discovery, as they urged website operators to install new emergency fixes.
This has since led to the emergency shutdowns of banking, airline, rail, tax and government services around the world to mark one of the most dramatic tests of the decades-old programming tools that keep the web running, prompting Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella to comment: “I’ve not seen anything like this in a long, long time.”
While recent activity hasn’t targeted manufacturers directly, this is yet it was another timely reminder of the constant dangers of cyber crime, particularly as AI and digital technology play a more prominent and connected role across manufacturing infrastructure. This latest story is also a good lesson in making sure that any AI deployment is working for the organisation rather than against it.
The Manufacturer has produced a practical guide that explains the essential steps manufacturers can take to strengthen their cyber security, safeguard operations and keep production moving.
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