Why Data Breaches Cost Manufacturers More Than They Realize

At TotalCare IT, we’ve seen firsthand how much manufacturing has changed. It’s no longer just about machines and materials—it’s about data. From CAD designs and proprietary formulas to production schedules and supplier contracts, manufacturers today run on information. That also makes you a target.

According to IBM’s Cost of a Data Breach Report 2025, the average breach in the industrial sector now costs over $5 million. And when intellectual property (IP) is stolen—blueprints, processes, formulas—the impact can be devastating. For manufacturers, a breach isn’t just an IT problem. It’s a threat to your competitive edge, your reputation, and even your ability to deliver on promises.

Intellectual Property: A Prime Target for Cybercriminals

Your designs, formulas, and process data are valuable—sometimes more valuable than the products themselves. Hackers know that. That’s why IP theft ranks among the most expensive types of breaches.

When manufacturers lose control of designs or formulas, they risk:

• Competitors stealing years of R&D.

• Counterfeit products hitting the market.

• Confidential supplier agreements being exposed.

Protecting your IP is protecting the future of your business.

Downtime Costs More Than You Think

On the factory floor, efficiency is everything. A cyberattack that disrupts production doesn’t just slow things down—it can grind your entire operation to a halt.

The latest data shows that 86% of breached organizations reported operational disruption. In manufacturing, that could mean idle workers, spoiled raw materials, or missed shipping deadlines. These aren’t abstract risks—they’re day-to-day realities we’ve helped clients recover from.

Why Manufacturers Face Higher Risks

From working with Idaho manufacturers, we know your environment is uniquely challenging:

• Legacy + modern systems side by side: Older machines running outdated software connected to new cloud-based tools creates hidden vulnerabilities.

• Complex supply chains: A third-party vendor breach averages nearly $5 million in costs, and manufacturers depend on countless partners.

• Operational technology (OT) exposure: When attackers compromise industrial control systems, it’s not just data at risk—it’s production itself.

All of this makes manufacturing one of the most targeted industries for cyberattacks.

How TotalCare IT Helps Manufacturers Stay Ahead

Too often, we see manufacturers treating cybersecurity as a compliance checkbox or an IT line item. The truth is, it’s now central to staying competitive. That’s where we come in.

At TotalCare IT, we help manufacturers:

• Detect and stop threats faster with AI-driven monitoring and automation that can cut breach costs by nearly $1.9 million.

• Secure both human and machine identities, closing the access gaps cybercriminals love to exploit.

• Build resilience plans, so even if something happens, downtime and disruption are kept to a minimum.

We understand the unique needs of manufacturers—because we support them every day.

The Bottom Line

For manufacturers, a data breach isn’t just about stolen files. It’s about stolen designs, halted assembly lines, broken supplier trust, and lost contracts. With the average breach cost in manufacturing exceeding $5 million, protecting your data is protecting your future.

At TotalCare IT, we don’t just provide IT services—we protect the backbone of your operations so you can focus on what you do best: building, producing, and leading in your industry. If you’re a manufacturer in Boise or Idaho Falls, talk to us today about a cybersecurity strategy designed for your operations.