Mills Selig, a leading independent law firm based in Belfast, is warning manufacturers to urgently strengthen their cyber resilience as the sector emerges as one of the most heavily targeted industries for cyber-attacks globally.
As manufacturing becomes increasingly dependent on complex digital systems, interconnected infrastructure, and extended supply chains, Mills Selig is recognised as a key legal partner helping organisations navigate an increasingly high-risk operational environment.
The threat is no longer confined to data theft. Today, cyber incidents can halt production entirely, disrupt supply chains, and force businesses back to manual operations. Recent high-profile attacks affecting global manufacturers such as Toyota and Clorox, resulting in production shutdowns and widespread disruption, highlight the scale and severity of modern ransomware and supply chain vulnerabilities.
Aisling O’Hare, Partner at Mills Selig and expert in Commercial Law, says many manufacturers remain exposed due to outdated or insufficient contractual protections.
“Cyber incidents are not new, but their scale, frequency, and impact have shifted fundamentally, particularly as attackers increasingly leverage artificial intelligence to bypass traditional security measures. We frequently observe a mismatch between the high level of system access granted to third-party providers and the limited contractual control manufacturers actually retain, leaving businesses exposed to risks that are completely disproportionate to the contract in place.”
In addition, where a cyber incident affects personal data, the firm notes that the UK GDPR may require the incident to be reported, and organisations must meet strict 72-hour breach notification deadlines. Regulators are also increasingly expecting clear, documented and defensible decision-making to help avoid significant penalties.
To address these challenges, Mills Selig advocates a 360-degree approach to cyber resilience, combining legal, operational, and governance measures to reduce exposure and improve response readiness.
Mills Selig is advising manufacturers to take immediate, proactive steps, including:
- Joint Legal-Technical Gap Analysis: Aligning cybersecurity measures with legal and regulatory obligations
- Contractual Review and Refresh: Strengthening security obligations and ensuring appropriate “flow-down” terms to subcontractors
- Board-Level Reporting: Elevating cyber risk as a core governance and oversight priority
- Incident Response Planning: Developing clear, tested playbooks to enable rapid and compliant breach response
“Our role as legal experts is to ensure clients are not simply reacting to cyber threats, but are prepared with a robust, defensible strategy that protects both their operations and their data,” Aisling added.
For manufacturers operating across the UK and EU, including those preparing for the UK’s forthcoming Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill, Mills Selig provides specialist guidance to help ensure compliance within an evolving and increasingly aligned regulatory landscape.
This advice is underpinned by the firm’s integrated 360 approach, which brings together expertise across corporate, commercial, dispute resolution, employment, intellectual property, and cyber compliance. Rather than addressing issues in isolation, Mills Selig works collaboratively to ensure clients benefit from joined up, commercially focused advice across all areas of legal risk.
This model is particularly valuable in the context of cyber security, where legal, operational, contractual, and governance considerations are deeply interconnected. By combining deep technical legal knowledge with a clear understanding of how businesses operate in practice, Mills Selig helps clients build resilience that extends beyond compliance, embedding it into decision-making, supplier relationships, and board-level governance.
For more information on strengthening your organisation’s cyber resilience, visit www.MillsSelig.com.
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