Executive Summary

• Saudi Arabia’s manufacturing and industrial sectors are rapidly digitalizing — from smart factories to AI-driven maintenance.

• As connectivity grows, so does vulnerability: the cost of a cyberattack in Saudi Arabia now averages over USD 7.5 million, among the highest globally.

• Cyber-resilience is no longer an IT issue — it’s a board-level priority tied directly to operational continuity and investor confidence.

• Building strong governance, employee awareness, and secure infrastructure is now essential for every industrial leader.

1. The Digital Shift in Saudi Industry

Saudi Arabia’s industrial and manufacturing landscape is undergoing a major transformation under Vision 2030.
From NEOM’s advanced tech-driven facilities to digitalized supply chains in Jubail and Yanbu, industries are embracing automation, data analytics, and IoT to stay competitive.

But with every connected system — from sensors to control units — comes a new entry point for cyber threats. What used to be isolated factory floors are now interconnected networks linking production, logistics, and finance. The result? Greater efficiency but also greater exposure.

2. The Rising Cyber Threat

Recent studies show that the Middle East is one of the fastest-growing targets for cybercrime, and Saudi Arabia leads in industrial attacks due to its strong digital infrastructure and strategic importance.
Industrial Control Systems (ICS) and Operational Technology (OT) are prime targets — hackers aim to disrupt production, steal proprietary data, or demand ransom through ransomware attacks.

A single incident can halt operations, damage reputation, and create regulatory exposure. In sectors like petrochemicals or heavy manufacturing, even a few hours of downtime can mean millions in losses.

3. Why It Matters for Business Owners

For many Saudi industrial leaders, cybersecurity still feels like an IT function. In reality, it’s a core business risk — much like financial fraud or supply chain disruption.
Cyber breaches can:

• Stop production lines through ransomware or sabotage.

• Expose trade secrets or intellectual property.

• Compromise safety systems, risking worker injury or equipment failure.

• Trigger regulatory investigations, especially under Saudi’s new cybersecurity and data-protection frameworks.

Boards and owners must now treat cyber-resilience as a strategic pillar of governance, not an afterthought.

4. What’s Changing in Saudi Cyber Regulation

Saudi Arabia has been proactive in establishing strong national standards.
The National Cybersecurity Authority (NCA) has rolled out sector-specific frameworks, and the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources now requires industrial licensees to maintain compliant cybersecurity systems.

Key developments include:

• NCA Essential Cybersecurity Controls (ECC) for both IT and OT environments.

• Data-protection regulations under SDAIA requiring data-security safeguards.

• Increased collaboration with NIDLP and Monsha’at to help SMEs build secure digital capabilities.

For manufacturers, compliance isn’t just about avoiding penalties — it’s about protecting long-term competitiveness.

5. Building a Cyber-Resilient Industrial Business

Here’s a practical roadmap for Saudi industrial leaders:

1. Start with a risk assessment – map all digital assets and their vulnerabilities.

2. Separate IT from OT environments – minimize the risk of lateral attacks.

3. Adopt a layered defense model – firewalls, endpoint protection, and access controls.

4. Train your people – 80% of breaches start with human error; awareness is the best defense.

5. Create an incident-response plan – know how to react when (not if) a breach occurs.

6. Engage trusted advisors – regular audits and penetration testing ensure systems remain resilient.

6. How Mavins Saudi Arabia Supports Cyber-Resilience

At Mavins Saudi Arabia, we help industrial and manufacturing businesses strengthen their cyber-governance and resilience frameworks.
Our consultants work alongside management teams to:

• Develop and implement cyber-governance policies aligned with NCA standards.

• Conduct risk and readiness assessments for OT and IT environments.

• Build incident-response protocols and internal awareness programs.

• Integrate cybersecurity into the corporate governance and risk-management structure.

We focus on practical solutions — combining international best practice with local regulatory compliance to protect what matters most: your operations, data, and reputation.

7. Final Thought

Cybersecurity is no longer a technical expense — it’s a strategic investment.
For Saudi industrial leaders, the question is no longer if an attack might happen, but how ready your business is to withstand and recover from one.

At Mavins Saudi Arabia, we believe resilience is the new productivity — because a secure business is a sustainable business.