Need a policy because of a recent regulatory change? We’ve got it for you. Need some quick training on a specific HR topic? We’ve got it for you. HR Insider provides the resources you need to craft, implement and monitor policies with confidence. Our team of experts (which includes lawyers, analysts and HR professionals) keep track of complex legislation, pending changes, new interpretations and evolving case law to provide you with the policies and procedures to keep you ahead of problems. FIND OUT MORE...
Digital Risk: Remote-Monitoring, IoT Sensors and Data Integrity Stats and Facts

FACTS

  • A Sensor Is Only as Reliable as Its Data: A sensor that is miscalibrated, compromised, or malfunctioning does not report an unsafe condition — it reports a number. Workers acting on false data face hazards that are invisible until they become injuries.
  • Remote Access Is a Two-Way Door: Systems that allow authorized users to monitor conditions remotely can also be accessed by unauthorized parties. Without proper authentication and firewalls, remote access is an open channel to every safety-critical system it connects to.
  • Data Integrity Is a Safety Issue: Altered or falsified sensor readings can mask dangerous conditions — low oxygen levels, high chemical concentrations, equipment faults — until it is too late for a worker to respond.
  • IoT Devices Are Frequently Unmanaged: Many industrial IoT sensors are not regularly patched or monitored for abnormal behavior, creating persistent vulnerabilities in systems workers depend on for safety information.
  • Automation Can Fail Silently: A compromised or misconfigured safety system may continue to appear functional while providing no real protection. A green light on a dashboard is not the same as a confirmed safe condition.

STATS

  • The average cost of a manufacturing sector data breach reached $4.97 million in 2024, not including regulatory fines and business interruption losses, according to industrial cybersecurity research.
  • 77 percent of industrial firms remain in the initial phases of OT security implementation, with none fully secured, according to OT/IoT security industry research.
  • 15.14 billion IoT devices are projected to be installed worldwide by 2029, significantly expanding the attack surface in safety-critical environments.
  • On February 5, 2021, a hacker gained unauthorized remote access to the Oldsmar, Florida water treatment plant and increased sodium hydroxide concentration from 100 to 11,100 parts per million — a level capable of causing severe chemical burns or death. An alert worker noticed and reversed it before it reached consumers.
  • Manufacturing was the most targeted sector for ransomware in 2025, with a 58 percent year-over-year increase in victims across industrial organizations, according to GuidePoint Security.
  • 34 of the 39 most frequently exploited IoT vulnerabilities have been known for more than three years on average — meaning most successful attacks exploit already-documented, preventable weaknesses, according to Asimily's 2024 IoT Device Security Report.