ARM Hub Urges Manufacturers to Audit Digital Systems
The organisation is calling for critical security upgrades as businesses prepare for increased AI integration.
Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Cybersecurity
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The Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Hub is advising Australian manufacturers to perform comprehensive technology audits to secure legacy systems against cyber threats. The move comes as businesses look to adopt artificial intelligence while facing persistent digital extortion risks.
Why it matters
Legacy software and connected machinery leave companies vulnerable to bad actors who use AI to exploit unpatched security flaws. Proper infrastructure assessment is a necessary precursor to successfully integrating new AI capabilities without exposing sensitive data.
Censys data shows that approximately 1.5 million of the 2.6 million total PHP hosts surveyed lacked necessary security patches in October 2026. These figures highlight the critical state of unpatched internet-facing services across digital infrastructure.
The players
ARM Hub
This organisation provides Australian manufacturers with technology audits, industry roadmaps, and prototyping services to foster industrial innovation.
Australian Signals Directorate
As the national cyber intelligence agency, it provides guidance and warnings to help Australian businesses and government entities protect against malicious digital activity.
Censys
This technology company monitors internet-connected devices and hosts to provide data on global security vulnerabilities and internet-wide digital trends.
ZeroFox
This cybersecurity firm specialises in monitoring external digital threats, ransomware campaigns, and malicious activity targeting various global industries.
The details
Manufacturers are encouraged to map their entire environment, including data sources and internet-facing machinery, to identify unsupported software. The Australian Signals Directorate suggests that immediate patching and the removal of legacy systems are vital to mitigating risks posed by ransomware and digital exploitation.
Timeline
Manufacturing has been the most targeted industry for ransomware since 2021.
During the second quarter of 2026, manufacturing remained the primary target for digital extortion.
As of October 2026, over half of all surveyed PHP hosts were identified as lacking current security fixes.
The Tech Race
This initiative follows the protective frameworks established by the Australian Signals Directorate Information Security Manual to secure national industry. As firms transition from legacy environments to modern AI-driven architectures, they must replace outdated systems to remain competitive.
Manufacturers may see increased focus on internal software updates and restricted access to older, unsupported machinery to prevent network breaches. These changes ensure that data remains protected even as companies integrate advanced AI tools into their daily workflows.
The takeaway
Manufacturers should prioritise regular system audits to identify and patch vulnerabilities before adopting complex new technologies. Maintaining updated software remains the most effective defence against the rising tide of digital extortion targeting the industrial sector.
Further reading
For more information on national security best practices, visit the Cybersecurity section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Australian Manufacturing.
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