For years, cybersecurity was judged by how well companies could keep intruders out. Firewalls, antivirus software, and detection tools formed the first — and often only — line of defence. But with increasingly sophisticated threats now breaching even the most fortified perimeters, logistics players are realising that preparedness to recover may matter more than the ability to prevent.
The report shows a clear evolution in mindset: nearly half (46%) of respondents ranked “response time to security incidents” as their top success metric in 2024. That’s up from 35% in 2022 and highlights a growing industry-wide focus on business continuity rather than breach avoidance alone.
For regional logistics firms operating in fast-moving environments like ports, warehouses, and last-mile fulfilment centres, this shift in metrics is more than a technical detail — it’s a survival strategy.
Intrusions are rising — and getting worse
The data paints a stark picture: one in three organisations suffered six or more intrusions in the past year, compared to just 11% in 2023. And it’s not just the number of attacks that’s rising — their impact is intensifying.
Among those affected, 52% reported degradation in brand awareness, 43% lost business-critical data, and 48% experienced physical safety risks within their operational environments. Ransomware, phishing, and business email compromise are now the leading culprits, with phishing alone jumping from 49% to 76% in just one year.
In logistics, where interlinked IT and OT systems control everything from customs clearance to automated picking lines, a single breach can cascade across entire networks. As operations grow smarter, they also grow more vulnerable.
Logistics isn’t just a target
As supply chains embrace Industry 4.0 technologies — from IoT-enabled trailers to cloud-based fleet management systems — their attack surface has widened dramatically.
In the Middle East, where national transformation plans and rapid digitalisation are reshaping logistics infrastructure, this creates a high-stakes dilemma.
Automated warehouse systems, for instance, are especially susceptible to malware propagation or credential compromise. Likewise, ports and free zones that rely on digital twins and real-time visibility tools are exposed to mobile breaches and DDoS attacks. With 73% of organisations now reporting that intrusions have impacted OT systems, logistics operations are increasingly on the front lines of this cyber battle.
What leaders are doing right
Amid the surge in threats, some companies are turning the corner — by embedding cyber resilience into their core operations.
Internal segmentation has surged to 60% adoption in 2024, up from just 35% two years ago. Role-based access controls, security training, and network orchestration tools are also gaining traction. These tools are essential not only for preventing intrusion but also for containing and responding to incidents rapidly and efficiently when they happen.
Moreover, executive awareness is finally catching up to the risk. The number of organisations reporting OT security issues directly to senior leadership has risen sharply, with OT now more frequently included in board-level risk assessments. In some cases, OT cybersecurity responsibility has been elevated from plant-level managers to CISOs and VP-level executives — a critical step in ensuring appropriate funding and oversight.
Protecting the brand
A critical driver of this change is the growing reputational risk associated with cyber breaches. As global regulations — such as the US SEC’s Cybersecurity Incident Disclosure Rule — demand faster public reporting of intrusions, companies can no longer bury the fallout.
In the Middle East, where logistics operators are vying to position themselves as trusted global trade facilitators, brand credibility is everything. Customers and governments alike are asking the same question: Can we trust this supply chain to keep moving — even during a crisis?
The ability to answer “yes” depends less on stopping every breach and more on building the capacity to respond quickly, limit damage, and restore services without disruption.
It’s time to reframe security as an enabler of growth, not just a cost centre. In a world where it’s no longer possible to prevent every attack, the smartest logistics leaders are investing in the one thing that will always matter: the power to bounce back.
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