Ever since companies began storing information digitally, there have been cyber criminals intent on leeching and misusing that information. As such, cyber-security has been a hot topic as long as networked computers have been employed in the business world. Each year presents new challenges for cyber-security, and this one is no different.

One of the great hurdles cyber-security must overcome is the increased vulnerability of the growing mobile business sphere. "When your cell phone can communicate with your home security system or your car engine, the internal security measures that protect the mobile network must increase exponentially," says Karl Volkman of Manufacturing Business Technology. Another potential area of weakness is the burgeoning virtual payment industry – any time money is involved, says Volkman, security is an issue.

The cloud, especially with the recent scandals fresh on the minds of Americans, also remains a possible weak link in an economy that grows evermore interconnected as the years pass. On a related note, the prospect of security problems with telecommunication, something that has made significant use of the cloud in recent times, gives executives headaches.

Indeed, many of these worries have come to fruition and cost executives their jobs. Gregg Steifenhal of Target, who was released after the retailer's massive data break-in, is just one example of how CEOs are being held more responsible for IT breaches as the issue becomes more pertinent. This relatively new source of consternation is one of the key issues facing company leaders going into the new year, and is expected to cost businesses $30 billion dollars in cyber-security measures.

As technology becomes more and more the connective tissue of the manufacturing industry, growing concerns over cyber-security are understandable. At Accent Software, our experience with manufacturing ERP software and business management software solutions make us the perfect people to go to with those anxieties.