Jaguar Land Rover Restarts Some IT Systems After Cyber-Attack
LONDON - Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has begun a "phased restart" of its operations, with parts of its IT system back up and running, following a cyber-attack in August that forced the company to shut down its networks. The carmaker's production lines have been suspended since then.
According to JLR, it is now working to clear a backlog of payments to suppliers as it has increased its processing capacity for invoicing. The company said this was made possible by restarting some of its IT systems.
The prime minister's office confirmed that the government is "working 24/7" on a support package for suppliers amid growing concerns that some, mostly small businesses, could go bust due to the prolonged shutdown of operations. Sir Keir Starmer, leader of the opposition, said the situation faced by suppliers was "urgent", but admitted no support plan had yet been finalised.
"I am acutely aware of the urgency of the situation and the difficulties that many of these companies are inevitably finding themselves, through no fault of course of their own," he told the BBC. Various ideas have been put forward over the past few days to help mitigate the impact on suppliers, including emergency loans and temporary tax breaks.
The cyber-attack in August was a major disruption for JLR, which has since taken steps to enhance its cybersecurity measures. The company's factories remain closed until next month at the earliest.
JLR's IT systems were compromised by the attack, causing significant delays in production and supply chain management. The company's restart plan is expected to take several weeks to complete, with some suppliers still waiting for payments.
The incident highlights the growing threat of cyber-attacks on critical infrastructure, including manufacturing companies like JLR. Experts say that such attacks can have far-reaching consequences, not just for the affected company but also for its suppliers and customers.
As JLR continues to restart its operations, it is expected to face intense scrutiny over its cybersecurity measures and response to the attack. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of robust cybersecurity protocols in today's digital age.
In related news, the government has announced plans to increase funding for cybersecurity research and development, with a focus on protecting critical infrastructure from cyber threats.
*Reporting by Bbc.*
