We rely extensively on information technology systems, networks, and cloud-based platforms, including those operated by vendors, suppliers, and other third parties, to support our business operations. We and our third party providers are regularly subject to cybersecurity threats and attempted cyberattacks of varying types and degrees of sophistication, including phishing, social engineering, malware, ransomware, unauthorized access attempts, and other malicious activities. Such threats are common across our industry, continue to increase in frequency and sophistication, and may be difficult to prevent, detect, or mitigate, particularly as AI capabilities evolve to allow increasingly complex cyberattacks. Actual or perceived cybersecurity vulnerabilities or software or firmware defects affecting our products or services could also expose our customers’ systems, data, or operations to unauthorized access or other adverse impacts. This risk may be heightened as our products are deployed in increasingly interconnected enterprise, cloud, edge, and data center environments.
We have implemented security measures designed to prevent, detect, and respond to cybersecurity threats, but these measures may not be effective against all threats or prevent every incident. We cannot guarantee that our or our third party providers’ products, systems, components, software, or infrastructure are free of exploitable defects, bugs, or vulnerabilities, and use of AI technologies by us or our customers, suppliers, or other third parties may increase the complexity and effectiveness of cybersecurity threats and introduce new vulnerabilities into systems, software, products, and business processes. A cybersecurity incident or other compromise of our products, systems, or AI technologies used in our business, or those of our customers or third party providers, could result in unauthorized access to, disclosure, loss, misuse, or corruption of proprietary, confidential, or personal information, including intellectual property or information about our manufacturing, financials, customers, or employees. Cybersecurity incidents, as well as efforts to prevent, detect, or respond to such incidents, also may impair the functionality of our products, information technology systems, manufacturing operations, supply chain activities, product development efforts, or other critical business functions, or result in increased costs associated with investigation, containment, remediation and recovery, product updates, customer support, customer claims, contractual disputes, litigation, indemnification obligations, regulatory investigations, fines or penalties, damage to our reputation, and reduced sales or profitability. Any of these events, whether affecting our systems directly, the products and services we provide, or the systems of third parties on which we depend, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.