In cybersecurity, lateral movement refers to an attacker advancing within a network after gaining initial access. Attackers use internal reconnaissance and credential theft to escalate privileges and move between systems.

By exploiting trusted network architectures, they seek high-value targets, often turning minor breaches into major data compromises or system takeovers.

In manufacturing, lateral movement is particularly dangerous during IT/OT convergence. If a corporate laptop is compromised, attackers can pivot into the operational network and control industrial systems. This increases the risk of production downtime and endangers physical safety.