As industries accelerate the adoption of automation and smart technologies, the exposure of interconnected environments to cyber risks continues to expand. The security of cyber physical systems is facing increasing pressure from advanced cyber threats that impact both digital networks and physical operations simultaneously. Attackers often exploit weak authentication mechanisms, legacy software, and interconnected sensors to compromise critical services and disrupt operations. This article examines key threats such as ransomware attacks on industrial environments, manipulation of control systems, and breaches of data integrity. It also outlines modern defense strategies including AI-powered anomaly detection, secure communication protocols, and layered cybersecurity architectures. The analysis emphasizes early risk identification and resilience building. Insights from International Security Journal underline that robust cyber-physical protection is essential for operational safety, risk reduction, and uninterrupted system performance.