The FBI released a statement on April 20 warning farmers and those working in food and agriculture to be on high alert for an uptick in ransomware attacks within their industry. The reason? Harvest season. According to the FBI, ransomware attackers may be more likely to attack agricultural entities during critical planting and harvesting seasons.
Will Grocery Stores Be Affected?
While this comes as bad news for farmers, grocery suppliers should also be ready for more empty shelves. Hacked agricultural organizations will endure operation disruption and financial loss that could directly impact the nation’s food supply. In their statement, the FBI noted:
“A significant disruption of grain production could impact the entire food chain, since grain is not only consumed by humans but also used for animal feed.”
The U.S. agriculture industry has already experienced two ransomware attacks in 2022, both involving grain. In February, a feed milling company successfully halted an attempted ransomware attack on their systems. In March, a grain company was not so lucky, suffering a Lockbit 2.0 ransomware attack that impacted their grain processing, seed and fertilizer production, and logistics services – all critical services for spring planting.
How Can I Protect My Farm?
Falling victim to a ransomware attack is in no way inevitable. Cyberattacks are completely preventable, but require following strict digital hygiene.
Keep Your Systems Updated
Installing the latest security updates and patches on all of your devices is a fundamental step toward protecting yourself and your organization from a ransomware attack.
Train Your Employees
While you may know not to open that suspicious email, your coworkers may not be so tech-savvy. Make sure everyone in your team is on the same page by providing employee training on cybersecurity best practices.
Leverage Endpoint Protection
Secure your endpoints with threat detection and response and advanced antivirus and malware protection.
Need Help?
With so many precautions required, implementing proper security measures can seem overwhelming. Thankfully, Uprite Services can help you get started.
Now is the time to reach out to a cybersecurity partner you can trust. You can call Uprite Services today at 866-570-3065 to find out how we can protect your Texas business. We are a managed IT and cybersecurity provider specializing in solutions to streamline your business.