Modern farms are more connected than ever. With smart sensors and automation, agriculture can manage everything from crop yields to livestock. Yet, as technology becomes more embedded into the industry’s operations, so do cybersecurity risks. Agricultural operations must understand the vulnerabilities and implement security measures to protect equipment, data and livelihoods.

Why Cyber Risk Assessments Matter in Agriculture

Farming may seem like an unlikely target for cybercriminals, but the industry is increasingly in their crosshairs. Cyberthreats are growing alarmingly fast, and a single attack can disrupt supply chains, halt production and put food security at risk.

In 2021, JBS USA Holdings experienced a ransomware attack that forced temporary plant shutdowns. The company — responsible for one-fifth of the nation’s meat supply — paid an $11 million ransom in bitcoin to prevent further disruptions. A breach of this magnitude can have widespread consequences for food production and distribution.

However, farms are at even steeper risk when they use services from other businesses. For instance, First American Financial Corp. fell victim to a data breach that compromised 885 million customers’ accounts, exposing sensitive financial records.

While this attack targeted a financial institution, farms and agribusinesses that rely on banking services and digital payments are vulnerable, too. A breach in these areas could expose their financial information, disrupt payments or lead to fraud.

Therefore, a cybersecurity risk assessment is crucial to protect the entire agricultural ecosystem. When done correctly, a comprehensive evaluation can identify weak points and ensure farms remain productive and financially stable.

Step-by-Step Risk Assessment Process

Conducting a cybersecurity risk assessment requires a structured approach. Farmers can use the following framework to identify vulnerabilities, evaluate risks and systematically implement safeguards.

1. Identify Assets

The first step in a cyber risk assessment is identifying all the digital and physical assets vulnerable to threats. These include technology that stores, processes or transmits data and equipment essential to farm operations.

Start by taking inventory of all hardware used in daily operations, such as farm computers, mobile devices and GPS-enabled machinery. Next, evaluate the software and digital systems in use. Cloud-based storage solutions contain valuable operational data that hackers could compromise. Accounting and payrolls are especially attractive to cybercriminals looking to steal sensitive information.

To get a full picture of cyber risks, companies must create a detailed inventory of all assets. Note where the company stores them, who has access to them and what security measures are in place.

2. Identify Threats

One of the best-known threats is ransomware attacks, where cybercriminals lock access to software or systems until the company pays. Phishing scams are another concern. These scams trick people into revealing login credentials and financial information and are becoming increasingly sophisticated.

Meanwhile, internal threats are just as concerning as external ones. Employees often become entry points for cyberthreats. A recent survey found that 80% of chief information security officers view workers as security risks, with 74% citing negligent employees as a significant vulnerability. Staff members may use weak passwords, click on malicious links or fail to follow security protocols.

To effectively mitigate these threats, farming businesses must assess how each risk could impact their operations.

3. Determine Vulnerabilities

Next, pinpoint weaknesses that cybercriminals could exploit. Vulnerabilities can exist in outdated software, weak security protocols or human error, so assessing which gaps pose risks is essential.

Many farm operations employ management platforms, inventory tracking systems and financial tools. If any sources become outdated, the software requires regular updates to fix security flaws. However, failing to apply these updates can leave systems exposed.

The software can be especially concerning as agricultural businesses adopt more digital tools. While large organizations use an average of 367 different software applications, even small farms need multiple platforms to handle operations. The more systems in use, the higher the chance of an unaddressed security gap.

Thoroughly assessing where vulnerabilities exist enables measures to close these gaps. Farming organizations can keep their operations secure by strengthening weak points.

4. Evaluate the Level of Impact

Not all risks carry the same weight — some may result in minor disruptions, while others could lead to drastic financial losses and supply chain disruptions. Therefore, the level of impact depends on the type of asset affected.

For example, a management software system breach could decrease productivity and delay shipments. Meanwhile, a hacked smart feeding mechanism could harm crops and livestock, leading to production losses and food safety concerns.

To evaluate risk impact, farmers can use a matrix that categorizes threats as low, moderate or high based on how disruptive they would be to operations. By understanding the potential consequences, agribusiness leaders can make informed decisions on where to focus their cybersecurity efforts.

5. Develop a Mitigation Plan

A robust mitigation strategy prioritizes the most critical risks and implements practical security measures. Tactics may include strengthening access controls by implementing multifactor authentication. Farmers should also authorize specific personnel as the only people with access to sensitive systems.

Data backup and recovery protocols can also be part of the mitigation plan, ensuring farms can restore data after a system failure or cyberattack. Other tactics include scheduling software and hardware updates and implementing firewalls to keep networks and data secure.

Lastly, employee training and awareness are crucial. Since human error is a leading cause of cyber incidents, farmers and workers should undertake ongoing education to recognize suspicious activity and follow best practices.

Securing the Future of Farming

The risk of cyberattacks continues growing as farms become more reliant on digital technology. A cybersecurity risk assessment is essential for protecting critical business operations and financial records. Evaluating the risks allows agribusiness owners to develop a mitigation plan that keeps their companies safe.