Not too long ago ZAG Technical Services released a statement discussing the ag industry’s vulnerabilities to cybersecurity threats.
In this episode of the “Tip of the Iceberg” podcast, ZAG Technical Services CEO Greg Gatzke discusses why ag is one of the most vulnerable business segments to cyberattacks and what business owners can do to be better prepared.
Gatzke said technology can mitigate or help most of agriculture’s most pressing issues such as water, labor and government regulations, but there’s another aspect to consider.
“As we build this technology to reduce the amount of labor required to manufacture produce and food, we become more dependent upon it and without that cybersecurity, we’re putting the business at risk,” he said.
Gatzke said one important measure for a company to take is to implement multifactor authentication on email and remote access. He said it can add an additional step for would-be cybercriminals.
“Your kids have [multifactor authentication] on their Gmail accounts,” he said. “Why do we not have them on corporate accounts?”
Agribusiness companies seeking assistance in improving cybersecurity should begin with an understanding of how long it would take to recover if there is a breach, Gatzke said. He also recommends asking a potential cybersecurity company where the business could improve its security.
“The takeaway is to understand your dependence upon IT, understand that your company cannot function in the way it does without IT and then understand if you recover and where your risk is at,” Gatzke said. “If you understand those things, then you can treat it just like you do every other line of business.”
