With the emerging digitization of the food manufacturing industry, it also faces a growing and often overlooked threat: cybersecurity attacks. A single breach can have devastating consequences – not just for businesses, but for entire supply chains. And a single cyberattack can potentially disrupt food production and distribution on a considerable scale. 

You might be surprised to learn that food manufacturing ranked 7^th among the 10 most targeted industries for cyberattacks, with over 160 reported cyberattacks in 2023 alone. Organizations like the Food and Agriculture-Information Sharing and Analysis Center (Food and Ag-ISAC) actively report these incidents, shedding light on who the attackers are and how they operate. 

What makes the Food Industry so Vulnerable? 

Food manufacturing relies heavily on industrial control systems (ICS) – many of which run on outdated software that simply isn’t built to resist modern cyber threats. Back in 2019, the Food Protection and Defense warned that these aging systems make the sector an easy target for hackers. 

Other risks that are typical to the food and beverage industry are that companies often operate on tight margins and produce perishable goods. Not only does this mean that food companies may not have the most up-to-date systems, but also putting businesses under immense pressure to resolve cyberattacks quickly – often by paying ransom to cybercriminals just to keep operations running. 

Impact of cyberattacks 

Examples of cyberattacks in food manufacturing over the years give a shocking sense of the consequences: plant shutdowns, distribution delays, financial losses and even risks to food safety.  

Join the Conversation 

So, how can food and beverage manufacturers protect their business, products, and workers from these threats? That’s exactly what we’ll be discussing at the upcoming CFBN event March 27. Join us as industry experts break down the risks, and even more importantly, the solutions. Sign up here.