In today’s digital age, the importance of cyber security cannot be overstated, especially for businesses in the food processing and manufacturing industry.
Over the last five years, our industry has continued to embrace digital transformation within operations and the increasingly interconnected nature of global supply chains. Unfortunately, with the adoption of technologies such as IoT devices, cloud computing, supply chain management systems, and other digital tools, food and agriculture companies have become prime targets for bad actors. From phishing scams to ransomware attacks, these threats pose serious risks to the safety and integrity of your operations.
Cyber risk is increasing and so is the complexity of the attacks. In 2022, the FBI issued a flash alert to warn agriculture organizations that ransomware gangs were targeting attacks to coincide with critical planting and harvest seasons to inflict maximum damage. “According to the 2020 IC3 Report, IC3 received 2,474 complaints identified as ransomware with adjusted losses of over $29.1 million across all sectors. Separate studies have shown 50-80 percent of victims that paid the ransom experienced a repeat ransomware attack by either the same or different actors”.
The best way to combat a cyber-attack is to take the necessary steps to ensure that your organization isn’t an easy victim. It’s true – knowledge is power. So, now that we’ve laid the groundwork to help you understand the threat facing our industry, let’s zoom in on a particularly sneaky threat: email scams.
Getting to Know Common Email Scams:
Email scams are the most common type of cyberattack, but they’re also easy to prevent if you remain vigilant. These cyber-attacks often involve fake emails, aimed at tricking you into giving away sensitive information, downloading malware, or stealing your money. In the food processing world, you might encounter emails pretending to be from regulators asking for sensitive documents or suppliers requesting payments with altered details.
How to Double-Check Email Authenticity:
Authenticating emails is like putting on your detective hat to make sure they’re the real deal. Here’s how you can do it:
- Take a close look at the sender’s email address. Double check the spelling of the domain and anything about the format that strikes you as odd. As an example: if you receive an email from us, double check it’s coming from safefoodalliance.com NOT safoodalliance.com, safefoodaliance.com, OR safefood-alliance.com
- When in doubt, reach out! Verify requests for sensitive info or payments by giving the sender a call or reaching out through a trusted channel.
- Make sure you’re utilizing email authentication protocols. Your IT manager is here to help! Follow up with them and make sure your company is utilizing authentication protocols like SPF and DKIM to make sure email senders are who they say they are.
What do I do if an email looks suspicious?
If an email sets off your spidey senses, don’t panic! Treat a suspicious email the way you would treat a suspicious person – disengage and report.
- Resist the urge to click on any links or download attachments from the suspicious email.
- Double-check the sender’s identity through other means, like an old-fashioned phone call. Remember, when in doubt, reach out! Call the business and verify the email.
- Don’t keep it to yourself! Report any fishy emails to your IT crew or cyber security pals for a closer look.
Final Thoughts
Remember – constant vigilance. Staying education, informed, and vigilant is the best way to safeguard your organization. By recognizing the signs of a phishing scam, implementing authentication protocols, and fostering a culture of cyber security awareness among your team, you can significantly reduce the risk of email-based cyber-attacks. By being proactive on cyber security, not only do you protect your operations, but you also preserve consumer/buyer trust in your brand.
