By Andi Anderson
October is recognized as Cybersecurity Awareness Month, but experts emphasize that online safety is a year-round priority for farmers and agribusinesses.
Data breaches and compromised systems can be devastating to the agricultural industry, making it critical for farmers to adopt strong cybersecurity practices.
Doug Jacobson, professor at Iowa State University and director of the Center for Cybersecurity Innovation and Outreach, stresses the growing importance of cybersecurity as farmers increasingly rely on technology to manage crops and livestock.
"We need to safeguard our activity as external actors are always looking to disrupt," he explains.
Simple preventive measures, such as using multi-factor authentication, creating strong passwords, and being cautious with suspicious phone calls or websites, can help reduce cyber risks.
Jacobson, along with other experts, provides practical cybersecurity advice through a series of videos available on the Ag Decision Maker website.
These videos cover key topics like protecting financial data, managing business email compromises, and building a cybersecurity toolkit for farms.
Jim Hoflen, an advisor for the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, also encourages farmers to take small steps to avoid being easy targets for cyberattacks. “A few simple actions can prevent many problems,” he says.
The videos, moderated by Ann Johanns from ISU Extension and Outreach, feature both experts and farmers sharing their experiences.
They offer valuable insights into the importance of cybersecurity in the agricultural industry and how to easily incorporate best practices into daily operations.
By taking time to implement basic cybersecurity measures, farmers and agribusinesses can protect themselves from potential cyber threats and secure their future.
Photo Credit: istock-dusanpetkovic
Categories: Iowa, General