Hey there! Let’s chat about something that’s been cooking on the tech front in the dairy industry. Have you heard? The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) and the Food and Agriculture – Information Sharing Analysis Center (Food and Ag-ISAC) are teaming up. You might wonder – why?
Well, it’s simple – cybercrime is skyrocketing. Food companies are getting hit more and more. Sadly, our beloved dairy industry hasn’t been spared. Some heavy blow cyber attacks have crashed in, causing chaos and cost skyrockets. In cold cash terms, this means losses in millions. If that’s not enough, add in production delays, losses in reputation, and customers walking away. The scale of damage can be massive for dairy businesses.
The good news is IDFA is not sitting idle. They’ve ramped up their cybersecurity efforts. A couple of years back, they created the Dairy Technology and Innovation Network. This is a platform for tech and information leaders in the dairy sector to pool their thinking, share their best practices, and ignite innovation. They even organized DairyTech conferences focusing on cybersecurity. The main goal? Raise the awareness of threats and share tried and true methods for improving cybersecurity among dairy organizations.
But the IDFA didn’t stop there. They teamed up with Food and Ag-ISAC to get regular briefings and resources for their members, keeping them updated about new threats and strengthening their defenses.
You might wonder – who are Food and Ag-ISAC? They sprang into existence in May 2023 after being a special group under IT-ISAC for the past 10 years. They work with companies in the food and agriculture sector to provide vendor-neutral threat analysis, share intelligence between peers, and support informed risk management.
Michael Dykes, D.V.M., president and CEO of IDFA, sums it all up when he says: “The unwelcome spotlight is on dairy companies when it comes to cyber criminals. We need to stay two steps ahead, and we can do this by working together, sharing information and experiences on how to blindside disruptive attempts.”
Scott Algeier, Executive Director of the Food and Ag-ISAC, echoed similar sentiments, affirming the importance of toughening security across the supply chain in light of the interconnected nature of the food and agriculture industry. He added that the collaboration with IDFA will ensure that the dairy industry remains informed and prepared against threats.
Through this new partnership, IDFA members and the dairy tech communit, will continually be briefed on cybersecurity risks and best practices. And to top it off, a guide on Food and Ag Cybersecurity has been released for small to medium-sized dairy businesses. Handy, huh?
So, my friends in the healthcare and cybersecurity realm, it’s clear that just like a spent coffee cup, a casual attitude towards cyber threats is something we can no longer afford to leave on the table. Partnership, collaboration, vigilance, and ongoing efforts to stay abreast of best practices are the flavor of the day. Stay informed, stay connected, and keep our dairy businesses cyber safe.
by Morgan Phisher | HEAL Security
