Is your business cyber safe?

Primary producers might also have thought their use of a laptop in recording stock movements or grain yields was so innocuous, their information would never be breached and so were blissfully unaware of the potential for compromise.

That is until last week when the beef industry worldwide was rocked by the cyber attack on the global JBS beef processing conglomerate and the subsequent disruption to international beef supplies.

It did expose the fragility of a system which can apparently be so easily disrupted.

Although the server breach was limited to a few days, and JBS were able to resume operations fairly quickly, the attack does pose a very serious question, and one which should be addressed by all, not just those who have a public profile.

How secure is your farm business, trucking operation, stock and station agency or sale yards, to name a few agricultural industries at potential risk?

The cyber attack and not the first against a global organisation highlights the apparent ease with which a determined group can crack an algorithm and enter the mainstream business server.

The production, processing and distribution of our foodstuffs is the basis of our lives and we have seen during this past week how easily that food chain can be broken and cause hardship for many people.

The breach of the JBS system was not the first breakin to damage a meat processing firm: in April the operation of a company in New Zealand was interrupted for a week before a backup system could be installed.

In that case, business eventually returned and the ransom demanded was not paid.

But the latest cyber attack is a timely 'wake-up' call to the entire community; not just agriculture and many involved with food production are taking immediate steps to be 'cyber ready'.

Australian Livestock and Property Agents (ALPA) CEO Peter Baldwin said the cyber attack on JBS was a 'stark reminder' of the vulnerability of businesses where so much is relied upon through their computer systems.

He said the peak body acknowledges each member agency has the responsibility to ensure their business and that of their clients is secure from cyber attack.

"Our first instinct is to protect the interests of our members and we do urge them to be ready, aware, alert and able" Mr Baldwin said. "This is the real deal, we are being targeted by selfish groups and we must be prepared."

Mr Baldwin indicated ALPA is hosting a series of webinars which will inform and educate members on the risks of a cyber attack.

"That event last week was illuminating to us," he said.

"It showed we cannot be complacent, that it can occur at any time and anywhere.

"There is no freedom now in the open plains, this attack strikes at the very heart of our society."

Mr Baldwin said ALPA intends to actively roll out webinars to inform their members: and the first one will allow them to experience a simulated ransomware attack scenario that business leaders across every industry could someday face.

Among the many points to be considered during the webinars, Mr Baldwin noted members will learn to make the most appropriate response to ransomware attack along with reviewing key strategies for evidence preservation, negotiating with hackers, public relations and retaining outside experts and law enforcement.

"With that background information, members will be able to take decisive action to protect sensitive business knowledge from being hacked," he said. "We are initiating these webinars to enable our members to understand best practices to reduce the risk and withstand a major business disruption due to a cyber attack."

According to an IT specialist with Australian Community Media, the owner of this masthead, it is 'relatively' easy to hack a computer system, if you have the knowledge, patience and determination.

One of the most common points of entry is through a scam email suggesting a change to your password or the opportunity to participate in a 'get-rich-quick' scheme.

The advice to not open unfamiliar emails is widely broadcast, yet many people succumb and leave themselves exposed to extortion.

The cost to Australia in terms of downtime and ransom paid last year has been reported to be $2.6b across numerous industries. It is not surprising therefore, cyber security experts are calling for vigilance but also appropriately heavy penalties for hackers once convicted.

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