Why Are Agriculture Businesses a Growing Target for Cyberattacks?
Agriculture is now one of the fastest-growing targets for cybercriminals. Ransomware attacks on food and agriculture companies more than doubled in early 2025, with 84 incidents reported in the first quarter alone, according to the Food and Ag-ISAC. For Central Illinois ag businesses, from grain operations and food processors to equipment dealers and seed companies, the threat is no longer hypothetical. Here is what is driving these attacks and what you can do to protect your operation.
At a glance: Ransomware attacks on food and agriculture businesses doubled in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. CISA classifies food and agriculture as one of the 16 sectors of U.S. critical infrastructure. The Food and Ag-ISAC recorded 265 ransomware incidents targeting the sector in 2025, up from 212 in 2024. Most attacks enter through phishing emails, unpatched software, and unsecured remote access, all of which are preventable. A single ransomware event can shut down processing lines, delay shipments, and cost hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost production.
Why Is Agriculture Suddenly a Target for Cyberattacks?
Agriculture was not always on the radar for cybercriminals. But the sector has gone through a rapid technology shift over the past decade. Automated irrigation, GPS-guided equipment, IoT sensors, cloud-based farm management platforms, ERP systems in processing plants, and connected supply chain tools have all expanded the number of entry points attackers can use.
At the same time, many ag operations invest less in cybersecurity than comparably sized businesses in other industries. That gap between technology adoption and security readiness is exactly what ransomware groups look for. The FBI has identified four major threat categories facing U.S. agriculture: ransomware attacks, foreign malware, data and intellectual property theft, and bioterrorism.
A ransomware group is a criminal organization that deploys malicious software to lock a company’s files and systems, then demands payment to restore access. These groups increasingly target industries where every hour of lost production creates pressure to pay quickly.
How Bad Is the Problem Right Now?
The numbers are stark. According to a 2025 Check Point Research report, agriculture experienced a 101% year-over-year increase in cyberattacks globally, the largest jump of any industry. In the United States, attacks on the sector rose 38%.
The Food and Ag-ISAC’s 2025 ransomware report tracked 265 attacks on food and agriculture companies over the year. That is up from 212 in 2024 and 167 in 2023. In total, ransomware now accounts for 53% of all known cyber threats facing the industry.
These are not just attacks on massive corporations. Iowa State University’s Center for Cybersecurity Innovation has noted that small and mid-size agricultural operations are being hit regularly. As one researcher put it, a $5,000 theft from a family farm does not make national news, but it still devastates the business.
What Makes Ag Operations Especially Vulnerable?
Several factors make agricultural businesses more exposed than the average office-based company.
Legacy equipment and mixed technology. Many ag businesses run a combination of modern cloud platforms alongside older systems that were never designed with security in mind. A processing plant might have PLC-controlled equipment from the early 2000s sharing a network with a brand-new ERP system. That mix creates gaps.
Flat networks with no segmentation. In a flat network, everything from the front office computers to the plant floor controls to the security cameras sits on the same network. If an attacker gets into one system, they can move laterally to everything else. Network segmentation is the practice of dividing a network into separate zones so that a breach in one area cannot spread to another.
Remote vendor access. Equipment vendors, software providers, and service technicians often have remote access to systems inside your operation. Without proper controls, those connections become open doors.
Seasonal urgency. During planting, harvest, and peak processing seasons, ag businesses cannot afford to be offline. Attackers know this. They time their demands to moments when the pressure to pay and get back to work is highest.
Limited IT staffing. Many ag companies in Central Illinois do not have a dedicated IT team. The person managing technology might also be managing operations, which means security monitoring, patching, and backup testing often fall behind.
What Does a Cyberattack Actually Look Like for an Ag Business?
It does not always start with a dramatic ransom note. Many attacks begin with a phishing email that looks like a routine invoice, a shipping notification, or a message from a vendor. An employee clicks a link, enters credentials on a fake login page, and the attacker is inside the network.
From there, the attacker may sit quietly for days or weeks, mapping the network and identifying the most damaging systems to lock down. When the ransomware deploys, it can encrypt everything from accounting files and customer records to the software that runs processing lines and inventory management.
JBS Foods, the world’s largest meat processor, was forced to shut down all U.S. beef plants after a ransomware attack in 2021. The company paid $11 million to restore operations. Americold Logistics, one of the largest cold storage companies in the country, was hit twice, once in 2020 and again in 2023, with attacks that disrupted phone systems, email, inventory management, and order fulfillment.
These are large companies with dedicated security teams. For a 50-person food processor or a regional grain operation, the impact of a similar attack would be proportionally devastating.
What Can Central Illinois Ag Businesses Do Right Now?
You do not need a massive budget or a full-time security staff to make meaningful improvements. Start with the items that close the most common attack pathways.
Turn on multi-factor authentication (MFA) everywhere. MFA is a login method that requires a second verification step, like a code sent to your phone, in addition to your password. It stops the vast majority of credential-based attacks. Every email account, remote access tool, and cloud application your business uses should have MFA turned on.
Test your backups. Having backups is not enough. You need to verify that you can actually restore from them and know how long that process takes. If your recovery time is measured in weeks instead of hours, that is a gap you need to close now. Facet Technologies offers backup and instant recovery services that are built around getting businesses back online fast.
Segment your network. Separate your office systems from your plant floor, your guest Wi-Fi from your production network, and your vendor access from your internal systems. This limits how far an attacker can move if they get in.
Review who has remote access. Make a list of every vendor, technician, and employee who can connect to your systems remotely. Remove access for anyone who no longer needs it. Require MFA for everyone who does.
Train your people. Most attacks start with a human mistake. Regular phishing simulations and security awareness training turn your team from a vulnerability into a line of defense.
Patch your systems. Ransomware groups routinely target known software vulnerabilities that already have available fixes. Keeping operating systems, firewalls, and applications up to date closes those doors.
How Does Facet Technologies Help Agriculture Businesses?
Facet Technologies has provided IT and cybersecurity services to Central Illinois businesses for over 35 years, including clients in agriculture, food processing, and manufacturing. We understand the specific challenges ag operations face: mixed legacy environments, multi-site connectivity, seasonal production demands, and the need for technology that works reliably without a full-time IT department on staff.
Our approach starts with a cybersecurity risk assessment that maps your current exposure, from network architecture and backup readiness to vendor access and endpoint protection. From there, we build a plan based on what actually matters for your operation, not a one-size-fits-all checklist.
Facet’s managed detection and response (MDR) service provides 24/7 monitoring through an external security operations center, with threats addressed in minutes. Combined with endpoint detection and response, email security, dark web monitoring, and employee training, we build layered protection that covers the ways attackers actually get in.
We also work with ag businesses that already have internal IT staff through our co-managed IT program, adding security architecture, cloud migration support, and strategic planning without replacing the people who already know your operation.
Is the Government Doing Anything About Agriculture Cybersecurity?
Yes, and the federal response is accelerating. CISA classifies food and agriculture as one of 16 critical infrastructure sectors and has published a sector-specific cybersecurity checklist with free resources.
The Farm and Food Cybersecurity Act, reintroduced in Congress, would direct USDA to invest in cybersecurity research and crisis simulation exercises specific to agriculture. Additional legislation would establish regional cybersecurity research centers at universities with dedicated funding for ag-focused security training and workforce development.
The American Farm Bureau Federation has also partnered with the Food and Ag-ISAC to strengthen cyber awareness across the sector. These are positive steps, but they are primarily research and awareness programs. The actual work of securing your business still falls on you and the partners you choose to work with.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are cybercriminals targeting agriculture businesses?
Agriculture has adopted technology rapidly, from connected equipment to cloud-based management platforms, but cybersecurity investment has not kept pace. Attackers target industries where the gap between technology use and security readiness is wide, and where the pressure to restore operations quickly increases the chance of a ransom payment.
What is the most common type of cyberattack on farms and food processors?
Ransomware is the most common threat, accounting for 53% of all known cyber incidents in the food and agriculture sector according to the Food and Ag-ISAC. Phishing emails are the most frequent entry point, followed by exploitation of unpatched software vulnerabilities.
Are small ag businesses really at risk, or just large corporations?
Small and mid-size operations are targeted regularly. Ransomware groups often use automated scanning to find vulnerable systems regardless of company size. A 50-person food processor or family-owned grain operation with weak security is just as likely to be hit as a national brand.
What is the first thing an ag business should do to improve cybersecurity?
Turn on multi-factor authentication across all email accounts, remote access tools, and cloud applications. This single step blocks the majority of credential-based attacks and costs nothing to implement on most platforms.
How much does a cyberattack cost an agriculture business?
Costs vary widely depending on the size of the operation and the severity of the attack. For mid-size businesses, a ransomware event can cost anywhere from tens of thousands to over a million dollars when you factor in lost production time, recovery expenses, legal costs, and reputational damage.
Does Facet Technologies work with agriculture companies in Central Illinois?
Yes. Facet Technologies has served ag businesses, food processors, and manufacturers across Central Illinois for over 35 years. Our team provides managed IT, cybersecurity, backup and recovery, and strategic IT planning designed for businesses with 10 to 500 employees. Learn more at facettech.com/it-for-ag.
What is the Food and Ag-ISAC?
The Food and Agriculture Information Sharing and Analysis Center, or Food and Ag-ISAC, is a nonprofit organization that collects and shares cybersecurity threat intelligence specific to the food and agriculture sector. It partners with federal agencies, universities, and private companies to help the industry stay ahead of emerging threats.
How often should an ag business review its cybersecurity?
At minimum, once per year with a full risk assessment, and again any time you add new technology, change vendors, or experience a security event. Facet Technologies includes quarterly strategic planning reviews as part of its managed services agreements to keep security current with your operation.
If you are running an ag business in Central Illinois and want to understand where your operation stands, we are happy to walk through it with you. No pressure, just a clear picture of your current risk and the practical steps to address it. Call us at (309) 689-3900 or reach out at facettech.com/contact-us.
Ellie Shaw is the Director of Marketing at Facet and the author of Cyber Treats, Facet's biweekly newsletter featuring topics like IT news, cybersecurity updates, compliance advice, and anything tech. She has been a member of the Facet team full-time since 2016 and enjoys finding new ways to share resources and information about cybersecurity with others.