Farms using sensors, robotics and precision-agriculture technology need to protect both the connected devices and the data they create. The core steps are to separate this equipment onto its own part of the network, keep its software and firmware updated, protect every account with multi-factor authentication, back up the data, and monitor for anything unusual. Connected kit makes farming more efficient, but each device is also a potential way in for an attacker.
As food production becomes more digital and more connected, it also becomes a more attractive target. Disruption to sprayers, drones, robotic harvesters or the data behind them can hit a farm’s output directly. Here is how to use the technology safely.
1. Separate connected equipment from the rest
Sensors, cameras and machinery should sit on their own network segment, kept apart from the PCs that hold your accounts and personal data. If one device is compromised, segmentation stops the problem spreading to the rest of the business.
2. Keep devices updated
Connected equipment runs software that needs updating just like a computer. Manufacturers release fixes for security flaws, so keeping firmware current, and replacing kit that’s no longer supported, closes off known weaknesses.
3. Protect accounts and data
The platforms and apps that control farm technology are protected by accounts, so multi-factor authentication and strong passwords matter. Change default passwords on every device, and back up the data your equipment produces so a failure or attack doesn’t wipe out your records.
4. Monitor and have a plan
Monitoring helps spot a device behaving oddly before it becomes a bigger problem. A simple plan for what to do if equipment is disrupted, including who to call and how you keep operating, turns an incident into a manageable event.
A real example: security that builds trust
We helped a client become cyber security compliant to meet a customer’s requirements and win a large tender, which grew their business. As food and farming supply chains pay more attention to security, demonstrable good practice increasingly helps you win and keep business.
For a farm or rural business, this security is part of managed IT that usually costs about £45 to £100 per user per month, rather than being a separate purchase, so the controls are maintained, monitored and tested, not just installed once.
The threats that hit modern farms hardest
As more equipment connects to the network, the risks grow:
- Ransomware that locks farm management and accounts software
- Insecure sensors, robotics and controllers used as a way in
- Account takeover through phishing and weak passwords
- Payment and invoice redirection
- Downtime that stops automated systems at a critical moment
What a managed service includes
For a connected farm, a complete managed service covers the office and the equipment:
- Helpdesk and support for your team, Microsoft 365 and your business software
- Device management: monitoring, patching and updates
- Secure remote access for staff working across sites and on the move
- Managed cyber security: endpoint protection, allowlisting, email security and MFA
- Backup and tested recovery of your data and Microsoft 365
- Vendor coordination with your software and connectivity suppliers
- Clear reporting and a forward IT plan, not just reactive fixes
The result is connected kit that is useful rather than a liability, with data safe and support on hand.
Where to start
If you are not sure how exposed your connected equipment is, start with the basics that stop most attacks: separate connected kit from your main network, keep everything updated, put multi-factor authentication on every account, and make sure your backups are tested. Confirm the essentials with Cyber Essentials, then add monitoring so a problem is caught early rather than discovered when systems stop. A short review will tell you which of these are already in place and which need attention first, so you can fix the most important gaps before they are exploited.
Why the cheapest option costs more
It is tempting to pick the lowest number, but ransomware on your systems, compromised equipment, or a redirected payment costs far more than the gap between a cheap contract and a good one. The right question is not the lowest price, but what it costs you when connected kit is turned against you, and who prevents that.
Why rural businesses choose First Stop IT
First Stop IT has supported businesses across Essex and Hertfordshire since 2002. Our credentials include:
- Cyber Essentials Certified
- IASME Cyber Assurance (Gold)
- NCSC Assured Service Provider (Cyber Advisor for Cyber Essentials)
- Microsoft Partner
- Crown Commercial Service Supplier (G-Cloud)
- Quality Principles Certified
We look after more than 2,000 endpoints across 50 companies, we’ve been named a Top 50 UK MSP for three years running, and we support organisations with 10 to 100 employees across Essex, Hertfordshire and London, including Harlow and Bishop’s Stortford.
Book a free IT and cyber security review
Adding connected technology to your farm? Book a free IT and cyber security review with First Stop IT and we’ll help you do it securely.