INFORMATION SYSTEMS Ransomware strategies Cybersecurity becomes a top priority for processors BY RYAN MCCARTHY | rmccar thy@sos land.com C ybersecurity has become a hot-button issue among all companies, especially meat processors, in the wake of cyberattacks over the last few years. The JBS cyberattack that occurred in late May garnered national attention well outside the agriculture news channels. John Hoffman, a senior research fellow at the Food Protection and Defense Institute at the University of Minnesota, said there are some strategies industry leaders should consider to protect their information. 42 MEAT+POULTRY | 09.21 | www.meatpoultry.com The industry is changing quickly, but many legacy systems are still being used in the beef supply chain. At the same time, more automation elements are being added to the plant leaving more accessibility to information systems within companies. Hoffman believes working to shore up both facility elements is what businesses must invest in right now. " We don't have enough compartmentalization, " Hoffman said. " People tend to look at these information systems purely from the convenience standpoint, wanting to be able to jamdesign - stock.adobe.comhttp://www.meatpoultry.com