What every local food processor needs to know to stay protected—and operational.
When people think of hackers, they picture banks or big tech companies. But food and beverage manufacturers? Not so much.
That’s exactly why they’re a growing target.
From bakeries in Akron to beverage plants in Dayton, Ohio’s food production businesses are increasingly at risk for cyberattacks—and many don’t even know it until it’s too late.
Here’s what you need to know (and do) to stay ahead.
Why Hackers Are Targeting Food and Beverage Facilities
Let’s be real—cybercriminals follow opportunity. And Ohio’s food industry is booming.
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Automated production lines
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Cold storage systems
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24/7 logistics platforms
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Third-party vendor access
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Thin IT departments
These all create cracks in the system. One phishing email could halt operations. One ransomware attack could spoil inventory. And one breach? Could cost you trust, time, and a whole lot of money.
Common Cybersecurity Threats
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Ransomware Attacks: Incidents like the 2021 JBS Foods attack highlight how ransomware can halt production and lead to significant financial losses.CIFT
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Phishing Scams: Employees may inadvertently grant access to malicious actors through deceptive emails.
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Supply Chain Vulnerabilities: Weaknesses in third-party vendors' security can serve as entry points for cyber threats.
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Legacy Systems: Outdated software and hardware may lack necessary security updates, making them susceptible to attacks.Corrigan Krause CPAs
Top 5 Cybersecurity Essentials for Food and Beverage Manufacturers
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Backups Should Be Like Your Daily Bread
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Set up daily backups.
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Store them off-site and offline.
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Test them monthly—don’t wait until a breach to find out they’re corrupted.
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Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) Is Non-Negotiable
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Your production manager’s email is a backdoor to everything.
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MFA stops most credential theft attacks in their tracks.
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Know Your Vendors (And Their Risk)
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Are your ingredient suppliers using secure portals?
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Have you vetted your logistics software?
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Third-party risk is real. Lock it down.
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Segment Your Network
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Don’t let your office Wi-Fi talk to your cold storage systems.
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If one area gets infected, segmentation keeps it from spreading.
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Train Your People Like It’s Part of HACCP
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Human error is still the #1 cause of breaches.
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Monthly bite-sized training can save you millions.
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Don't Ignore These Compliance Risks
Food manufacturers in Ohio should also consider:
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FTC Safeguards Rule (if you offer any credit terms to customers)
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CMMC (if you support government contracts)
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Ohio Data Protection Act (offering a legal “safe harbor” if you follow best practices)
FAQs
Q: What kind of cyber threats affect food and beverage manufacturers?
A: Ransomware, phishing emails, and software vulnerabilities are the top issues. These can stop production, corrupt recipes, or leak sensitive data.
Q: We’re a small family-run facility. Are we really a target?
A: Yes. In fact, attackers often go after small and mid-sized plants because they tend to have weaker protections.
Q: How much does it cost to set up proper cybersecurity?
A: It depends on your setup, but compared to the cost of downtime or a data breach? It’s worth every cent. Plus, a local MSP like Securafy offers scalable solutions tailored for Ohio-based manufacturers.
Don’t Let Your Recipe for Success Get Hacked
Cybersecurity isn’t just an IT issue—it’s an operational one. If you’re in Ohio’s food and beverage space, your production lines, refrigeration systems, inventory software, and delivery routes all rely on secure tech.
Let’s make sure it stays that way.
Securafy provides Ohio F&B companies with proactive IT management. We cover Managed IT, IT Consulting, and Unified Communications, along with strong Cybersecurity. Visit our Ohio IT Services hub.
📞 Schedule a quick strategy call with one of Securafy’s cybersecurity experts. We’ll walk you through what’s missing and how to fix it—fast.
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