In today’s ag manufacturing world, technology isn’t just a support system — it’s a core input, as critical as land, water, or labor. It powers visibility, drives automation, and enables vertical integration — all essential for managing rising costs, tight margins, and increasing product complexity.

But with great tech comes great responsibility. And risk.

The Rising Threat of Cyber Disruption

Cybersecurity is now the biggest threat to resilient operations. In a hyper-connected world, downtime doesn’t just hurt — it stops everything. Lose your network and you’re cut off from receiving orders, tracking inventory, printing labels, paying employees — even opening facility doors. The old “paper backup” strategy just doesn’t cut it anymore.

We’ve seen how attackers get in — from ERP systems and SCADA environments to label printers and timekeeping servers. It’s not a matter of if they’ll try — it’s a matter of when.

There’s a common myth that “attackers only need to get it right once.” Not true. They need to stay ahead constantly. That’s where you have the advantage — if you prepare.

Winning with Resilience

Resilience isn’t about perfection — it’s about preparation. Layered defenses, clean backups, and a strong recovery plan can make the difference between paying a ransom and getting back to business cleanly.

Recovery isn’t just an IT task. It involves the entire organization:

• How will you communicate during an attack?
• What will you share with your team, customers, or partners?
• Can your backups be trusted?
• Are your systems secure and documented?

Transparency matters — because in a connected world, everyone will know. Owning the narrative is better than reacting to it.

Leadership and Infrastructure Go Hand-in-Hand

Real resilience demands more than technical fixes. It takes:

• Executive buy-in and budget support
• Cross-functional coordination
• Clear understanding of IT assets and risks

Your IT infrastructure is just as critical as your production line. Treat it that way.

And let’s not forget — cyber threats aren’t the only risks. Power failures, internet outages, and even physical accidents (like a backhoe cutting a line) can bring operations to a halt.

That’s why resilience also means:

• Dual internet connections
• Clean, stable power
• Physical access controls
• Redundant systems and processes

Don’t Let Complexity Paralyze You

The good news? Every risk has a solution. But they don’t solve themselves. You need to plan for them — and prioritize them — just like any other part of your operation.

Final Takeaway

Your business can’t run without IT. So treat your IT like a mission-critical system:

• Know what you’ve got
• Protect it like it matters
• Invest in it like your future depends on it — because it does

Resilient ag manufacturing isn’t about avoiding every threat. It’s about being ready for whatever comes your way — and coming back stronger.

Contact ZAG to learn more.