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As part of the critical infrastructure, new risks are also emerging in the meat industry as digitalisation progresses. In our white paper "Cybersecurity in meat", we analyse the growing threat situation in the industry and provide a practical guide to help companies establish effective cybersecurity strategies.

We focus on the following five recommendations:

1. Secure production systems and controls

Meat production relies heavily on automated control systems such as SCADA and MES. However, these systems or their software are often outdated and therefore vulnerable to cyber attacks that could paralyse the entire production process. To minimise risks, companies should invest in regular updates and modern security solutions.

2. Pay attention to legal standards

To protect against cyber risks both technically and legally, companies should take the relevant regulations very seriously. The NIS2 Directive and the EU AI Act are particularly important for the meat industry in this context. These help to set cyber security standards that not only protect operations, but also strengthen trust in the industry.

3. Protect critical data along the supply chain

The meat industry operates in complex, global supply chains that offer multiple points of attack. Measures are therefore needed to prevent manipulation and operational disruptions. In particular, companies should ensure data integrity and security through encrypted communications and access controls - from procurement to delivery.  

4. Train your staff

Since human error often serves as a gateway for cyber attacks, employee training is crucial. Phishing simulations, password guidelines and regular training strengthen security awareness and reduce human error.

5. Develop a clear incident response plan

Cyber attacks are often unpredictable. Therefore, companies need a well thought-out incident response plan. This enables them to react quickly after an incident and restore data. This can help to limit production losses and financial damage.

Companies in the meat industry that take these recommendations to heart have already done a lot to ensure safe and sustainable production.