OPVG Current Newsletter

Cybersecurity Awareness

As farms use more and more technology in daily operations – from computers to robotics, drones, software, etc. – there also comes an increased potential for online threats.

Here are some tips for protecting your farm business from cyber attacks.

1. Make a plan. What would happen if you had a data breach on your farm? Planning ahead and writing it down will help reduce the damage and downtime.
2. Back it up. Do you have a system in place that regularly backs up your information? Think about also storing critical information in a separate secure location.
3. Change it up. Change passwords regularly and ensure every employee has their own password when using farm software. Also consider if you need multifactor authentication codes for accessing farm information.
4. Watch for scams. Know how to identify emails that may be phishing (online attacks that attempt to steal information, money, etc.). Here are some warning signs – sender’s name doesn’t match the email address, grammatical errors, emails asking for personal information or urge immediate action and generic greetings.
5. Install antivirus. Make sure you have antivirus software installed on all devices. And be sure to perform regular updates, it’s one of the best ways to protect against online threats.

To safeguard how OPVG shares sensitive information, we’ve created the new member-only part of our website. It’s password protected and easy to sign up for. Sign up HERE.

Remember, OPVG is here to help!

Please reach out to the office if you have any questions or concerns.