Companies Boost Cybersecurity to Shield Farm Data

Some ag companies feel the need to build sturdier digital fences to fend off cyberattacks that industry officials say increasingly target the sector, the Wall Street Journal reports.

Companies including Monsanto and Deere are investing more in cybersecurity as the farming business grows more data centric, with satellite-steered tractors and algorithm-driven planting services expand.

Monsanto, which has been the target of protest groups, has also been the frequent target of hackers. Robert Traley, Monsanto’s chief technology officer, recently said the company is working to be “as protective of our data and our farmers’ data as they can be.” The St. Louis company also is consulting with government and cybersecurity experts as it shores up its defenses, but given the frequency and strength of cyberattacks, “we’re going to be living in a world where none of that is going to be 100% effective,” he said.