--- title: "When cyberthreats meet the farm: Protecting OT in food and agriculture" description: In the latest episode of the Bites and Bytes podcast, host Kristen King sits down with James Slaby, Director of OT Solutions at Acronis, to explore the invisible systems behind food and agriculture and the very real risks threatening them. With over two decades of analyzing cybersecurity, networking and industrial technologies, Slaby brings insights to an industry facing a critical turning point. canonical_url: https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/posts/when-cyberthreats-meet-the-farm-protecting-ot-in-food-and-agriculture/ locale: en last_updated: 2026-10-27 --- [Acronis Blog](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/) # When cyberthreats meet the farm: Protecting OT in food and agriculture In the latest episode of the Bites and Bytes podcast, host Kristen King sits down with James Slaby, Director of OT Solutions at Acronis, to explore the invisible systems behind food and agriculture and the very real risks threatening them. With over two decades of analyzing cybersecurity, networking and industrial technologies, Slaby brings insights to an industry facing a critical turning point. [Try now](https://www.acronis.com/en/products/cyber-protect-ot/trial/) [![Image 2: Allison Ho](https://staticfiles.acronis.com/images/content/4001b7fac80a9a9ed6a3a01dec591360.png)](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/authors/allison-ho/ "Allison Ho") [Allison Ho,](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/authors/allison-ho/)Content Marketing Manager 3 min read Last updated 10 December 2025 The systems that grow, process and deliver our food operate in a world most of us never see: legacy equipment, [air-gapped networks](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/posts/data-protection-issues-in-air-gapped-factory-floor-environments/) and decades-old operating systems quietly controlling the machinery that keeps supply chains moving. What happens when modern cyber threats collide with this aging infrastructure? The answer is more urgent than most people realize. In the latest episode of the [Bites and Bytes podcast](https://open.spotify.com/episode/3sRBYHZKIVnsis3ATXU7za?si=O5YXQhWhTB2A0bSLeYP6OA&nd=1&dlsi=1312f9e95261418e), host Kristen King sits down with [James Slaby](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/authors/james-slaby/), Director of OT Solutions at Acronis, to explore the invisible systems behind food and agriculture and the very real risks threatening them. With over two decades of analyzing cybersecurity, networking and industrial technologies, Slaby brings insights to an industry facing a critical turning point. Bites and Bytes Podcast Realities in the systems that produce our food with James Slaby [Listen on Apple](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/realities-in-the-systems-that-produce-our-food-with/id1704061572?i=1000738352130) [Listen on Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/episode/3sRBYHZKIVnsis3ATXU7za?si=O5YXQhWhTB2A0bSLeYP6OA&nd=1&dlsi=1312f9e95261418e) ## From IT to OT: Why this transition changes everything Instead of being met with the traditional challenge of convincing skeptical enterprises that cloud computing was safe, Slaby faced a whole new obstacle: Helping critical infrastructure sectors understand that **OT environments demand the same rigorous cyber protection as traditional IT systems**. There lies the problem. In OT, patching isn't as simple as updating your laptop. These systems control physical processes like pasteurizers, cold storage and packaging lines. A single software glitch doesn't just crash a screen. It halts production, compromises food safety or endangers lives. ## The iceberg beneath the surface [High-profile attacks on agricultural companies](https://nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news-articles/hackers-are-targeting-us-farms-and-food-companies-lawmakers-say-its-time-to-act/) brought agricultural cybersecurity into public view. King and Slaby dig into a more troubling reality: The countless unreported incidents affecting small and medium-sized operations. Consider the landscape: * Farms operating without dedicated IT teams. * Processing facilities running equipment that predates modern security standards. * Agricultural technology deployed without security-by-design principles. * Cold storage operations with decades-old control systems. The episode doesn't shy away from uncomfortable truths. Nation-state actors are actively targeting agricultural operations. Ransomware groups are hitting dairy operations. When cyber incidents intersect with the physical world, the consequences extend far beyond data loss. Slaby addresses the shift directly: "We're starting to see really ominous shifts in the threat environment where critical infrastructure, which agriculture is now considered a part of by cybersecurity standards, bodies and national governments is increasingly becoming targeted." This isn't theoretical. It's happening now, and the frequency is accelerating. ## Beyond fear: What practical resilience actually looks like Rather than dwelling on doom scenarios, Slaby and King tackle critical questions: * How do organizations protect themselves when air-gapping is no longer foolproof? * What does integrated cyber protection look like in OT environments? The discussion explores solutions ranging from fully premise-based deployments for air-gapped environments to hybrid approaches that balance security with operational visibility. The key is flexibility without compromising protection. ## Why this matters now The systems that feed the world weren't designed for today's threat landscape. But waiting for a complete infrastructure overhaul isn't an option. Organizations need solutions that work with existing equipment while providing modern protection. Listen to the complete episode of Bytes and Bites and discover why protecting agricultural OT systems has become one of the most critical challenges in cybersecurity today. Bites and Bytes Podcast Realities in the systems that produce our food with James Slaby [Listen on Apple](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/realities-in-the-systems-that-produce-our-food-with/id1704061572?i=1000738352130) [Listen on Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/episode/3sRBYHZKIVnsis3ATXU7za?si=O5YXQhWhTB2A0bSLeYP6OA&nd=1&dlsi=1312f9e95261418e) [Cybersecurity](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/tags/cybersecurity/) [Corporate cybersecurity](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/tags/corporate-cybersecurity/) [Operational Technology (OT)](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/tags/operational-technology/) ## Written by ![Image 3: Allison Ho](https://staticfiles.acronis.com/images/content/4001b7fac80a9a9ed6a3a01dec591360.png) Allison Ho Content Marketing Manager Allison develops content on cybersecurity, data protection, artificial intelligence and endpoint management while closely collaborating with thought leaders. Her technology B2B marketing experience includes expertise in SEO. [Previous post](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/posts/response-to-principles-for-the-secure-integration-of-artificial-intelligence-in-operational-technology/) [Response to “Principles for the Secure Integration of Artificial Intelligence in OT”](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/posts/response-to-principles-for-the-secure-integration-of-artificial-intelligence-in-operational-technology/) [Next post](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/posts/how-plant-managers-and-ot-engineers-can-prepare-for-attacks-on-scada-dcs-and-other-ot-systems/) [Lessons from the Jaguar Land Rover outage: How plant managers and OT engineers can prepare](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/posts/how-plant-managers-and-ot-engineers-can-prepare-for-attacks-on-scada-dcs-and-other-ot-systems/) About Acronis Acronis is a leader in AI-native cyber protection, unifying data protection, cybersecurity, IT operations and hybrid infrastructure to deliver business continuity, security and compliance with less cost and complexity. More than 21,000 service providers trust Acronis to protect over 750,000 businesses in 150 countries. Acronis is headquartered in Schaffhausen, Switzerland. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=acronis.com) ## Related stories Want to learn more? Read the latest stories featuring this solution on our blog. [Acronis Blog](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/) ![Image 4: stc Bahrain and Acronis partner to bring advanced endpoint security to businesses in Bahrain](https://staticfiles.acronis.com/images/blog-card/9600f3eea83b8f4e168ea6c1409c8c26.png) [stc Bahrain and Acronis partner to bring advanced endpoint security to businesses in Bahrain](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/posts/stc-bahrain-and-acronis-partner-to-bring-endpoint-security-to-businesses/) We are proud to announce a strategic partnership with stc Bahrain, expanding access to advanced cybersecurity services for businesses across Bahrain. **October 26, 2026**3 min read ![Image 5: Acronis expands MDR toward broader workspace protection](https://staticfiles.acronis.com/images/blog-card/18e90e89f5ec4ef0901f19008d4ccbf2.png) [Acronis expands MDR toward broader workspace protection](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/posts/acronis-expands-mdr-toward-broader-workspace-protection/) Acronis is expanding the MDR service with capabilities that make this expertise easier to deliver and help partners address more risks. The developments build on a broader commitment to managed security: helping service providers protect the connected workspace while giving customers access to the expertise needed to investigate threats, respond effectively and maintain business continuity. **October 13, 2026**6 min read ![Image 6: Acronis Cyber Protect v17: Improving cyber resilience across people, data and infrastructure](https://staticfiles.acronis.com/images/blog-card/c2467c28c0278609eb3560cb2a8a4d53.png) [Acronis Cyber Protect v17: Improving cyber resilience across people, data and infrastructure](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/posts/acronis-cyber-protect-v17-improving-cyber-resilience-across-people-data-and-infrastructure/) Acronis Cyber Protect v17 Q3 2026 expands integrated cyber protection with new capabilities that strengthen security awareness, improve backup operations and extend protection across more virtual environments. The result is stronger cyber resilience, simplified operations and broader protection delivered through a single platform. **October 05, 2026**4 min read