In this insightful episode of Protect It All, titled "Why Cybersecurity Matters: Protecting Our Food Supply from Digital Threats with Kristin Demoranville," host Aaron Crow and guest Kristin Demoranville tackle the critical yet often overlooked role of cybersecurity in the food and agriculture industry.

Kristin stresses the need to shift from reactive to proactive cybersecurity measures to protect our complex food supply chains and ensure resilience. The discussion covers real-world cyber incidents like the ransomware attack on JBS meat company, emphasizing the human factors, financial misconceptions, and the necessity for robust incident response and business continuity plans.

Listeners will also learn about the dangers of excessive reliance on technology and automation, the significance of water conservation, and the importance of integrating OT security in data centers. Through professional insights and personal anecdotes, Kristin highlights the crucial need for community support within the OT landscape.

This episode offers a comprehensive look at the cultural and societal implications of cyber threats to our food supply, making it essential listening for anyone interested in the safety and security of the food industry.

Key Moments:

00:10 Training and spreading awareness about operational technology.

10:21 Agriculture lacks attention; needs OT cybersecurity focus.

15:26 Security professionals foresee major food safety risk.

18:04 Supply chain issues during COVID highlight concerns. Regenerative farming and feeding the population.

24:04 ICS OT industry united in game proposal.

27:35 Designing systems must consider cyber risk implications.

34:11 Cybersecurity often an afterthought in many companies.

41:47 Respectful, supportive, and geeky cyber community advocate.

42:58 Texan upbringing shaped love for celebratory food.

51:10 Concern over CrowdStrike blaming and finger pointing.

57:16 Operator scans RFID tags from break room.

59:24 Resisting a wasteful task, leading to change.

About the guest :

Kristin Demoranville is the visionary founder and CEO of AnzenSage, a cybersecurity firm specializing in the food and agricultural industry. She also leads as the CEO and co-founder of AnzenOT, a groundbreaking SaaS OT Cybersecurity Risk Intelligence solution. With 26 years in the tech industry, Kristin seamlessly blends cybersecurity with food protection culture, always emphasizing the vital role of people and processes. Her extensive background—ranging from collaborating with Fortune 500 companies and various manufacturing sectors to studying gorilla behavior as part of her Environmental Management degree—gives her a unique and well-rounded perspective on cybersecurity and critical infrastructure. A published expert and in-demand speaker, Kristin is known for bridging the worlds of food protection and cybersecurity. She’s also the host of the Bites & Bytes Podcast, where she drives meaningful conversations between professionals across food, cybersecurity, and technology