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A Helpful Spark: Managing Your Cyber Ecosystem

Alexis Stevens and Madeline Schultz

Summary

Recent cyberattacks on Iowa’s agribusinesses and farmers sparked urgency in securing cyber ecosystems. This spark led the Iowa State Univeristy Extension and Outreach farm management team to develop a project to increase awareness of cybersecurity and help farm managers identify risks and implement steps to minimize risks. The team increased their own understanding of cybersecurity, introduced the topic to farmers during farmland leasing meetings, included the topic in statewide conferences and regional meetings, created videos, wrote publications, and hosted webinars. A cybersecurity conference is being planned for September 2023. Another opportunity the team created is a “Managing Your Cyber Ecosystem” lesson for Annie’s Project courses. With increased reliance on sharing personal data through a variety of online platforms, the cybersecurity lesson focuses on how financial data is being protected by other businesses and how women can secure their own data. Participants increase cybersecurity literacy, gain best practices to proactively manage their cyber ecosystems, and learn practical steps to prepare for cybersecurity threats. Extension has an important role in supporting farmers and giving them the spark and encouragement they need to learn new cybersecurity skills. With increased awareness, economic losses due to lost or mismanaged decision-making data, identity theft, malware attacks, production delays, and physical system failures, can be minimized. All Iowans can benefit from a more secure food supply and stronger economy.

Details

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