Preventing Industry Contagion

APIs and data flows connect us all. One vulnerable organization can compromise the entire ecosystem.

The Contagion Effect

Quick and dangerous spread

A security incident at one Ag organization can quickly spread:

  • Upstream to technology providers and service partners
  • Downstream to clients and their employees
  • Laterally to integrated service providers

This inter-connectedness means that the industry is only as strong as its most vulnerable participant.

Our approach to industry-wide protection

Ag Defender implements a multi-layered strategy to prevent the spread of cyber threats:

  • Unified Standards: We establish baseline security standards that address the specific needs of the Ag ecosystem, creating a consistent security foundation across member organizations.

  • Connection Security: We develop protocols and best practices for securing API connections, data transfers, and integrations between Ag service providers.

  • Collective Defense: Our members benefit from shared threat intelligence, allowing the entire industry to respond quickly to emerging threats before they can spread.

Strength through collaboration

The Ag industry represents one of the most interconnected business ecosystems in the modern economy:

Did you know?

  • The Agriculture sector has rapidly digitized touching almost every task from planting to crop insurance
  • A mid-sized row-crop operation now relies on 8-10 external Ag tech or service vendors each season
  • 63% of farmers already use at least one farm-management app
  • Ransomware incidents in Food & Ag have doubled year-over-year
  • The Food & Ag sector lacks the dedicated resources that other critical infrastructure verticals enjoy

The consequences

  • Security vulnerabilities at one organization can impact dozens of connected partners
  • Client data flows through multiple service providers, creating potential exposure points
  • Credential compromise can enable lateral movement across integrated platforms

The Value of Participation

By joining Ag Defender, your organization becomes part of the solution to industry-wide security challenges. Your participation strengthens not only your own security posture but contributes to the resilience of the entire Ag ecosystem.