Food & Beverage OT Cybersecurity

"Food and beverage manufacturers must balance production efficiency with food safety integrity, regulatory compliance, and brand protection - all while defending against cyber threats that could contaminate products or disrupt supply chains."

Food & Beverage Cyber Security Challenges

Food Safety, Quality Assurance and Brand Protection are non-negotiable priorities for food and beverage operations.

Food and beverage manufacturing relies on integrated automation systems controlling mixing, cooking, pasteurization, fermentation, filling, and packaging processes. These systems must maintain precise temperature controls, ingredient ratios, and process parameters to ensure food safety, meet quality specifications, and comply with allergen management requirements.

The industry faces unique cybersecurity challenges: stringent food safety regulations (FSMA, HACCP), customer audit requirements (GFSI benchmarked schemes), 24/7 production schedules with minimal downtime tolerance, and the critical need to prevent contamination events that could trigger massive recalls and destroy brand reputation.

With increasing connectivity between production systems, quality labs, and enterprise planning systems - plus third-party connections to suppliers and co-packers - food manufacturers must implement robust OT security controls that protect food safety while maintaining operational efficiency.

Industry Threat Landscape

Emerging Threats

Ransomware attacks halting production lines and forcing plant shutdowns during peak season
Product tampering or contamination through compromised process controls and recipe systems
Intellectual property theft targeting proprietary recipes, formulations, and processes
Supply chain attacks through ingredient suppliers, co-packers, and logistics providers
Quality system manipulation compromising traceability and allergen controls
Sabotage by disgruntled employees with access to critical production systems

Business Consequences

Food safety incidents can trigger massive recalls costing hundreds of millions and destroying brands
Production downtime during peak seasons results in lost revenue and failure to meet retail commitments
Compromised quality or traceability systems violate FSMA and customer audit requirements
Loss of GFSI certification due to cybersecurity deficiencies can block market access
Brand damage from publicized cyber incidents affects consumer confidence and sales
Regulatory enforcement actions and criminal liability for food safety violations

Food & Beverage Systems We Secure

Process Control

PLCs and DCS controlling mixing, cooking, pasteurization, fermentation, homogenization, and thermal processing with critical food safety parameters.

Packaging Lines

Filling, capping, labeling, case packing, and palletizing automation including serialization systems for traceability and product authentication.

Batch Management

Recipe management systems, batch control, ingredient tracking, and formulation databases containing proprietary recipes and processes.

Quality Systems

LIMS, inline quality monitoring, metal detectors, x-ray inspection, vision systems, and allergen control systems ensuring food safety compliance.

Warehouse & Logistics

Cold storage monitoring, inventory management, automated storage/retrieval systems (AS/RS), and warehouse management systems (WMS).

Utilities & CIP

Clean-in-place (CIP) systems, steam generation, refrigeration, compressed air, water treatment, and environmental monitoring ensuring sanitation.

Food Safety-Centric Security Strategy

Protecting Critical Control Points

For food and beverage manufacturers, OTFIELD integrates OT cybersecurity with food safety management systems, recognizing that cyber threats can directly impact Critical Control Points (CCPs) and food safety outcomes.

Our approach aligns with HACCP principles, FSMA requirements, and GFSI benchmarked schemes (SQF, BRC, FSSC 22000) by treating cybersecurity as an essential element of food safety risk management - protecting the automation systems that control temperature, time, pH, allergen changeovers, and other critical food safety parameters.

Integrated Security Implementation

Phase 1: Food Safety Impact Assessment

Objective: Identify cyber risks to food safety, quality, and regulatory compliance

Map automation systems to Critical Control Points (CCPs) and Critical Quality Points (CQPs)
Assess cyber threats to temperature controls, pasteurization, cooking processes
Evaluate risks to allergen management and product changeover procedures
Identify vulnerabilities in recipe management and batch control systems
Assess traceability and recall system integrity
Review third-party connections (suppliers, co-packers, auditors)

This food safety-focused assessment ensures cybersecurity investments protect consumer health and regulatory compliance.

Phase 2: Food Defense & Cybersecurity Program

Objective: Implement controls protecting food safety while meeting FSMA and customer requirements

Regulatory & Standards Framework:

FSMA (Food Safety Modernization Act) - Preventive controls and food defense
HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) - Food safety management
GFSI Benchmarked Schemes (SQF, BRC, FSSC 22000, IFS) - Customer audit requirements
IEC 62443 - Industrial automation security for food processing
NIST Cybersecurity Framework - Risk management approach

Food Safety-Critical Controls:

Process control protection for CCPs (temperature, time, pH monitoring)
Recipe and formulation system security preventing unauthorized modifications
Allergen control system integrity during product changeovers
Traceability system protection (lot codes, ingredient tracking)
Quality system security (LIMS, inspection systems, metal detection)
Access controls for production areas and control systems
Incident response procedures for food safety cyber events
Vendor and co-packer connection security requirements
Backup and recovery for critical food safety records

Customer Audit & Certification Support

We help you address cybersecurity requirements in customer audits and GFSI certifications:

GFSI Cyber Requirements

Food defense plan cybersecurity elements
Vulnerability assessment documentation
Access control and monitoring evidence
Incident response plan for cyber events
Third-party risk management records

Retailer Requirements

Cybersecurity questionnaires and self-assessments
Supplier security standards compliance
Data protection and privacy controls
Business continuity and disaster recovery
Insurance requirements and proof of coverage

Food Industry Success Factors

Food and beverage manufacturers must address these critical considerations:

Can we implement security without disrupting 24/7 production and seasonal peaks?
How do we protect Critical Control Points from cyber manipulation?
Are we meeting GFSI cybersecurity audit requirements?
Can we prevent recipe theft and intellectual property loss?
How do we secure co-packer and supplier connections?
Do we have incident response plans for food safety cyber events?

Success requires integrating cybersecurity with food safety management systems to protect consumer health and brand reputation.

Regulatory & Standards Landscape

FSMA (Food Safety Modernization Act) - Preventive controls and food defense requirements
GFSI Benchmarked Schemes - SQF, BRC, FSSC 22000, IFS food safety certifications
HACCP - Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point food safety management
IEC 62443 - Industrial automation security for food processing facilities
21 CFR Part 11 - Electronic records and signatures (for certain food categories)

Protect Food Safety. Defend Your Brand.

Food and beverage manufacturers cannot risk cyber incidents that compromise food safety, trigger recalls, or damage brand reputation. Discover how we integrate cybersecurity with food safety management to protect consumers and your business.

Get Free 30-Minute Consultation

Protect Quality. Ensure Food Safety.

SECURING FOOD & BEVERAGE OPERATIONS