Key Questions to Ask Your Vendors & Suppliers
Now that you have an understanding of the kinds of cyber threats your farm may face, and you’ve gone ahead and created a network map, you are in a good position to ask your farm technology vendors what they’re doing to keep you safe and secure.
It is important to remember that some of the burden for cybersecurity falls on them too. Besides potential entry points for attack through the connected devices and software you purchase from them, your vendors will also have your personal and financial information in their systems. Vendors and suppliers also know their farm technology best, so they may also have tips on how to reduce the risk for your farm.
At a high level, you should ask questions like:
- What security measures do you have in place to protect the information you store about me and my farm business?
- What type of support is available to your customers for cybersecurity issues, or in the event of a cybersecurity incident?
- Does your company have a privacy policy? Where can I find it?
If you want to go more in-depth with your vendors and suppliers, check out this worksheet:
PDF document 2MB
This worksheet goes through each potential question, one by one, explaining what you’re asking, why, and what a reasonable answer should include. Use these questions to help guide your decisions and practices related to the digital technologies and services that you buy, lease or get through subscriptions.
When in doubt, never hesitate to call your vendors or suppliers.
Next: Building a Farm Cybersecurity Policy
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