Cybersecurity Essentials for Your Business

Cybersecurity isn’t just an IT problem. It’s a personal and operational problem. During a recent Farm Credit webinar, cybersecurity expert John Sileo, President and CEO of The Sileo Group, shared how modern threats impact both individuals and agricultural businesses, and six steps you can take now to strengthen your protection.

1. Start by Making Cybersecurity Personal

Sileo’s own experience with identity theft underscores the need for individual vigilance. 
Key actions:

• Update your phone’s operating system monthly
• Use a strong alphanumeric passcode
• Treat your phone like a digital key—keep it locked and secure

Because 92% of cyberattacks come from human error, building personal awareness across family and employees is essential. For additional resources, visit the National Cybersecurity Alliance (staysafeonline.org) or the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure National Security Agency (cisa.gov).  

2. Strengthen Your “Hogwash Reflex”

Phishing attacks are now polished, personalized, and powered by AI. Don’t rely on spotting typos or odd email addresses and trust your instinct. Slow down and verify unexpected messages, especially those that are creating pressure, urgency, or confusion that cause you to think “hogwash.”

3. Identify Your “Invaluables”

You can’t protect everything equally. Decide what matters most and prioritize strategies that protect your most essential assets:  

• Critical personal and financial information 
  Be selective and intentional about who you share this information, especially with financial systems such as online banking accounts. Limit access to trusted parties and verify requests before providing sensitive details.
• Irreplaceable business data 
  Treat proprietary or operational data with care. Share it only when necessary, and ensure recipients follow proper security practices.
• Agricultural systems essential to daily operations 
  This includes irrigation controls, precision agriculture equipment, sensors, and automated systems. Change default passwords immediately, keep devices routinely updated, and ensure only authorized users can access them.

4. Focus on the Big 3 Cybersecurity Priorities

Sileo recommends focusing on three actions that prevent the most damage:

1. Multifactor authentication (or passkeys)
2. Regular software and security updating
3. A reliable backup plan (3-2-1 rule):  
   • 3 copies of data
   • 2 formats
   • 1 stored offsite

5. Get Expert Support When Needed

Cyber threats evolve too quickly to rely on outdated plans or do it yourself (DIY) security. Don’t hesitate to bring in professionals, even your local IT professionals, to ensure you’re using the most up-to-date forms of safety and security protocols. Routinely evaluate your practices to stay ahead of threats and bad actors.  

6. Treat Cybersecurity as Ongoing

Threats like deepfakes, AI driven scams, and voice cloning are advancing rapidly; it’s important to continuously adapt. Effective cybersecurity is never “finished.” Make fraud and cybersecurity education a priority for your business.  

Bottom Line

Cybersecurity is fundamentally a human issue. Stay personal, stay skeptical, protect what matters most, and keep evolving your defenses.

Explore more resources in our Cybersecurity Center, find upcoming events on our Webinars page, and read the latest updates in our Newsroom.