Cybersecurity of Digital Food Safety Systems

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of cybersecurity risks associated with digital food safety systems and to highlight the need to integrate cybersecurity into food safety management. As the food and agricultural sector increasingly adopts technologies such as IoT, cloud platforms, and data-driven decision support systems, food safety systems are evolving into complex cyber-physical systems. While these technologies enhance monitoring, traceability, and efficiency, they also introduce vulnerabilities that may directly affect food quality, public health, and supply chain continuity.

Digital food safety systems rely on interconnected sensors, communication networks, cloud platforms, and decision-support components that enable real-time monitoring and full traceability across the food supply chain. Although these systems improve early detection of deviations in critical parameters, their complexity and interdependence increase exposure to cyber threats.

From a lifecycle perspective, cybersecurity risks arise during all phases: design, implementation, operation, and maintenance. Security is often insufficiently addressed at the design stage, particularly for IoT devices with limited protection. Implementation and operation phases are vulnerable to misconfiguration, data manipulation, and system unavailability, while inadequate maintenance and delayed updates increase long-term exposure to known vulnerabilities.

The paper identifies some key threats, such as unauthorized access, manipulation of sensor data, malware and ransomware attacks, denial-of-service incidents, and data breaches. Vulnerabilities may be technical (lack of encryption, weak authentication, outdated software) or organizational (low security awareness, insufficient procedures). Due to strong interconnections, localized vulnerabilities can escalate into systemic risks affecting the entire food supply chain.

Using the ISO 31000 and IEC 31010 frameworks, the paper applies examples of structured risk identification, analysis, and evaluation methods. It then shows that risks related to data integrity and system availability are critical due to their direct impact on food safety.

The analysis emphasizes that effective risk reduction requires integrated technical, organizational, and system-level measures. Cybersecurity must be treated as a core element of modern food safety management to ensure system resilience, protect public health, and maintain trust in digitally enabled food systems.