Explore practical tools and checklists designed to support CyberPest management on the farm. We are continuing to add resources that help farmers identify risks, strengthen everyday practices, and protect their operations.
CyberPest Management Quick Guide
CyberPest Management Printable Quick Guide treats cyber risk like any other production risk: know what you have, prevent problems where you can, watch for warning signs, and have a plan to respond and recover. You do not need to fix everything at once. These CORE 4 steps protect many of the accounts and systems farms use every day. (The Guide is supported in part by New Technologies for Ag Extension (funding opportunity no. USDA-NIFA-OP-010186), grant no. 2023-41595-41325 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or the Extension Foundation.)
Count Your Herd, Count Your Hardware
Simple Connected Device Inventory
List equipment and devices that connect to Wi-Fi, the internet, cellular service, Bluetooth, cloud platforms, or other farm systems.
Inventory
For each connected device or system, record:
- Device or system
- Location
- What it controls or can access
- Person responsible
- Vendor or support contact
Device 1
Device or system: ____________________________________
Location: ___________________________________________
What does it control or access? _______________________
Person responsible: __________________________________
Vendor or support contact: ____________________________
Device 2
Device or system: ____________________________________
Location: ___________________________________________
What does it control or access? _______________________
Person responsible: __________________________________
Vendor or support contact: ____________________________
Device 3
Device or system: ____________________________________
Location: ___________________________________________
What does it control or access? _______________________
Person responsible: __________________________________
Vendor or support contact: ____________________________
Device 4
Device or system: ____________________________________
Location: ___________________________________________
What does it control or access? _______________________
Person responsible: __________________________________
Vendor or support contact: ____________________________
Device 5
Device or system: ____________________________________
Location: ___________________________________________
What does it control or access? _______________________
Person responsible: __________________________________
Vendor or support contact: ____________________________
Device 6
Device or system: ____________________________________
Location: ___________________________________________
What does it control or access? _______________________
Person responsible: __________________________________
Vendor or support contact: ____________________________
Device 7
Device or system: ____________________________________
Location: ___________________________________________
What does it control or access? _______________________
Person responsible: __________________________________
Vendor or support contact: ____________________________
Device 8
Device or system: ____________________________________
Location: ___________________________________________
What does it control or access? _______________________
Person responsible: __________________________________
Vendor or support contact: ____________________________
Places to Check
- Farm office
- Tractors and equipment
- Irrigation and water systems
- Livestock systems
- Barns, greenhouses, and storage facilities
- Cameras, gates, and alarms
- Phones, tablets, and computers
- Routers and Wi-Fi equipment
- Sensors, GPS units, and drones
- Banking, payroll, and payment systems
Completed by: _______________________________________
Date: ______________________________________________
Next review date: ____________________________________
Remember
If it connects, count it. Knowing what you have is the first step toward protecting your farm.
A Resource to Use to Introduce Farm Cybersecurity
Cyberattacks can lock up records, disrupt connected equipment, redirect payments, and stop essential work. Farm cybersecurity does not have to start with expensive technology. It starts with practical steps that protect your people, equipment, accounts, data, and daily operations. NC State Extension translates cybersecurity into farm-ready guidance you can use. Use this presentation to build awareness of CyberPests that can impact a farm operation.