CSAFI & Defense.com Unite to Secure the Global Food Industry

CSAFI and Defense.com Announce Strategic Alliance to Strengthen Cybersecurity Across the Global Food Industry

The Cyber Security Association for the Food Industry (CSAFI) and Defense.com today announced a strategic alliance to address the growing cybersecurity risks facing the global food sector and its supply chains.

With cyber threats at record levels and governments placing increased emphasis on protecting critical national infrastructure, the partnership will combine CSAFI's sector-specific remit with Defense.com's cybersecurity expertise to provide practical guidance and services tailored to the food industry.

CEO of Defense.com Oli Pinson-Roxburgh said its great to be part of this exciting new innovative industry focused approach. Led by the expertise of CSAFI and their great team we can really make a difference, through innovative industry specific offerings and support aligned to the unique challenges that face the many lines of business that make up the food sector.

The initial focus will be on the protein sector—including meat, poultry, and seafood—where operational risks and compliance challenges make businesses particularly vulnerable to disruption from cyber incidents.

The President of CSAFI, underscored the urgency:

"Recent cyber incidents in the food sector highlight how exposed our supply chains are. A single breach can create near-catastrophic knock-on effects across the ecosystem. Defense.com brings valuable experience in sector-wide compliance, particularly in helping technically unsophisticated businesses reach and maintain a secure baseline." Nick Sharan, President of CSAFI

Defense.com, whose founders have backgrounds in highly regulated industries such as payments, specializes in helping organizations strengthen cyber resilience through compliance, education, and managed services.

Richard Jones, VP of Alliances at Defense.com, explained:

"For food businesses, cybersecurity is less about protecting sensitive data and more about operational continuity. When perishable goods are involved, even a few hours of downtime can result in significant losses. Together with CSAFI, we will deliver pragmatic, industry-specific guidance that helps food businesses protect operations and sustain compliance over time." Richard Jones, VP of Alliances at Defense.com

The alliance also addresses broader global concerns highlighted in recent World Economic Forum Cybersecurity Outlook Reports, which pointed to a widening “cybersecurity poverty line” between large enterprises and the smaller organizations they depend upon. With food being one of the most geographically extended supply chains in the world, these vulnerabilities and skills gaps pose an especially critical risk.

Sharan concluded:

There is no shortage of cybersecurity providers, but very few understand the specialist needs of industries like food. While major brands exist, they all rely on thousands of smaller businesses. Our partnership with Defense.com will help arm those organizations with the knowledge and resilience needed to protect the entire supply chain. Nick Sharan, President of CSAFI

In the coming months, CSAFI and Defense.com will release thought leadership content, host webinars and in-person events to launch the program and support food businesses worldwide. Additionally, it will work in collaboration with CSAFI to provide members with access to complementary cyber assessments and tooling to identify and address key risks to improve hygiene within the sector.