send news release today

Skyward Apps Expands Training on Software Security Risks

Cindy Zimmerman

With ransomware attacks on the agriculture and food supply chain on the rise, Skyward Apps, a top-tier agriculture technology firm, has put its software engineers through training on the Top 10 software security vulnerabilities, as defined by the global Open Web Application Security Project.

“We have always had multiple sets of eyes review every piece of software we develop, but the protection of our clients’ interests—as well as our own—is paramount,” said Skyward CEO Kat Crawford. “Agriculture is now a high-tech business, which brings with it both benefits and risks.”

Agriculture is regarded as highly vulnerable to cyber threats due to the complexity of integrating data from farm equipment, sensors, GPS and automation systems, including legacy systems without updated security controls. Another issue is the overall lack of security awareness throughout the sector.

“The theme of Cybersecurity Awareness Month is ‘Do Your Part. #BeCyberSmart’, which is what we strive to do year-round,” said Skyward CTO Nick Elliott. “We systematically check for errors and vulnerabilities as part of our code reviews, automated and manual testing processes.”

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and National Security Agency (NSA) just published a cybersecurity advisory last week regarding BlackMatter ransomware cyber intrusions targeting multiple U.S. critical infrastructure entities, including two U.S. food and agriculture sector organizations.

Skyward Apps creates custom software that helps large organizations accelerate their digital advantage. Established in 2011, the company works across industry sectors, with a core practice in agriculture technology.

AgWired Precision, Precision Agriculture, Technology