USDA Stepping Up Cybersecurity

With cyberattacks against JBS and Colonial pipeline in the news, USDA is stepping up its data security efforts.

"We are having conversations, I just had one yesterday about how we are going to ensure that we have a strong system within USDA that we can bolster the capacity to make our systems strong," noted Deputy Agriculture Secretary Jewel Bronaugh. "We're going to go through a process within the next four months. One how do we add two-factor authentication to make sure that there aren't any vulnerable spots? And not only within FSA abut within the other program areas of USDA"

The Deputy Ag Secretary said cyber security is important for a variety of reasons.

"We house a lot of private and sensitive data at USDA regarding farmers and ranchers. That's both information we obtained from them and information we provide to them."

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