The increasing digitalization of agriculture creates new opportunities for efficiency and competitiveness but also leads to growing cyber risks. While other sectors (e.g., automotive) already have established security concepts and regulatory frameworks, the agricultural domain still lacks a systematic cybersecurity approach. As a result, vulnerabilities may arise that could threaten not only individual farms but also Austria’s overall security of supply.
The Cyber.LWS project addresses this challenge by conducting a sector-specific threat analysis for Austrian agriculture. Based on a systematic assessment of cyber threats, relevant attack vectors are identified and captured in an agriculture-specific threat database. This enables automated analysis of agricultural systems and the targeted derivation of protective measures.
Beyond the technical dimension, the project investigates different farm types, sizes, and levels of digitalization to develop tailored security strategies. These include low-threshold preventive measures for farmers (e.g., training, awareness programs, checklists), recommendations for manufacturers and service providers on hardware and software security requirements, certification and testing procedures, as well as approaches for alignment with regulatory frameworks (e.g., NIS2, Cyber Resilience Act, UN R155).
At the strategic level, Cyber.LWS explores how results can be integrated into national programs and political measures to ensure long-term and widespread implementation. In doing so, the project contributes to strengthening the cyber resilience, competitiveness, and security of supply of Austria’s agricultural sector.
Project Lead
Nicole Dürmoser, MA
Repuco Unternehmensberatung GmbH
Partners
AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH
Josephinum Research
Raumberg-Gumpenstein Research and Development
SBA Research gemeinnützige GmbH
Bundesministerium für Land- und Forstwirtschaft, Klima- und Umweltschutz, Regionen und Wasserwirtschaft
Contact
Nicole Dürmoser, MA
Repuco Unternehmensberatung GmbH
Mariahiler Straße 1B/7, 1060 Wien
+43 664 886 56 298
nicole.duermoser(at)repuco.at
www.repuco.at
