Agricultural Cooperative Secures Operations with Managed Cyber Services for Smart Farming Systems

The Challenge

PrairieGrow Cooperative, a network of grain and dairy producers across Alberta and Saskatchewan, increasingly relied on connected smart farming systems to optimize irrigation, feed automation, and production analytics. However, its fragmented IT infrastructure—spread across farm sites, distribution hubs, and mobile platforms—had outgrown its internal management capacity.

The cooperative’s hybrid cloud and on-premises systems lacked unified monitoring, patching, and incident response procedures. IoT devices deployed for soil sensors and livestock tracking frequently operated without centralized oversight, creating visibility gaps and vulnerability to ransomware or data theft.

A near-miss incident involving unauthorized access to irrigation control software prompted an internal review, revealing that the cooperative’s existing IT support partner lacked 24/7 response coverage, and no service-level agreements (SLAs) ensured rapid containment of cyber events. Moreover, compliance obligations under the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) and the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security (CCCS) Baseline Controls were not consistently enforced across all operational units.

Without managed cybersecurity services, PrairieGrow risked operational disruptions, equipment downtime, and reputational harm affecting its farm network and supply-chain partners.

Our Solution

Our Managed Services & Operations team implemented a fully outsourced Cybersecurity Operations and Monitoring Program designed specifically for agricultural environments with mixed IT and operational technology (OT) systems. The engagement combined proactive monitoring, managed detection and response (MDR), and continuous vulnerability management tailored for both cloud applications and field-deployed IoT devices. Key measures included: By transitioning to a managed cybersecurity model, PrairieGrow gained continuous visibility, operational resilience, and compliance assurance across all of its distributed environments.

  • Establishment of a 24/7 Security Operations Centre (SOC) providing real-time threat detection, incident response, and alert triage.
  • Integration of all IoT devices and farm management platforms into a centralized monitoring dashboard with automated patch management.
  • Deployment of endpoint protection and network segmentation tools to isolate critical control systems.
  • Implementation of PIPEDA-compliant data handling policies for log management and breach notification.
  • Development of operational SLAs defining response times, escalation protocols, and recovery benchmarks.

The Value

Within six months of implementation, PrairieGrow realized substantial performance and assurance improvements: These managed services enabled PrairieGrow to focus on its agricultural mission—producing and distributing high-quality Canadian products—while maintaining continuous cybersecurity assurance and operational stability.

  • 75% reduction in average incident response time through 24/7 managed detection and response.
  • 40% decrease in unpatched vulnerabilities via automated maintenance and SOC oversight.
  • Zero downtime events caused by malware or network intrusion since SOC onboarding.
  • Improved insurer confidence, resulting in a 12% reduction in cyber policy premiums.
  • Enhanced reputation among distributors and regulators as a resilient and privacy-compliant agricultural enterprise.

Implementation Roadmap

1. Assessment & Onboarding (Weeks 1–3): Conduct baseline system audit, inventory IoT assets, and review network topology.
2. Integration & Monitoring Setup (Weeks 4–6): Connect farm systems and cloud environments to the SOC; establish alert workflows.
3. Policy & SLA Alignment (Weeks 7–9): Define data retention, escalation, and breach notification protocols aligned with PIPEDA and CCCS controls.
4. Operational Optimization (Weeks 10–12): Implement patch automation, log management, and reporting dashboards.
5. Continuous Assurance (Ongoing): Maintain real-time threat monitoring, quarterly vulnerability scans, and compliance reporting.

Info Sheet

Necessary Action Type and Steps to Be Taken:

  • Conduct cybersecurity operations assessment and IoT inventory.
  • Implement managed detection and response (MDR) service with 24/7 monitoring.
  • Centralize patching, alerting, and reporting across all agricultural and logistics systems.
  • Establish SLAs covering incident containment and recovery times.
  • Train personnel on managed service coordination and reporting.
  • Maintain continuous compliance under PIPEDA and CCCS Baseline Controls.

Industry Sector:

Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting — Agricultural Production and Smart Farming Operations

Applicable Legislation:

  • PIPEDA (Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act)
  • CCCS Baseline Controls (Canadian Centre for Cyber Security)
  • ISO/IEC 27001 (Information Security Management)
  • SOC 2 Type II (Trust Service Criteria)

Third Parties:

  • Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP) and SOC partners
  • Cloud hosting and IoT management vendors
  • Insurance underwriters and auditors
  • Regulatory and legal advisors ensuring privacy compliance