European supermarket refrigeration systems face wave of cyberattacks
A series of cyberattacks targeting refrigeration technology has prompted calls for tighter remote access security as retailers struggle to balance operational efficiency with infrastructure protection.
Retailers across Europe are reporting a new wave of cyberattacks targeting refrigeration systems, following a series of incidents in France that resulted in significant food spoilage. Similar reports have emerged from Sweden, Belgium, and Luxembourg, highlighting the risks associated with increasingly connected operational technology (OT).
Unlike traditional IT security breaches, attacks on OT infrastructure can lead to immediate physical consequences, such as equipment failure and compromised food safety. Michael Ferdinandsen, CEO of Secomea, a firm specializing in industrial cybersecurity, noted that these incidents underscore the shift from data-centric security to physical-consequence management. The core issue lies in the design of legacy refrigeration systems, which were often not built with current cybersecurity requirements in mind.
Secomea argues that while remote connectivity is essential for maintenance, it must be governed by granular access controls. Rather than granting broad network access to external service providers, organizations are increasingly adopting edge gateways that allow for centralized monitoring and audit logging. This approach is currently being utilized by firms like Denmark’s AK-Centralen, which oversees refrigeration monitoring for over 1,500 retail locations, demonstrating that secure remote management is viable without sacrificing operational efficiency.