Overcoming a ransomware attack

A ransomware cyberattack crippled the plant control server environment of a major international juice producer. Hackers demanded payment in return for access restoration. Tetra Pak supplied a critical system backup that successfully reinstated full operations.

Cyber security, data centre

Customer challenge – urgently restore disabled server

A sudden ransomware attack infected the customer’s plant control server environment with malicious code. Hackers encrypted and disabled the server and relevant backups. Without the server data, the customer could not prove to regulators that its product was safe to sell. The cybercriminals demanded a ransom to unlock the server and enable sales to resume. They threatened to publish sensitive data if the company failed to pay.

The customer did not wish to pay the ransom. However, it had not adequately maintained its firewall protection and did not store offline or off-site backups. Effective backups are essential for rebuilding data infrastructure from scratch in a short time frame.

Our solution – restore from backup

The attack occurred on a Sunday evening and the customer contacted Tetra Pak’s Global Information Management & Process Office the next morning. We immediately assembled a six-person team led by an incident response manager and including four automation specialists and a legal expert.

Our technicians had saved a full backup of the customer’s server during a routine maintenance visit some months earlier. We used this backup to restore the server infrastructure and fully reconfigure it remotely before sending the data to the customer for implementation. Sales were able to resume in one week, and the restored infrastructure avoided the need to pay a ransom.

Results achieved – higher awareness and improved readiness

The experience increased the customer’s awareness of how preventive measures are crucial to guarding against cyberattacks. The company adopted a range of actions for improved resilience, including remote support from Tetra Pak and processes to ensure the keeping of comprehensive and updated backups, including offline.

Case in short

Incident duration: One week, November 2021

Objective

  • Restore fully functioning plant control server environment after cyberattack
  • Avoid need to pay ransom demanded by malicious hackers

Results

  • Re-establishment of full functionality in one week
  • Preventive measures put in place to reduce future vulnerability

Want to discuss further?

Discuss the cybersecurity challenge for food and beverage producers and how you can protect your systems against cyber threats with us. Regardless of your size and level of automation, together we’ll find the right solution for your plant and needs.
Get in touch to discuss your challenges.

More about the threat of cyberattacks

Man and woman in control room, digital icons around them

Countering the cybersecurity challenge

Cybersecurity is a top strategic challenge today. Cyberattacks are a real and growing threat. We explain the risks and offer one prime way to counter them.

Iconic cloud and padlock illustrating cybersecurity

How to protect against cyber threats

What can food and beverage producers do to protect their systems against cyber threats? Our five-point guide brings you up to speed on what you need to know.

Contact our sales team

Service engineers training

Our sales teams are happy to answer any sales or product queries. Please fill out our form so we can better be of assis tance.

  • 1 Purpose
  • 2 Request
  • 3 Contact

Purpose of contact

Please select one option

Business area of interest

Select one or more business areas
Please select business area of interest

Contact our sales team

Summary

Purpose of contact
Business area of interest
  • 1 Purpose
  • 2 Request
  • 3 Contact

Specific area of interest

Please select one option

Contact our sales team

Summary

Purpose of contact
Business area of interest
  • 1 Purpose
  • 2 Request
  • 3 Contact

Scope of request

Please select one option

Food category

    Please select one option
    Please select one option
    Please select one option
    Please select one option
    Please select one option
Please select one option

Contact our sales team

Summary

Purpose of contact
Business area of interest
  • 1 Purpose
  • 2 Request
  • 3 Contact

Specific area of interest

Please select business area of interest

Contact our sales team

Summary

Purpose of contact
Business area of interest
Specific area of interest
Scope of request
Food category
  • 1 Purpose
  • 2 Request
  • 3 Contact

What describes your request the best

Please select one option
Please enter this field

Contact our sales team

Summary

Purpose of contact
Business area of interest
Message
Specific area of interest
Scope of request
Food category
What describes your request the best
Your role
  • 1 Purpose
  • 2 Request
  • 3 Contact

Company information

Please enter your email in this format: example@example.com
Please enter this field
Please enter this field
Please enter this field
Please enter this field
Please select one option
Please enter this field

By submitting this form, you confirm you have read and acknowledge Tetra Pak's privacy policy.

Thank you for your interest

Your request has been submitted to our teams and we will be in touch shortly. Please click on the button below if you want to submit another request or if you have another query for us.