By Robert Swartzwelder, Chief Information Security Officer at Command Alkon
Similar to the famous quote by Warren Buffett, “It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it,” it takes generations to build a ready mix business — and only one hack to lose it all. This statement reflects a sobering truth about the digital age: a single cyberattack can cause catastrophic disruptions. These attacks don’t just halt production and delay deliveries; they erode customer confidence, damage brand perception, and trigger substantial financial losses. More importantly, they jeopardize a company’s hard-earned reputation and competitive edge – assets that take years, if not decades, to build.
Today, operational resilience, competitive advantage, and customer trust depend heavily on how effectively an organization safeguards its digital infrastructure. Cybersecurity has evolved beyond a technical issue handled quietly in the back office. It is now a critical pillar of business continuity, corporate reputation, and regulatory compliance.
The Threat Landscape Is Evolving – and So Must We
The cybersecurity landscape has transformed dramatically over the last decade. Gone are the days when cybercriminals were lone hackers simply seeking bragging rights or small sums of money. Today’s threat actors are organized, sophisticated, and well-funded. They often operate like businesses themselves, investing heavily in tools, infrastructure, and even artificial intelligence to automate and scale their attacks.
For instance, the rise of Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) has made cybercrime more accessible than ever—even to attackers with little technical expertise. These ransomware kits can quickly lock down critical systems, including batching operations, dispatch scheduling, and delivery tracking. For ready mix producers who rely on precise timing and continuous production to meet customer demand, even a few hours of downtime can cascade into significant revenue loss from missed deliveries and damaged reputation from dissatisfied customers. A ransomware attack that halts plant operations or disrupts fleet dispatch and management is not just an IT problem – it’s a business emergency.
Insider threats have also become more complex. Cybercriminals are increasingly exploiting social engineering techniques during the hiring process or leveraging privileged employees to gain access to sensitive systems. Meanwhile, AI-powered deepfake technologies now enable criminals to impersonate finance leaders or executives convincingly, tricking employees into authorizing fraudulent payments.
Common attack vectors like phishing, credential stuffing, SQL injection, and cloud misconfigurations have become daily challenges – not rare exceptions. For ready mix producers adopting digital tools necessary to succeed and compete into today’s marketplace, this expanded attack surface means cybercriminals have more entry points to exploit, making robust cybersecurity measures essential to protect not only data but also the integrity of production and delivery operations.
We Must Build Security into the Business — Not Bolt It On
The old mindset that cybersecurity is solely an IT problem is dangerously outdated. Every digital touchpoint – whether it’s a supplier portal, mobile app, or IoT-connected batching machine – is a potential vulnerability that attackers can exploit. Therefore, cybersecurity must be elevated to an enterprise risk management priority, embedded into every layer of operations and strategy.
Here’s what a modern, ROI-driven security strategy should include:
- Zero Trust Architecture: The old perimeter defense model is obsolete. Today, we must “assume breach” at every level. This means authenticating every user, validating every device, and strictly enforcing least-privilege access controls. Zero Trust isn’t optional – it’s foundational for resilience.
- Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): This simple, effective control remains one of the most underutilized security measures. Enforcing MFA on all critical systems significantly reduces the risk of unauthorized access caused by compromised credentials.
- Identity & Access Management (IAM): Proper identity governance ensures the right people have the right access at the right time – and no more. This reduces the risk of insider threats and limits the blast radius if credentials are compromised.
- Patch and Vulnerability Management: Exploiting unpatched systems remains a top attack vector. An effective program applies updates quickly, prioritizes high-risk vulnerabilities, and automates where possible to reduce human error.
- Endpoint Detection & Response (EDR) and Extended Detection & Response (XDR): Visibility is everything in cybersecurity. If you cannot see activity on endpoints or networks, you cannot detect or stop attacks in progress.
- Employee Training and Tabletop Exercises: Human error continues to be the weakest link. Continuous training and simulated phishing tests help employees recognize threats, while regular incident response exercises prepare teams to act swiftly during real events.
Ransomware Is the Wake-Up Call We Can’t Hit Snooze On
Recent real-world incidents serve as stark reminders of what’s at stake:
- ER Snell suffered a breach starting from a phishing email that escalated privileges through a compromised on-premises mail server.
- Bird Construction lost 60GB of sensitive data in a ransomware attack, leading to ransom demands in the millions.
- Bouygues Construction had to invoke insurance policies after Maze ransomware encrypted their systems.
These are early warning signals for the entire industry. From these incidents, three critical lessons emerge: Client-server based systems create liabilities that must be modernized or isolated; Securely configured cloud infrastructure can enhance resilience and scalability; Preparedness is not optional. Companies must invest in both preventive and detective controls.
Governance, Compliance, and Trust: The Regulatory Imperative
In regulated environments, frameworks like the NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) and ISO 27001 aren’t just best practices – they’re essential roadmaps that ensure comprehensive risk management. Passing SOC 2 audits builds client confidence by demonstrating operational maturity and control effectiveness.
Data privacy laws are becoming more stringent worldwide. From California’s CCPA to the European Union’s GDPR, violations can lead to substantial financial penalties and reputational harm. In 2025 alone, over a dozen U.S. states will have enforceable privacy legislation, emphasizing the need for companies to understand where sensitive data resides, ensure it’s properly protected and control and monitor access. Ignoring these requirements is a risk few companies can afford.
Cost Is Not the Barrier – Complacency Is
The average cybersecurity investment per employee in our sector typically ranges between $350 and $500 annually. Despite this modest figure, nearly half of companies in our industry report no plans to increase cybersecurity budgets. This complacency is dangerous.
The reality is that a single breach can cost millions in operational downtime, legal fees, customer churn, and brand damage. When compared to these potential costs, investing proactively in cybersecurity is a bargain – and a necessity.
Cybersecurity Is More Than IT – It’s a Strategic Imperative
In the ready mix space, where operational continuity, contractual obligations, and just-in-time delivery are non-negotiables, one breach can ripple through an entire supply chain. As ransomware and AI-driven attacks become more sophisticated, and data privacy regulations tighten globally, the cost of inaction is no longer theoretical – it’s quantifiable, often devastating.
Company and business leaders must accept a new truth: cybersecurity isn’t just a risk to be managed – it’s a responsibility to be owned. That means embedding cyber resilience into every aspect of the business, from field operations to finance, from onboarding employees to offboarding vendors. It requires investment, yes – but more importantly, it requires intention.
Because at the end of the day, protecting our digital infrastructure is about protecting something far more valuable: the trust we’ve built with our customers, the integrity of our operations, and the future of our industry. The threats are real. The stakes are high. And the time to act is now.
To read the article in Concrete Products magazine, click here.