Webinar Description
Key Takeaways
- Examines the October and November 2026 cyberattacks on European supermarket refrigeration systems that caused widespread inventory spoilage and operational disruption.
- Addresses how attackers exploited legitimate defrost controls to raise temperatures to 50°C without deploying conventional malware.
- Covers OT and IoT security blind spots, including unmanaged assets, exposed management interfaces, legacy systems and third-party access risks.
- Relevant for cybersecurity professionals, IT infrastructure teams, OT security specialists and retail operations managers.
The European Refrigeration Attacks
In October and November 2026, cyberattacks targeted supermarket refrigeration systems across multiple European countries. Attackers reportedly manipulated legitimate defrost controls to push temperatures as high as 50°C (122°F), resulting in spoiled inventory, disrupted operations and significant financial losses for affected retailers.
These incidents demonstrate how connected operational technology and IoT devices often operate outside traditional IT security visibility. Attackers exploited this gap without deploying conventional malware, instead abusing the systems’ own functionality.
OT and IoT Security Challenges
The webinar explores how unmanaged OT and IoT assets create pathways for attackers. Specific risk areas include exposed management interfaces, legacy systems lacking modern security controls and third-party access to operational technology environments. These factors combine to create blind spots that traditional IT security tools may not detect.
Defensive Measures and Resilience
ServiceNow cybersecurity experts will outline practical steps for security teams, including improving asset visibility across OT and IoT environments, identifying critical exposures, strengthening access controls and detecting suspicious activity before it disrupts operations. The session also addresses connecting cyber risk assessment to operational impact and coordinating remediation efforts to protect business continuity.
Who Should Attend
This session is designed for professionals responsible for cybersecurity, IT infrastructure, OT security or retail operations who need to understand and secure connected systems that support critical business functions.