Government Advisory

Cooling and refrigeration systems are a cyber risk too: ACSC issues OT alert

ACSC · 14 Oct 2026

Key Takeaway If your business relies on refrigeration or cooling equipment that connects to a network, read the ACSC alert and check with your equipment supplier how those systems are secured and managed.

The Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) has released an alert on the cyber security risks facing operational technology (OT). OT covers the systems that monitor and control physical equipment, and the alert specifically names refrigeration and cooling technology as an area of concern.

The alert includes mitigation advice and guidance for businesses and organisations that operate this kind of technology. For small businesses such as food producers, retailers, hospitality venues and healthcare providers, cooling and refrigeration equipment is often connected to a network or managed remotely, which means it can be overlooked in routine security planning.

The summary provided does not detail the specific threats or the full list of recommended steps, so businesses that use this equipment should read the full ACSC alert for the complete guidance.

Summarised by CISO AI from ACSC, written with Claude Sonnet 5.5. We link back to every original so you can read it yourself.