Asahi Super Dry Faces Shortage Following Cyberattack
Japan’s beloved Asahi Super Dry beer has run into trouble this weekend due to a significant cyberattack that disrupted operations at many of the company’s factories.
Asahi Group Holdings Ltd., the largest brewer in Japan, holds a prominent position in a highly competitive market. Moreover, it is recognized worldwide for its diverse beverage offerings, including several international beer brands, non-alcoholic drinks, and food products.
Last week, a cyberattack targeted almost all 30 of Asahi’s factories across Japan, effectively halting production and disrupting order and delivery systems. Retailers were caught off guard this Monday as the company wasn’t yet operational again.
Details about the attack remain scarce, as Asahi has not publicly disclosed much regarding the nature of the cyberattack or who might be responsible. However, a statement released by the company noted that it was indeed a “ransomware attack,” but further specifics were withheld to “prevent additional damage.”
Ransomware, as many now understand, involves hackers infecting systems with malicious software that locks up data. This often leaves victims with little choice but to pay a ransom, typically in cryptocurrency, to regain access to their own information.
Criminal syndicates profit significantly by supplying sophisticated ransomware tools to hackers. It’s unfortunate but true: paying the ransom can sometimes be seen as more economically viable than trying to recover the data independently or risking data loss when restoring from backups.
A statement from Asahi indicated that they took prompt measures to manage the incident, emphasizing the protection of critical data, including personal information from customers and business partners. They also quickly isolated the affected systems to minimize further fallout.
Investigations are currently underway, with some traces suggesting potential illegal data transfers. The company is actively working to understand the full impact of the situation.
Asahi mentioned that not only were they unable to process orders and manage transportation as a containment measure, but they also couldn’t receive emails from outside sources.
Though the Emergency Response Headquarters is collaborating with external cybersecurity experts to restore systems, Asahi has not provided a clear timeline for recovery. They stated that the extent of system damage appears to be confined to Japan, where a significant part of their revenue comes from international sales and brands like Peroni.
The ongoing shortage of Asahi beer has drawn attention. Reports have indicated that, as the week progressed, retailers began seeing limited availability of Asahi products, including popular soft drinks. Moreover, online sales for Asahi products have come to a halt. The company is now relying on more traditional methods like phone and paper ordering, hoping to expand this system soon.
Japanese supermarkets and convenience stores are notifying customers that Asahi’s offerings could be temporarily out of stock.
Interestingly, Asahi’s product launches have been stalled, including new flavors of fruit soda and protein bars, due to the cyberattack.
Experts in cybersecurity have noted that Japan has increasingly become a hotspot for ransomware threats, attributed partly to lower cybersecurity standards and a greater inclination to pay ransoms to avoid stigma than in regions like Europe or America.
Following the cyberattack, Asahi’s shares slid approximately 7% within the week as the severity of the incident came into focus. Although competitors like Kirin have seen only slight increases, it seems customers haven’t yet begun shifting to different brands.
