Category Overview
Risk Category:TECHNOLOGY_DATASubcategories: 5
Weight: Equal (1/7 of overall risk score)
Scoring Summary
5 Subcategories
1. IT Infrastructure Risk
Indicator: Availability, reliability, and modernity of IT hardware and connectivity What drives this score:- Computing Devices: Availability of computers, tablets, or smartphones for business use
- Internet Connectivity: Access to reliable internet (fiber, 4G/5G, satellite)
- Software Licenses: Legitimate software vs. pirated or outdated versions
- IT Maintenance: Regular updates, backups, and technical support
- Power Reliability: Access to stable electricity or backup power
| Risk Level | Score | Criteria |
|---|---|---|
| LOW | 0-30 | • Modern computing devices (laptops, tablets) for key staff • Reliable internet (fiber, 4G/5G, >10 Mbps) • Licensed software (accounting, office, farm management) • Regular IT maintenance and backups • Stable power with backup (generator, solar, UPS) |
| MODERATE | 31-60 | • Some computing devices (shared or personal) • Moderate internet (3G, less than 10 Mbps, occasional downtime) • Mix of licensed and free software • Occasional IT maintenance • Power available but frequent outages |
| HIGH | 61-80 | • Very few devices (personal phones only) • Poor internet (2G, unreliable, expensive data) • Outdated or pirated software • No IT maintenance or backups • Unreliable power (frequent outages, no backup) |
| CRITICAL | 81-100 | • No computing devices • No internet access • No software or IT systems • No IT support or maintenance • No electricity or severe power constraints |
- IT inventory (devices, internet type, software)
- Internet speed test results or connectivity records
- Software licenses or subscriptions
- IT maintenance logs or contracts
2. Data Management Risk
Indicator: Quality of data collection, storage, and organization practices What drives this score:- Data Collection: Systematic recording of farm, financial, and operational data
- Data Storage: Secure, organized storage (cloud, database, or file system)
- Data Integrity: Accuracy, completeness, and timeliness of data
- Data Backup: Regular backups and disaster recovery capabilities
- Data Access: Ease of retrieving data for decision-making
| Risk Level | Score | Criteria |
|---|---|---|
| LOW | 0-30 | • Systematic data collection (farm, finance, operations) • Cloud-based or database storage • High data integrity (accurate, complete, timely) • Automated backups (daily/weekly) • Easy data access and retrieval |
| MODERATE | 31-60 | • Regular data collection with some gaps • File-based storage (Excel, PDFs) on local devices • Moderate data integrity (some errors or delays) • Occasional backups (monthly) • Data accessible but requires effort |
| HIGH | 61-80 | • Inconsistent data collection (ad-hoc, incomplete) • Paper-based or unorganized digital storage • Low data integrity (frequent errors, outdated) • Rare or no backups • Difficult to access data |
| CRITICAL | 81-100 | • No data collection • No organized storage (lost or destroyed data) • No data integrity (unreliable or fabricated) • No backups (single point of failure) • Cannot retrieve data for decisions |
- Data collection forms or systems (farm records, financials)
- Data storage system (cloud service, database, file structure)
- Data quality assessment (accuracy, completeness)
- Backup procedures and schedules
3. Cybersecurity Risk
Indicator: Protection of data and systems from cyber threats and unauthorized access What drives this score:- Access Controls: Password protection, user authentication, access permissions
- Data Encryption: Encryption of sensitive data (at rest and in transit)
- Security Software: Antivirus, firewall, and security updates
- Security Incidents: History of data breaches, malware, or unauthorized access
- Security Awareness: Staff training on phishing, password hygiene, etc.
| Risk Level | Score | Criteria |
|---|---|---|
| LOW | 0-30 | • Strong access controls (2FA, role-based permissions) • Data encrypted (cloud storage, HTTPS) • Updated security software (antivirus, firewall) • No security incidents • Regular security awareness training |
| MODERATE | 31-60 | • Basic access controls (passwords, limited sharing) • Some encryption (cloud services use HTTPS) • Security software installed but not always updated • Minor incidents (malware cleaned, no data loss) • Occasional security awareness |
| HIGH | 61-80 | • Weak access controls (shared passwords, no permissions) • No encryption (plain text storage) • Outdated or no security software • Multiple incidents (malware, unauthorized access) • No security awareness |
| CRITICAL | 81-100 | • No access controls (open access to all data) • No encryption or security measures • Actively infected systems • Data breach or ransom attack • Complete lack of security awareness |
- Access control policies and user management
- Security software inventory and update logs
- Security incident reports or breach history
- Security training records
4. Digital Tools Adoption Risk
Indicator: Use of modern digital tools and platforms for farm management, finance, and operations What drives this score:- Farm Management Tools: Use of apps or software for planning, tracking, and analysis (e.g., FarmLogs, Agworld)
- Financial Software: Accounting or ERP systems (e.g., QuickBooks, Zoho, Sage)
- Communication Platforms: Email, WhatsApp Business, CRM for customer engagement
- Digital Payments: Mobile money, online banking, digital invoicing
- Precision Agriculture: GPS, sensors, drones, or IoT devices
| Risk Level | Score | Criteria |
|---|---|---|
| LOW | 0-30 | • Farm management software in active use • Accounting software with automated reporting • Professional communication (email, CRM) • Digital payments (mobile money, online banking) • Precision ag tools (GPS, sensors, drones) |
| MODERATE | 31-60 | • Basic farm record-keeping app (e.g., Excel) • Accounting software (entry-level) • WhatsApp for communication • Some digital payments (M-Pesa) • Considering precision ag tools |
| HIGH | 61-80 | • Paper-based farm records • Manual bookkeeping or basic spreadsheets • Phone calls or SMS only • Cash-only transactions • No precision ag tools |
| CRITICAL | 81-100 | • No farm record-keeping • No financial tracking • No digital communication • Complete reliance on cash • No awareness of digital tools |
- List of digital tools and platforms in use
- Screenshots or access to farm management/accounting software
- Digital payment transaction records
- Precision agriculture technology inventory
5. Analytics Capability Risk
Indicator: Ability to analyze data and generate insights for decision-making What drives this score:- Data Analysis: Use of data to inform decisions (yield analysis, cost-benefit, forecasting)
- Reporting: Regular dashboards, reports, or KPIs for monitoring performance
- Business Intelligence: Advanced analytics (trends, benchmarks, predictive models)
- Skills: Staff capacity to analyze data and interpret results
- Data-Driven Culture: Evidence that decisions are based on data, not just intuition
| Risk Level | Score | Criteria |
|---|---|---|
| LOW | 0-30 | • Systematic data analysis (yield, costs, margins) • Dashboards and KPIs for real-time monitoring • Advanced analytics (trends, forecasts, optimization) • Skilled data analyst or trained staff • Strong data-driven decision-making culture |
| MODERATE | 31-60 | • Basic data analysis (occasional yield or cost reviews) • Periodic reports (quarterly or annual) • Limited analytics (simple comparisons) • Some data skills (Excel, basic analysis) • Mix of data and intuition in decisions |
| HIGH | 61-80 | • Minimal data analysis (ad-hoc, infrequent) • No regular reporting • No analytics capability • No data analysis skills • Decisions based on intuition, not data |
| CRITICAL | 81-100 | • No data analysis • No reporting or KPIs • No awareness of analytics • No data skills • Complete reliance on guesswork |
- Data analysis reports or case examples
- Dashboards or KPI tracking systems
- Staff CVs or analytics training records
- Evidence of data-driven decisions
Risk Mitigation Strategies
IT Infrastructure Upgrade
IT Infrastructure Upgrade
- Invest in computing devices (laptops, tablets) for key staff
- Upgrade internet connectivity (fiber, 4G/5G router)
- Purchase licensed software (accounting, office, farm management)
- Establish IT maintenance schedule and backup routines
- Install backup power (solar, generator, UPS)
Data Management Improvement
Data Management Improvement
- Implement systematic data collection processes
- Adopt cloud-based storage (Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive)
- Improve data integrity through validation and quality checks
- Set up automated backups (daily cloud backups)
- Organize data for easy access and retrieval
Cybersecurity Strengthening
Cybersecurity Strengthening
- Implement access controls (strong passwords, 2FA, user permissions)
- Encrypt sensitive data (use cloud services with HTTPS)
- Install and update security software (antivirus, firewall)
- Train staff on cybersecurity (phishing, password hygiene)
- Respond to incidents and conduct security audits
Digital Tools Adoption
Digital Tools Adoption
- Adopt farm management app (e.g., FarmLogs, Agworld, AgroCenta)
- Implement accounting software (QuickBooks, Zoho, Wave)
- Use digital communication (email, WhatsApp Business, CRM)
- Enable digital payments (M-Pesa, bank transfers, online invoicing)
- Explore precision ag tools (GPS, sensors, drones)
Analytics Capability Building
Analytics Capability Building
- Analyze farm data (yield, costs, margins) regularly
- Create dashboards or KPIs for monitoring
- Develop analytics skills through training or hiring
- Use advanced analytics (trends, benchmarks, forecasts)
- Build data-driven decision-making culture
Data Sources
Technology & Data Risk analysis draws from:- Business Plan: Technology strategy and digital tools inventory
- IT Inventory: Devices, software, internet connectivity assessment
- Data Systems: Demonstration of data collection, storage, and access
- Security Practices: Access controls, backups, security software
- Analytics Examples: Reports, dashboards, or data-driven decisions
- Guided Interview: Management’s digital literacy and technology awareness
Related Documentation
- Risk Model Overview
- Operational Risk - Technology and equipment
- Governance & Legal Risk - Reporting and transparency