Safeguarding rural estates from digital property crime

Lee Musgrove, of rural insurance broker Lycetts, considers how digital threats are reshaping rural security and explains what estates can do to protect themselves.

For decades, physical risks such as machinery thefts, break-ins and fire and storm damage have been the focus of security efforts for rural estates.

As the rural economy becomes increasingly digitised, however, a new threat is emerging – one that estate managers cannot see with the naked eye.

According to the National Cyber Security Centre, the number of nationally-significant cyber incidents has more than doubled in the last 12 months, reaching more than 200[1].

A survey from the Institution of Engineering and Technology has also revealed that more than half of UK adults now fear they will personally fall victim to a cyber-attack[2].

Although rural landowners may feel a long way from large cities or corporate networks, this does not mean they are insulated from these trends. In fact, their growing use of smart technology is bringing digital threats directly to the farm gate.

A new era of threats for rural properties

Over the past decade, many estates have invested in digital systems in a bid to boost security and to improve day-to-day management.

Surveillance cameras are now cloud-connected, access gates can be controlled with a smartphone app, farm machinery communicates with telematics hubs and remote sensors monitor everything from livestock movement to woodland moisture levels.

But while these tools offer convenience, they also open the door to a raft of potential new vulnerabilities that criminals can target.

Weak passwords on outdoor cameras, for example, can be exploited, connected gates can be remotely accessed to open at night, telematics data can be intercepted to identify the location of high-value tractors or ATVs and, in some cases, forestry and irrigation systems can be hacked to disrupt automated controls.

The combination of dispersed infrastructure and reliance on third-party systems makes rural estates particularly vulnerable and digital breaches will often be used to facilitate traditional physical crime, making perpetrators more efficient and harder to detect.

A typical estate may have dozens of connected devices across the main house, outbuildings, staff accommodation, workshops, farmyards and wider estate grounds.

Although all devices represent potential entry points, many were never designed with cybersecurity in mind.

Strengthening your estate’s defences

Against this backdrop, digital security needs to become an integral part of an estate’s wider security and risk management.

The first step is to establish exactly what is “connected” and what needs to be secured.

Many estate managers are surprised to discover how many devices communicate via the internet, from heating controllers, woodland sensors and GPS tags to EV chargers, solar-panel systems and visitor Wi-Fi networks.

When this is understood, it is important to tighten control over who has access.

Remote access portals for machinery, cameras or building systems should always require robust identity verification, specifically multi-factor authentication (MFA).

The risk of breaches on estates with seasonal workers, contractors and tenants can be reduced by enforcing stricter permissions and removing inactive logins.

Ensuring devices are regularly updated is equally important. With CCTV cameras, routers, telematics units and IoT sensors often left untouched for years once fitted, many cyber criminals take advantage of vulnerabilities that have been fixed by tech manufacturers, but subsequently not patched by users.

If a device is no longer supported, consideration should be given to replacing it.

Staff and contractors should be given clear guidance on how estate tech should be used, good password practices and how to report unusual behaviour to help prevent minor issues from becoming full-scale incidents.

Preparing for digital incidents

No system is immune, even with robust controls, so estates should establish clear protocols for dealing with cyber incidents, just as they would do for fire or health and safety risks.

These should include knowing who to contact, how to isolate or switch off compromised equipment and how to document an event for insurers or investigators.

Regular offline backups of important data, such as tenancy documents and compliance records, will help to ensure that the estate can continue operating if systems go down.

Particular attention should be given to agricultural machinery such as tractors, loaders and forestry vehicles, which will often have in-built connectivity features to improve efficiency. These present opportunities for tampering and theft by enabling criminals to track a machine’s movements or attempt to disable immobilisers remotely.

Estates that are well prepared with “good digital hygiene” are better placed to contain damage and recover quickly.

Modernising insurance for modern risks

Many landowners assume that cyber-related incidents are covered by standard estate or property insurance but, in reality, there can be sizeable gaps. Losses that result from criminals using digital methods to disable alarms, manipulate telematics or open connected gate systems, may not be covered by standard policy wordings.

It’s therefore important to review cover to ensure cybercrime is explicitly recognised. Issues such as telematics manipulation, GPS jamming, data theft and cyber-related business interruption should all be discussed with your broker.

It is also worth understanding insurers’ expectations when it comes to risk management. Many now view strong passwords, MFA, regular updates, secure backups and the training of staff to identify suspicious activity as essential underwriting requirements. This type of proactive risk management can reduce the likelihood of a claim but, if one is made, also help support a smoother settlement.

Ultimately, smart tech systems can bring significant security and efficiency benefits, but their potential will only be fully realised if estates remain vigilant and proactively manage the emerging digital risks.

ENDS

IMPORTANT NOTE: This information sheet has been prepared by Lycetts and reflects information reviewed by Lycetts at the time of its publication.

Accordingly, account must always be taken of any relevant changes in law, policy or other circumstances since that time. It is for general information only and must never be relied upon as any substitute for appropriate professional advice, which should always be taken in any situation in which financial or other interests may be at stake.

This content is for general information purposes only and should not be construed as financial or insurance advice. Lycetts and its employees accept no liability for any errors or omissions.

[1] The National Cyber Security Centre, October 2025

[2] The Institution of Engineering and Technology, October 2025