Cyberattack paralyzes production of Japan's most popular beer: Asahi Group in crisis due to ransomware

The Japanese giant Asahi Group Holdings, the undisputed beer leader in Japan and responsible for brands such as Asahi Super Dry, has been the victim of a devastating ransomware cyberattack that has completely paralyzed its domestic production and the supply of beer and other beverages in the country.

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Details of the attack and extent of the incident

Last Monday, Asahi confirmed that a cyberattack collapsed its computer systems in Japan, forcing it to stop order management, shipping, customer service and the entire supply chain. The ruling has affected the group's 30 domestic plants, preventing the resumption of production while technological problems persist. The company admits that there is still no forecast of when it will be able to return to normal, manually managing some orders in exceptional cases.

While Asahi states that there is no evidence of a leak of customer personal data, they have detected signs of possible exposure of internal information and recognize that the ultimate cause was a ransomware attack: cybercriminals have encrypted the data and demand a ransom to restore systems.

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Economic, social and logistical impact

This cyberattack has caused an unprecedented supply crisis: bars, supermarkets and restaurants across Japan are starting to run out of Asahi beer and its related products. Chain stores (7-Eleven, FamilyMart, Lawson) are already warning of shortages and are looking to replace the flagship product with alternative brands to deal with demand. The local press gives voice to customers and hoteliers concerned about the lack of supply, which affects even soft drinks and bottled teas manufactured by Asahi.

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Response from the company and authorities

Asahi's management has issued a statement apologizing, stressing that they prioritize data security and service recovery, and that they are collaborating with the Tokyo Metropolitan Police to clarify what happened. The company, which sells more than 73 million boxes of Asahi Super Dry each year in Japan alone, faces millions of dollars in losses and a critical challenge to the continuity of its business.

The attack highlights the growing risk of ransomware cyberattacks on the manufacturing industry, especially when they target operational infrastructures (OT) and critical systems, capable of paralyzing production and causing serious reputational and economic damage.

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Lessons and recommendations for the industrial sector

• Investing in industrial cybersecurity (OT): protect not only data, but also production and distribution systems from targeted attacks.
• Maintain segregated backups: essential in the face of the rise of ransomware that encrypts and blocks entire infrastructures.
• Response simulations and contingency plans: to be able to resume operations quickly and minimize impacts on customers and suppliers.
• Public and private collaboration: in the face of critical incidents, it is essential to cooperate with the authorities and share intelligence in the face of global threats.

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Is your company ready to respond to a cyberattack that paralyzes production?

The cyber attack on Asahi marks a turning point in Japanese and global industries: even market leaders can lose their operational capacity in the face of sophisticated attacks. The case reinforces the importance of comprehensive cyber defense and the need to be prepared to mitigate risk, both technologically and organizationally.

🛡️ At Apolo Cybersecurity, we offer comprehensive audits, simulations and customized action plans to shield your operations against the most advanced threats. Request your diagnosis today and protect your business continuity.

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