Last month, Asahi Group, Japan’s largest brewer and one of the world’s biggest beverage producers, was forced to halt production across 30 factories after a ransomware attack.
Even now, weeks later, its six breweries are only partially operational, orders are being processed by fax and pen, and major retailers are running dry on Super Dry.
All because one digital system went dark.
This wasn’t a small incident — Asahi controls roughly 40% of Japan’s beer market. When it fell offline, restaurants, wholesalers, and convenience chains nationwide felt the shock instantly.
- Beer shortages.
- Manual logistics.
- Millions in lost revenue.
- A global brand temporarily brought to its knees.
The Qilin ransomware group claimed responsibility - the same syndicate linked to attacks on healthcare and transport systems worldwide. Their success wasn’t just about hacking skill; it exposed a deeper issue:
Most organisations still rely on a single digital nervous system - and when that’s cut, everything stops.
The Lesson: Redundancy Is Not Optional
Even the most advanced industries often lack out-of-band communication and coordination systems - independent, secure channels that stay live when primary networks fail.
When corporate email, logistics software, and cloud platforms go down, how do teams still:
- Communicate securely?
- Authorise shipments or safety actions?
- Keep customers and partners informed?
Without pre-planned, resilient systems - voice, radio, SMS, peer-to-peer mesh, or secure offline apps - entire enterprises grind to a halt.
Why This Should Alarm Every Business Leader
This isn’t “just IT.” It’s operational survival.
We’ve entered an era where ransomware can freeze not just data, but physical production, supply chains, and public trust.
Japan’s case highlights global vulnerability - many firms still depend on outdated, centralised systems, built on legacy assumptions of “trust.”
If a company like Asahi can be forced back to fax machines, what about hospitals, utilities, or logistics providers?
The Takeaway
If your organisation doesn’t have:
- Out-of-band communications (secure, independent, always-on)
- Offline continuity protocols
- Cross-team rehearsals for digital blackout scenarios
…then you don’t have resilience - you have luck.
Now is the time to test, not talk.
When the network goes down, what still works?
