Japan’s Asahi Group is currently facing a significant challenge due to a cyberattack that disrupted its operations. The attack has temporarily halted order processing, shipments, and customer service, leading to concerns over the availability of Asahi Super Dry, the country’s most popular beer.
Details of the Cyberattack
On Monday, Asahi Group announced that its systems had gone offline following a ransomware attack. This incident specifically affected operations within Japan. The company has issued a statement detailing the impacts of the attack:
- Order processing is currently suspended.
- Shipment operations have been halted.
- Call center activities are also affected.
Current Status and Actions
In response to the crisis, Asahi has begun manually processing orders. However, large-scale shipments remain on hold, which has raised alarms for retailers across the nation. The company emphasized that the disruption is limited to Japan, but the exact timeline for restoring normal operations is unclear.
Asahi Group has confirmed they took immediate action to address the breach. They are currently investigating potential unauthorized data transfers that may have occurred during the attack. “We are conducting an investigation to determine the nature and scope of the information that may have been subject to unauthorized transfer,” stated the company.
Impact on Beer Supply
The Financial Times has reported estimates from major retailers indicating that if supply chains are not restored quickly, Asahi Super Dry stocks may run out by this weekend. This beer is a staple for many consumers in Japan, making the restoration of service critical for both the company and its customers.
Asahi Group continues to monitor the situation closely and is committed to resolving the issues as swiftly as possible. The company has not released further details about the attack to prevent exacerbating the situation.
