Cybersecurity Awareness Month: A Wake-Up Call for Florida and Virginia Businesses

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and it’s not just another “national day” to scroll past on your calendar. For business owners in Florida and Virginia, it’s a reminder that cyber threats are not slowing down—and neither should your protection.

At Pelican Shield Insurance Group , we’ve worked with contractors, property managers, restaurants, bars, and other businesses that never thought they’d face a cyber issue until it happened. We take pride in listening, breaking down risks in plain English, and putting together a program that actually works. Learn more about who we are here and what we cover for businesses here.

We do what we say we’re going to do - and that includes making sure cyber liability coverage is more than just fine print.

Why Cyber Risk Should Be on Your Radar

Hackers aren’t picky. They don’t just go after big banks and Silicon Valley firms - they go after whoever looks easiest to hit. And for a lot of small and mid-sized businesses, that means you.

The real kicker? The cost of dealing with a cyber incident isn’t pocket change. Depending on the size of your business and the type of attack, a data breach can run anywhere from $120,000 - $250,000. Some studies peg the global average breach cost to well over $1 million, but even a fraction of that can sink a contractor, landlord, or restaurant if they don’t have protection in place.

And in states like Florida and Virginia - where businesses are constantly moving money, managing vendors, and handling customer data - the opportunities for cybercrime are everywhere. Whether it’s a hacked restaurant point-of-sale system or a phishing email that reroutes a contractor’s payment, local businesses are targets.

The point isn’t fear - it’s awareness. Cyber risk is here, it’s growing, and it’s expensive. Having coverage means you won’t be left footing the bill alone.

Common Cyber Risks for Businesses

Every industry has its quirks, but the most common cyber risks we see across Florida and Virginia include:

Phishing Attacks: Fake emails or texts that trick employees into giving up passwords, bank details, or other sensitive info.
Ransomware: Hackers lock your systems and demand payment to release them.
Data Breaches: Customer information, payroll details, or vendor contracts get exposed.
Business Email Compromise (BEC): Criminals impersonate executives or vendors to redirect payments.
Third-Party Risks: Vendors or contractors you rely on have weak cybersecurity, and it becomes your problem.

Restaurants , contractors, and apartment owners are all targets in different ways, but the risks are universal. Insurance helps make sure you don’t have to shoulder the fallout alone.

The Role of Cyber Liability Insurance

Even the most careful business owner can fall victim to cybercrime. Cyber liability insurance helps cover:

Legal and defense costs if you’re sued following a breach
Cost to notify affected parties (customers, employees, etc.)
Forensics, investigation, and system restoration
Possible ransom payments, if allowed and appropriate
Business interruption losses if your operations are impacted

We’ve covered the big-picture question of whether businesses really need cyber liability in detail in a previous blog. Spoiler: yes, you probably do.

And for those wondering about the fine print, we’ve also explained why contingent business interruption matters in cyber liability insurance - because your risk isn’t always limited to your own systems.

At Pelican Shield, coverage is never off-the-shelf. We tailor it to your business size, risk profile, and industry dynamics.

Cybersecurity Best Practices Every Business Should Follow

Insurance gives you a safety net, but prevention is your first line of defense. During Cybersecurity Awareness Month, take action with these best practices:

Train Your Team Frequently: Simulated phishing tests and refresher training keep staff alert.
Use Strong Passwords + Multi-Factor Authentication: MFA is among the easiest and most effective barriers.
Patch Systems & Update Software: Vulnerabilities in old software remain favorite targets.
Back Up Your Data Offsite: Keep versions in separate locations, ideally air-gapped or offline.
Vet Your Vendors’ Cyber Posture: A contractor or vendor’s breach can cascade to your business.
Develop & Practice an Incident Response Plan: Let your team know who does what under a breach scenario.

Even implementing safeguards don’t guarantee safety, but they significantly reduce your exposure. Pair these with tailored insurance , and your defenses strengthen in layers.

Why Businesses in Florida and Virginia Should Act Now

Florida’s tourism-driven economy means endless credit card swipes, vendor contracts, and customer transactions - a hacker’s buffet. Virginia’s contractors, real estate firms, and service businesses run heavy on digital payments and online documents - plenty of opportunity for criminals to slip in.

A single breach at a restaurant point-of-sale system can affect thousands of customers. A phishing attack on a construction firm can misdirect a six-figure payment. A property manager’s database leak can expose every tenant’s personal details.

If you wait until after a breach, you won’t just be scrambling - you’ll likely be paying for mistakes you could have prevented. At Pelican Shield, we want to help you get ahead of that.

Final Thoughts

Cybersecurity Awareness Month is more than a calendar event - it’s a call to action. If your business values its reputation, income, customer trust, and long-term viability, now is the time to act.

At Pelican Shield Insurance Group , we make cyber risk manageable. Check out our blogs for more coverage insights, or contact us to schedule a conversation. We do what we say we’re going to do - protecting your business from the risks you may not see coming.

Call us at 727-369-9077 or visit www.pelicanshield.com to get started.

We do what we say we're going to do.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and why should my business care?

Cybersecurity Awareness Month happens every October. It’s designed to remind businesses (and individuals) that cyber threats aren’t going away. For Florida and Virginia businesses, it’s a good nudge to review defenses, update training, and make sure insurance coverage is where it needs to be.

2. Aren’t cyber attacks mainly a big-company problem?

Not anymore. Hackers now see small and mid-sized businesses as prime targets because they often don’t have big IT teams or strong defenses in place. Restaurants, contractors, and landlords in Florida and Virginia are just as likely to get hit as a Fortune 500 firm - sometimes more.

3. How much can a cyber attack really cost my business?

Recovery costs can be significant, ranging from $120,000 to over $1 million, depending on the size of your business and the severity of the attack. For some companies, that’s enough to put them out of business. Having cyber liability insurance helps keep a breach from becoming a financial disaster.

4. What does cyber liability insurance cover?

Cyber liability can cover things like legal defense, customer notification, system restoration, ransom payments (in some cases), and lost income if your business can’t operate while systems are down. It’s meant to cover the financial side of a cyber incident so you’re not left holding the bag. We also work with carriers that work with clients to put risk mitigation measure in place and can help minimize claims if a breach occurs.

5. What steps can I take right now to lower my cyber risk?

Start with the basics: train employees on phishing scams, use multi-factor authentication, keep software updated, back up data offsite, and have a response plan in place. None of these eliminate risk completely, but they make you much harder to hack.

6. Why should I work with Pelican Shield Insurance Group for cyber liability coverage?

Because we make insurance practical. We’ll look at your actual risks, walk you through coverage in plain English, and match you with a program that fits your business. And we do what we say we’re going to do - so you can get back to running your business without losing sleep over hackers.