The Florida Cybersecurity Act requires public organizations in Florida to regularly check for security risks, train their staff, report cyber incidents quickly, and follow trusted guidelines like NIST to help prevent data breaches.
While it’s mainly aimed at state and local government agencies, it also sets the standard for any business that works with them. Failing to meet these requirements could lead to fines, loss of contracts, or reputational damage, all of which are incredibly difficult to recover from.
In this article, we’ll look at who needs to follow the law, what the main requirements are, what happens if you don’t comply, and how businesses can stay on track.
What Are the objectives of Florida’s Cybersecurity Act?
Florida’s Cybersecurity Act aims to help public agencies and their partners enhance the way they protect systems and data from cyber threats. At its heart, the law strives to build trust in digital services while reducing the impact of attacks through a consistent, risk‑based approach.
Key objectives of the act include:
- Improving how state and local government systems identify and manage cybersecurity risks by requiring regular assessments and planning.
- Protecting sensitive information and critical infrastructure from unauthorized access, loss, or disruption.
- Making sure businesses and institutions are ready to report and respond quickly when a cyber incident occurs.
- Promoting the use of widely recognized security frameworks, including standards such as the NIST Cybersecurity Framework.
- Supporting ongoing cybersecurity awareness and training for employees and leaders so that human error becomes less of a risk.
Who Must Comply with the Florida Cybersecurity Act?
Every business that operates in the digital space and handles sensitive data (such as private information of customers, patients, etc, including names, addresses, phone numbers, or social security numbers) must comply with the Florida Cybersecurity Act.
This includes:
- Public-sectors agencies that manage the state’s digital systems and data in sectors like healthcare, education, and transportation.
- Counties and municipal governments (even smaller towns and local governments that serve residents and manage public systems are required to meet basic cybersecurity standards).
- Private companies and vendors that support government work or handle government data, whether as an IT provider, managed services partner, cloud host, or technical consultant.
The Core Requirements of the Florida Cybersecurity Act
The Florida Cybersecurity Act might seem complex at first glance, but it’s really about taking smart, practical steps to keep your digital systems and the data you store safe. It gives public agencies and the businesses that work with them a clear checklist to follow based on proven cybersecurity best practices.
Here’s a brief list of core requirements:
- Assign a Cybersecurity Leader. Each state agency must have a person in charge of cybersecurity who manages and oversees the program every year.
- Create Security Plans. Agencies need to prepare both long-term and yearly plans that set clear goals and outline how they’ll improve security over time.
- Review Risks Regularly. At least once every three years, businesses must do a full risk assessment to find vulnerabilities in their systems and fix them to mitigate the risk of a data breach.
- Report Cyber Incidents Quickly. Any cybersecurity or ransomware incident must be reported fast to the Florida Digital Service and law enforcement, following official rules.
- Train Staff Regularly. Employees must go through cybersecurity training when they’re hired and keep learning regularly so they know how to spot and avoid threats.
Penalties for Non-compliance
Failing to comply with The Florida Cybersecurity Act can bring a handful of serious consequences both for local institutions and the businesses they work with. These laws aren’t just guidelines. They’re enforced to help protect people’s sensitive data and public digital systems.
Here’s what non-compliance can bring:
| Penalty | Explanation |
| Fines for missing deadlines or failing to report | If a breach isn’t reported on time or security requirements aren’t met, the organization can be fined. In some cases, fines range from $1,000 to $50,000 per violation. For serious or repeated issues, fines can reach up to $500,000. |
| Losing government contracts | Businesses that work with state or local government may lose existing contracts. |
| Being banned from future contracts | Companies that do not comply can be disqualified from bidding on or receiving future government contracts. |
| Personal consequences for false reports | Individuals who knowingly provide false information about a cyber incident may face personal penalties, including fines or removal from their position. |
Best Practices to Comply with the Florida Cybersecurity Act
Complying with cybersecurity laws is not only a matter of legal obligation, but also a proactive step towards building a more secure digital landscape for your business and everyone you work with. By following these best practices, you not only avoid costly fines or legal trouble, but also potentially save your company from devastating data breaches.
Here’s a few steps that can make all the difference:
- Conduct regular pen testing. Nothing can protect your company from cyberattacks better than prevention. Penetration testing was developed to scan your systems at a deeper level and find vulnerabilities you may easily miss, helping you fix them early on.
- Enforce best cybersecurity practices among staff. Social engineering testing can help Orlando businesses recognize phishing attempts and other types of attacks before they escalate. This will help them be more reactive, more organized, and potentially prevent serious breaches.
- Always have a good incident response plan ready. When an attack occurs, it’s easy for people to freeze, unintentionally giving hackers more time to act. But with a good IR plan in place, your team will know exactly what to do and who to reach out to, especially in moments where every second counts.
- Adopt GRC (Governance, Risk, and Compliance). These services help you align your business goals with IT while managing risk and meeting regulatory requirements.
- Partner with a cybersecurity professional in Orlando. Ultimately, the surest way to meet compliance and stay ahead of digital risks is to reach out to a cybersecurity team. They have the tools, people, and expertise to know exactly what your business needs in terms of digital security and meeting local requirements.
Achieve Compliance with CyberGlobal Orlando
Achieving compliance with the Florida Cybersecurity Act requires thoughtful planning, clear oversight, and a framework that connects security goals with daily operations. It may seem like a tedious task, but you don’t have to do it alone.
At CyberGlobal Orlando, we’re here to guide you every step of the way. Our GRC services are built to make cybersecurity compliance simple, clear, and practical.
We help you connect the dots between your technology, your business goals, and the legal requirements you need to follow in Florida. With the right GRC framework in place, you can spot risks early, put clear policies in motion, and stay ahead of changing regulations.
But it’s not just technology that makes CyberGlobal a reliable partner. It’s our people.
Our engineers are here to help you make better decisions, knowing your resources are focused where they’ll make the biggest impact. Let us be your ally in the fight against cyberthreats.
Reach out to CyberGlobal Orlando today.
