Florida businesses have experienced a notable rise in ransomware incidents in recent years. Across the state, public health systems and local government offices have been hit by attacks that lock up data, disrupt operations and demand payment to restore access. The Florida Department of Health, for instance, reported a ransomware incident that impacted its vital-statistics system and involved approximately 100 gigabytes of data being stolen.
With threats rising, it is especially important for businesses in Orlando and across Central Florida to understand how ransomware works, how it can affect them and what steps they can take to guard against it.
In this article, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about ransomware in Florida, how Orlando businesses are exposed and how to protect your enterprise from a disruptive attack.
The Rise of Ransomware Attacks in Florida
Ransomware is one of the most disruptive cyber threats that Florida businesses face today because of its particularly concerning reach. It can target anyone, from small family-run firms to large corporations, and it affects key industries such as healthcare, finance, manufacturing, and government operations.
In 2025, Florida continues to rank among the top U.S. states for internet-related financial losses, with ransomware and phishing standing out as major contributors, according to data highlighted by ICSI. The state’s rapid economic growth and concentration of small and mid-sized enterprises make it especially attractive to cybercriminals who exploit limited cybersecurity resources.
For businesses based in Orlando, ransomware is no longer just a technical problem for the IT department. It’s a serious operational and financial risk that demands proactive attention. Understanding how ransomware works, recognizing its warning signs, and strengthening your defenses can make the difference between a brief disruption and a devastating shutdown.
Real-life Examples of Ransomware Attacks in Florida and Orlando
Understanding actual incidents helps bring into focus how ransomware can hit businesses and organisations, how it plays out, and what the operational and financial fallout can be.
Below, we will discuss some noteworthy cases from Florida and Orlando.
An Orlando-based non-profit blood donation centre, which serves around 350 hospitals across the Southeast, experienced a ransomware attack that disabled its software systems and forced a switch to manual operations. The disruption impacted the logistics of blood collection and distribution, causing affiliated hospitals to activate shortage protocols.
The department’s vital statistics system was hit by an incident claimed by the RansomHub ransomware group, who claimed to have stolen data, affecting birth and death certificate processing and delaying services for funeral homes. From an operational view, the disruption extended across multiple counties in Florida and pressured critical public-health workflows.
A local government ransomware attack interrupted city services, including phones and online payments. The city noted many departments were affected, though emergency services remained operational. According to vendor reports, the attackers claimed ~1.4 TB of data and 719,597 files stolen. The financial impact is less public, but the cost of remediation, lost productivity and regulatory risk would have been significant for this size of municipality.
Ransomware Risks for Orlando Businesses
For business owners in Orlando, understanding cyber risk means being one step ahead of cybercriminals and contributing to a safer digital environment. Prevention is sometimes the only real defense against ransomware and knowing what to look out for can make all the difference.
Below are some of the most common ransomware risk indicators that Florida businesses should pay close attention to:
| Outdated software or systems | Many local businesses still rely on legacy tools that haven’t received security patches. Attackers often exploit these outdated systems to gain initial access. |
| Weak password and access management | Shared accounts or reused passwords across departments make it easier for attackers to breach networks through credential-stuffing attacks. |
| Unprotected remote connections | With more employees working remotely, unsecured remote-desktop connections (RDP) are a frequent entry point for ransomware. |
| Phishing and social engineering | In many Florida ransomware cases, the attack begins with a single email. Employees who aren’t trained to spot fraudulent messages may unknowingly open the door to cybercriminals. |
| Lack of regular data backups | Businesses that don’t back up critical data or fail to test their recovery plans are far more likely to pay a ransom when locked out. |
| Third-party vulnerabilities | Local suppliers or IT vendors with weak cybersecurity can unintentionally pass risks onto your business, creating an indirect but serious threat. |
How Businesses Can Protect Their Assets from Ransomware Attacks
As we’ve seen recently, in Orlando and across Florida, ransomware is a growing reality. The good news is that prevention often serves as the best defence. By adopting smart strategies now and staying alert, your business can significantly reduce the risk of a ransomware incident.
Below, we will explore five key prevention tips to help protect your company’s systems, reputation and livelihood.
1. Always Implement Strong Backup & Recovery Practices
Given how unpredictable cybercriminals have become, having reliable backups has become essential nowadays. For a Florida business, this means storing critical data in more than one location (on-site, off-site, cloud) and regularly testing the recovery process.
If ransomware strikes, you want to restore operations without resorting to paying a ransom. Make sure backups are isolated from the main network so that they can’t be encrypted by the same attack and that employees know the procedures for recovering data.
Cybersecurity experts recommend social engineering testing in Florida to make sure that your staff is prepared to react in case of an attack.
2. Keep Systems Up-to-Date & Patch Regularly
It is no secret that older software and legacy systems are easy targets for cybercriminals. In Orlando, where smaller firms may still run older versions of operating systems or applications, it’s especially vital to upgrade systems.
You can begin by enabling automatic updates wherever possible, monitor for unpatched vulnerabilities, and consider segmenting parts of your network. A well-maintained system significantly reduces the risk of malware spreading and compromising your whole system from a single point.
3. Strengthen Access Controls & Use Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
When access management is weak, attackers can move in quickly. Shared accounts across departments, default passwords or lack of privilege separation are frequent risks. For businesses in Orlando, applying MFA for remote access, email accounts and administrative log-ins adds a strong layer of protection.
Limit user permissions to the minimum necessary for their role, disable unused accounts, and monitor access logs for unusual patterns. The less chance an attacker has to escalate privileges, the better your position.
4. Educate Staff & Foster a Cyber-Aware Culture
It is already common across the industry that human error remains one of the major entry points for ransomware, especially phishing emails and social engineering. In Florida’s diverse business landscape, it’s important to invest in regular training to help your team recognize suspicious links, attachments or requests.
Create an environment where employees feel comfortable reporting odd messages without fear of blame. Additionally, simulated phishing tests, clear internal reporting channels, and visible leadership support help build awareness.
When your people are engaged and vigilant, your technical defences work that much better.
5. Plan for Incident Response & Partner with Trusted Experts
Even with the best security measures in place, you may still face an incident. That’s why having a Incident Response Services in Orlando, FL – CyberGlobal ORL is critical.
You must always be prepared and know:
- Who to contact
- How to isolate the breach
- How to communicate internally and externally
- How to recover operations
Ultimately, partnering with a local cybersecurity provider in Florida adds major value to your security strategy. Cybersecurity experts understand regional regulations, working with local law-enforcement and can help with 24/7 monitoring, threat detection, and rapid recovery.
Fight Against Ransomware with CyberGlobal Orlando
Ransomware continues to challenge Florida businesses of every size, from family-owned shops to large regional organizations. A single successful attack can expose confidential data, disrupt operations for weeks, and lead to financial losses that many small businesses never recover from.
At CyberGlobal Orlando, we’re dedicated to helping Florida businesses stay safe and resilient. With deep industry experience, having worked with global names like Mercedes-Benz and Red Bull, our team brings enterprise-grade cybersecurity services to local organizations that deserve the same level of protection.
- Our Florida penetration testing services help identify and close system vulnerabilities before attackers can exploit them. We take a hands-on, tailored approach, assessing your network, applications, and internal processes to strengthen every layer of defense.
- Our Incident Response and Threat Intelligence services in Orlando are designed to prepare you for the unexpected. From staff training to building detailed response plans, our team of professionals helps you detect, contain, and recover from threats quickly, minimizing downtime and protecting your reputation.
But at CyberGlobal, cybersecurity isn’t just about technology. It’s about people.
Our professionals work closely with you as part of your team, always making sure that your business is protected, compliant, and confident in navigating our modern digital environment. We also make sure you meet all local regulations, helping you avoid costly penalties and compliance issues.
Our mission is to build a stronger, safer digital future for Florida businesses. Reach out to our Orlando office, and let’s make sure your business stays one step ahead of cybercriminals.
