CyberSecure Florida Initiative

The CyberSecureFlorida initiative, pursuant to House Bill 5001, Appropriation 2944B, a first-of-its-kind
effort to assess the cybersecurity strengths and weaknesses of Florida’s collective critical infrastructure. The information gathered through this effort will be critical to helping Florida’s elected leaders determine how best to allocate resources and enact appropriate legislation to create a more secure Sunshine State.

For more information, please review the CyberSecure Florida flyer here.

To access the assessment, visit the CyberSecure Florida Initiative website here.

Cyber Florida is working to build a coalition of critical infrastructure organizations committed to Florida’s collective cyber resiliency. If you would like to help Cyber Florida build a community of collective security, please visit the CyberSecure Florida website here and sign up as a Program Partner scroll to the bottom of the page).

 

2023 Atlantic Hurricane Season Predictions

National Hurricane Center

NHC forecast will be released in late May 2023

Colorado State University

CSU forecast will be released in April 2023.

Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Shields Up Program

While there are no specific or credible cyber threats to the U.S. homeland at this time, Russia’s unprovoked attack on Ukraine, which has involved cyber-attacks on the Ukrainian government and critical infrastructure organizations, may impact organizations both within and beyond the region. Every organization—large and small—must be prepared to respond to disruptive cyber activity. As the nation’s cyber defense agency, CISA stands ready to help organizations prepare for, respond to, and mitigate the impact of cyber-attacks. When cyber incidents are reported quickly, we can use this information to render assistance and as a warning to prevent other organizations and entities from falling victim to a similar attack.

Click here to be taken to CISA’s Shields Up web page for the latest updates, technical guidance, recommendations, and additional resources.

 

SBDC Business Continuity and Disaster Preparedness

The Florida SBDC Network serves as the statewide single point of contact for the advancement of an entrepreneurial environment; thus, creating a positive foundation for the development and growth of existing and emerging businesses in Florida. The Network’s focus on the critical needs of businesses drives its direction and performance expectations.  The FSBDCN is the most experienced economic development network serving Floridians statewide.

When disaster strikes, businesses in the Tampa Bay region can find the education, training, and assistance needed to survive through the SBDC at USF’s Business Continuation Services.  Their professionally certified business consultants provide consulting at no cost, and training events to help you minimize losses and increase survivability when affected by natural and man-made disasters.  They can help business owners develop a plan tailored for your business, at no cost.

Find out more by clicking here.

Florida SBDC at Hillsborough County “Bounce Back 21” Small Business Resiliency Webinar Series

Join us for a weekly no-cost, two-hour webinar panel discussion series with industry experts to learn about ways to help your business weather all types of disasters and navigate the changing post-pandemic business landscape.

Bounce Back 21 Flyer

Register for the webinars on the SBDC site by clicking here.

 

Project Phoenix 2.0: The Recovery (Hurricane Simulation)

In 2009, the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council (TBRPC) developed the Tampa Bay Catastrophic Plan: Project Phoenix, a plan to address the challenges of response and recovery during a catastrophic event in the Tampa Bay area. Hurricane Phoenix, a fictitious storm, was created to simulate the effects of a worst‐case scenario in our region; a direct strike from a Category 5 hurricane. A 10-minute video portrays the scenario using realistic weather reports and archived video footage.

Project Phoenix 2.0: The Recovery is a facilitated training exercise that examines critical issues and capabilities of Tampa Bay area small businesses and emergency management agencies during disaster recovery. A series of videos supplement the exercise; illustrating a simulated Category 5 hurricane hitting Tampa Bay paralleled with lessons learned and words of advice from small business owners impacted by Hurricane Michael in 2018.  Project Phoenix 2.0: The Recovery leads participants through a facilitated discussion of roles, procedures, and responsibilities in the context of a Category 5 hurricane in the Greater Tampa Bay Area. The exercise is divided into four modules that cover a range of emergency preparedness and recovery topics, including:

  • Module 1 – One Day Later: Immediate impacts and damage assessments
  • Module 2 – One Week Later: Short-term recovery operations
  • Module 3 – One to Six Months Later: Long-term recovery operations
  • Module 4 – One Year Later: Long-term recovery operations

Exercise participants respond to questions that define the overlapping issues faced by small business owners and emergency managers, improving communications and preparedness efforts throughout the disaster scenario.

For supporting training videos and materials, go to http://www.tbrpc.org/phoenix/

 

Public Sector Programs

City of Tampa Hurricane Re-Entry Program

The City of Tampa Hurricane Re-Entry Program is for residents and businesses in the areas most likely to be evacuated during a hurricane event (within Zip Code areas: 33602, 33605, 33606, 33609, 33611, 33616, 33619, 33629 and MacDill Air Force Base 33621 shown on the map). It is designed to make it easier for residents and business representatives to re-enter the area after evacuation orders have been lifted – and to prevent gawkers and potential criminals from entering the area.  For more information, click here.

 

SecureFlorida.org

Secure Florida is an initiative of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

Secure Florida’s mission is to protect the citizens and economy of Florida by safeguarding our information systems, reducing our vulnerability to cyberattacks, and increasing our responsiveness to any threat.