Cybersecurity & IT

Northwest Florida is becoming Florida’s Cyber Coast with the help of the Department of Defense, University of West Florida (UWF), and many private sector businesses involved in Cybersecurity and IT. Your company can benefit from these Northwest Florida cybersecurity/IT advantages:

  • Military installations with cybersecurity commands and a vested interest in increasing cybersecurity awareness in the region
  • UWF’s designation as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education
  • Cybersecurity education programs starting in middle school through post-secondary education
  • Connectivity to Florida LambdaRail – 100 Gigabit Research and Education Network
  • In the last five years over 71% growth in Software Publishers and Other Computer Related Services
  • Non-congested airports with nonstop flights to major markets like Washington D.C., Chicago, Houston, Atlanta, and New York

Military Impact

Northwest Florida’s military installations house Department of Defense cybersecurity commands such as:

  • Center for Information Dominance (NAS Pensacola)

  • Navy Information Operations Command (NAS Pensacola)

  • 96th Cyberspace Test Group (Eglin AFB)

  • 47th Cyberspace Test Squadron (Eglin AFB)

 

With 3,000 military personnel separating each year, your company will have access to this talent pool with invaluable cybersecurity/IT skills.

Moreover, the military played a key role in developing a Cybersecurity Strategic Plan, along with the government, educational institutions and cybersecurity/IT companies in the region. The Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association is actively involved in cybersecurity programs and career academies for middle and high school students. Your firm can be a part of this strategic group working together to build a thriving cybersecurity workforce in the region.

Workforce Development

Your firm will have a healthy pipeline of educated professionals in cybersecurity and IT. As a Center of Excellence, UWF will provide leadership to advance cyber defense education among colleges and universities in the Southeastern U.S.

UWF also plans to expand its Center for Cybersecurity to offer more courses, certifications and training for cybersecurity experts. It is also interested in generating interest in students before they reach college and are active in supporting local school programs, such as:  

  • NSA GenCyber camps are also available for local high school students and teachers with an interest in cybersecurity.

  • CyberPatriot program, a national cyber education program developed by the Air Force Association for middle and high school students.

  • CyberThon, a real-world cybersecurity competition event designed to give high school and college students hands-on experience in cyber defense.

INDUSTRY SUPPORT

Regional organizations such as Innovation Coast, IT Gulf Coast and the Entrepreneurship & Innovation Council of Northwest Florida FORWARD are working to grow the innovation and technological landscape in the region. Through networking events, partnerships and the ITENWired annual summit, your firm will be able to connect with cybersecurity and IT companies already finding success in Northwest Florida.

Florida Lambdarail

Deployed over 1,540 miles of dark fiber, the Florida LambdaRail network can transmit up to 100 billion bits per second. Your company can access it when in collaboration with University of West Florida for projects that support non-profit research, education, or 21st century economy initiatives.


Featured Companies

AppRiver

Since its start in 2002, AppRiver has grown to become one of America's leading email and Web security companies, serving 45,000 corporate customers and protecting eight million mailboxes worldwide. AppRiver offers cloud-based spam and virus filtering, Web protection as well as email encryption, control and tracking services. The company is also a top provider of secure hosted Microsoft Exchange and is one of only seven firms in North America selected as a syndication partner for Microsoft Office.

Beast Code

Beast Code is a software development company building virtual environments for design, training, and logistics solutions. This technology hub employs more than 100 developers, engineers, and designers.

Hixardt Technologies

Hixardt Technologies has been crafting custom, secure IT solutions for organizations of every size for over 20 years. They provide IT management and support, cybersecurity, disaster recovery, compliance oversight, cloud services, and more.

Navy Federal Credit Union

Navy Federal employs more than 8,000 people at their Pensacola operations campus. Their workplace has been recognized among "best places to work" by Fortune, Forbes, and Computerworld.

 

CONTACT US

Florida’s Great Northwest is here to enhance Northwest Florida’s competitive position through industry diversification and quality job growth. Whether you’re a company executive, site selector, or Northwest Floridian, contact us to learn how we can work together.

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