Downtime
When email, the phones or your line-of-business app go down, your staff still gets paid and customers wait.
The newsletter covers: updates, backups, and the power and internet prep that keeps you open.
Mon · Wed · Fri · Tampa Bay
Fewer outages, fewer ransomware scares, no insurance surprises.
3 IT tips a week, under 5 minutes, for Tampa Bay owners running 10–200 person businesses. Plain English from a local IT leader with 30 years in the business.
Don ZurbrickEVP, Tampa Bay Region, TeamLogic IT · St. PetersburgHeard on the MJ Morning Show
Free 30-minute IT checkupYou get a one-page risk summary: what's solid, what's exposed, and your top 3 fixes.
Book a checkupWhat IT problems actually cost you
Ransomware
One bad click can lock every file you have. The businesses that recover fast are the ones with a tested backup.
The newsletter covers: the current scams, and the simple controls that stop most of them.
Insurance denials
Cyber policies often require MFA and backups. If what you checked on the application isn't actually in place, a claim can be disputed.
The newsletter covers: what insurers ask for, in plain English.
Each issue: 3 tips, under 5 minutes, every item linked to a public source. No scare tactics.
Built for Tampa Bay
National IT newsletters don't plan around hurricane season or Florida law. This one does.
Hurricane-season IT prep
- Season runs June 1 – November 30. Test a restore before June, not during a storm watch.
- Know your evacuation zone, and whether your office or server closet is in it.
- Battery backup on servers and network gear, with a clean shutdown plan.
- Bookmark your utility's outage map: Duke Energy or TECO.
Sources: NOAA NHC · FL Know Your Zone · Ready.gov · Duke · TECO
Scams hitting Floridians
- Fake "unpaid toll" texts that copy a state's toll service and demand a small fee. The FBI logged 2,000+ complaints in about a month in 2024.
- Tell staff: never pay a toll, invoice or "account problem" from a text link. Go to the real site directly.
Sources: FBI IC3 PSA · CISA StopRansomware
Florida-specific rules
- Florida's breach law (s. 501.171) gives you no more than 30 days to notify affected Floridians after determining a breach.
- If 500+ Floridians are affected, you must also notify the state Department of Legal Affairs.
- Have a plan before you need it, and talk to your attorney.
Source: Fla. Stat. 501.171
Who's Don?
I'm Don Zurbrick, EVP of the Tampa Bay Region at TeamLogic IT. I've spent 30 years in IT, and these days I help Tampa Bay companies with 10–200 employees keep their technology secure and running. I'm also an active member and sponsor of the CEO Council of Tampa Bay.
- 30years in IT
- Member& sponsor, CEO Council of Tampa Bay
You may also have heard me on the MJ Morning Show. I'm a supporter of the show, I've been a guest several times, and they call me on air when listeners have tech questions.
I write this so owners can make good IT calls without a tech background. Questions? Call or text 727-465-3607 or connect on LinkedIn.
For CEOs and owners
Local CEO? Join me at the CEO Council of Tampa Bay
I'm an active member and sponsor of the CEO Council of Tampa Bay, an invitation-only community of CEOs, entrepreneurs and executive leaders. The council says it has more than 250 CEOs across 30+ industries.
- Focus groups where members work through their most pressing issues with peers
- Hand-selected speakers, social and recreational events
- A place to share confidently with people who run businesses too
Source: ceotampabay.com
Want an intro?
If you run a Tampa Bay business and want to see whether the council fits, reach out. I'm happy to tell you what it's like and introduce you.
Not sure where you stand?
Free 30-minute checkup: backups, updates, MFA, email security, insurance requirements and spending. You leave with a one-page risk summary and your top 3 fixes. No obligation.
Small business IT questions, answered
How often does the newsletter come out?
Three times a week, Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings. Each issue has 3 tips and takes under 5 minutes to read. It's free and you can unsubscribe anytime.
How often should a small business install Windows updates?
Monthly at minimum. Microsoft releases security fixes on the second Tuesday of each month (Patch Tuesday), and actively exploited flaws should be patched within days, not weeks. Make sure machines actually restart to finish installing.
How do I know if our backups actually work?
Only by testing a restore. A good backup is automatic, keeps a copy offsite or in the cloud that ransomware can't reach, and gets tested by restoring a real file or system on a schedule. In Tampa Bay, test it before hurricane season starts on June 1.
What should a Tampa Bay business do with its IT before a hurricane?
Confirm an offsite or cloud backup finished and can be restored, know your evacuation zone, put servers and network gear on battery backup and shut them down cleanly before power loss, make sure staff can work remotely, and keep a printed contact list. Hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30.
Can our cyber insurance claim be denied?
It can. Many policies require specific controls, such as multi-factor authentication and backups, and ask you to confirm them on the application. If those controls aren't actually in place, coverage can be disputed. Read your policy's requirements with your broker and check that each one is really turned on.
What is multi-factor authentication (MFA) and do we need it?
MFA asks for a second proof of identity, like an app prompt or code, in addition to a password. Turn it on for email, Microsoft 365, banking, payroll and remote access. It's one of the most effective, low-cost protections a small business can add.
What happens if a Florida business has a data breach?
Under Florida Statute 501.171, businesses must notify affected Floridians no later than 30 days after determining a breach of personal information occurred, and notify the Florida Department of Legal Affairs if 500 or more Floridians are affected.
Is it safe for employees to use ChatGPT or Copilot at work?
It can be, with ground rules. Set a simple policy about what data must never be pasted into public AI tools (client info, financials, passwords) and prefer business versions that don't train on your data.
What does the free IT checkup include?
A 30-minute call or visit with Don covering backups, updates, MFA, email security, cyber-insurance requirements and tech spending. Afterward you get a one-page risk summary: what's solid, what's exposed, and the top three fixes in priority order. No obligation.