Make Your Supply Chain a Security Advantage

If your locks, alarms, and firewalls are solid but a vendor slips in through the back door, you’re not alone—U.S. supply chain cyberattacks hit 2,769 entities in 2023, a 58% jump and the highest since 2017. On the Gulf Coast, where small and mid-sized businesses keep our region moving, the weakest link is often a third party you trust. Cyclone 365 helps you turn that risk into resilience with practical steps that fit real budgets. Start by mapping every vendor and the tools they use so you can see who touches your systems, then profile them by access, track record, and certifications such as ISO 27001 or SOC 2. Move beyond one-and-done onboarding to continuous due diligence with clear security obligations in contracts, independent audit evidence, and ongoing monitoring for leaked credentials or new vulnerabilities. Hold partners accountable without blind trust by enforcing MFA, encryption, least-privilege access, and prompt breach notification, and back it all with Zero-Trust principles—strong authentication, network segmentation, and regular permission reviews—to cut the impact of third-party incidents. Assume detection and response will matter: watch vendor software updates, share threat intelligence, and pressure-test your defenses with simulated attacks. If keeping pace feels overwhelming, Cyclone 365 delivers managed IT and security services purpose-built for supply chain protection, including vendor risk assessments, Zero-Trust rollouts, 24/7 SOC monitoring, and rapid incident response. Considering that third-party breaches now average more than $4 million, proactive supply chain security protects your customers, your data, and your bottom line. Ready to make vendors part of your defense instead of your exposure? Cyclone 365 is here on the Gulf Coast to help you secure the whole chain—end to end. Click to Call or Email us today and let’s secure your business before someone else tears it down.

We had an awesome day at the 2025 Mobile Chamber Business Expo!

The 2025 Mobile Chamber Business Expo was a true celebration of entrepreneurship and community on the Gulf Coast. Cyclone 365 was proud to be part of this dynamic event, which brought together more than 200 local businesses for Mobile’s largest B2B trade show.

This year’s expo wasn’t just about exchanging business cards—it was about creating real connections. From entrepreneurs and small business owners to seasoned professionals, attendees came together to explore partnerships, discover new solutions, and celebrate the strength of our local business community.

Cyclone 365 had an incredible time connecting with new faces and familiar ones alike. The atmosphere was energetic, fueled by innovative ideas, shared goals, and even a few tasty treats from local vendors. It was a perfect snapshot of the determination and creativity that drives our Gulf Coast economy forward.

We’re especially inspired by the small business owners who poured their passion into showcasing their services. These are the people building Mobile’s future—one idea, one partnership, and one customer at a time.

Thank you to everyone who made this event a success. If you missed it, be sure to catch next year’s expo. Cyclone 365 will be there, and we’d love to see you.

Super Dave on Cybersecurity, Small Business, and Community Involvement

About This Episode
In this episode of Firewatch Business, host Jason Schmitt sits down with Dave Nelson—better known across Alabama and Florida as “Super Dave.” As the Business Development Manager and partner at Cyclone 365, Dave shares his perspective on small business growth, cybersecurity threats, and the importance of community involvement.

What You’ll Learn

• Cyclone 365’s “Business in a Box”: A complete solution for small businesses, covering IT, cybersecurity, phone systems, and surveillance—designed to make professional security and communication tools accessible and affordable.

• Cybersecurity Risks in 2024: Dave explains real-world cases where businesses nearly collapsed from phishing and ransomware attacks, how hackers build detailed dossiers on companies, and why education is critical for business owners.

• Human Error and Insider Threats: From careless clicks to deliberate sabotage, Dave outlines why security training and layered defenses are as important as firewalls and two-factor authentication.

• Community & Networking: Dave talks about his active involvement in multiple chambers of commerce and why he believes relationship building—not hard selling—is the key to sustainable business development.

• Upcoming Events: Hear about Cyclone 365’s sponsorship of the Mobile Chamber Business Expo, where over 200 exhibitors and 2,000 attendees are expected, and Dave’s upcoming cybersecurity panel for Cybersecurity Awareness Month.

Why Watch
If you’re a small business owner, entrepreneur, or someone curious about how technology and security impact everyday business, this episode offers practical advice and cautionary stories. Dave combines technical knowledge with real-world examples and keeps the focus on helping businesses grow while staying protected. Click to Call or Email us today to learn more about what Super Dave and Cyclone 365 can do for your small or medium-sized business… or to get Super Dave on your own show!

Understanding Cyber Insurance for Small Businesses

For small businesses along the Gulf Coast, the threat of cyberattacks is no longer a distant concern—it’s part of daily operations. From phishing scams and ransomware to accidental data leaks, the financial and reputational consequences can be severe. That’s why many companies are turning to cyber insurance as an essential safeguard. At Cyclone 365, we help businesses navigate this complex coverage to ensure they’re truly protected.

Cyber insurance policies vary widely, and not all offer the protection business owners assume they have. A strong policy typically includes two core areas of coverage: first-party protection for your direct losses—like breach response, business interruption, ransomware recovery, and data restoration—and third-party liability coverage to defend against claims from customers, vendors, or partners. Additional options, such as social engineering fraud protection or coverage for hardware damage, can be customized based on your risks.

Equally important is knowing what’s not covered. Common exclusions include incidents caused by poor cybersecurity practices, attacks in progress before coverage began, nation-state attacks, insider threats, and long-term reputational damage. Understanding these limitations is critical to avoiding surprises when filing a claim.

Choosing the right policy starts with assessing your risk: the type of data you handle, reliance on digital systems, and your vendor relationships. Ask questions about ransomware coverage, legal fees, regulatory penalties, and exclusions. Work with a knowledgeable broker or cybersecurity expert—like those at Cyclone 365—to make sure coverage limits, deductibles, and renewal terms fit your needs.

Cyber insurance works best when paired with strong cybersecurity practices. By combining proactive measures like multi-factor authentication and regular risk assessments with comprehensive insurance, your business will be ready to handle whatever the digital world throws at it. Click to Call or Email us today to help you secure your operations and select coverage that works for your unique business.

Data Protection Made Simple

Every small business along the Gulf Coast thrives on data—customer records, financials, project files, the works. Cyclone 365 has seen firsthand how easily a single mishap can shut a company down, and FEMA statistics back that up: forty percent of businesses never reopen after a disaster, and another twenty-five percent close within twelve months. The good news? You don’t need an enterprise budget to stay off that list.

Why Backups Can’t Wait
Hard-drive crashes, accidental deletions, storms, and ransomware all hit without warning. Regular, automated backups give you a safety net so operations keep moving even when hardware or humans stumble.

Build a Resilient Plan

1. Adopt Cloud and Local Storage Together
   A hybrid approach means fast on-site restores when seconds count, plus off-site copies that stay safe if your office floods.

2. Automate Everything
   Nightly incremental backups for critical data, weekly system images, and monthly archives keep history intact without relying on memory or sticky notes.

3. Track Your Space
   Schedule monthly storage checks and keep at least one-quarter of your backup drive free so emergency copies never fail for lack of room.

4. Test, Then Test Again
   Quarterly recovery drills confirm that files restore cleanly and that your recovery time objective (RTO) and recovery point objective (RPO) stay realistic.

5. Train the Team
   Straightforward guidelines on where to save files and how to spot phishing links turn employees into your first layer of defense.

6. Version Your Data
   Keeping three or more historical snapshots protects you from overwrites, corruption, and malware encryption.

Cyclone 365’s managed backup and disaster-recovery services handle these steps for you—designing the policy, automating schedules, and monitoring results—so you can focus on running your Gulf Coast business with confidence.

When Trouble Strikes
Assess damage quickly, start your documented restore process, keep everyone informed, and record lessons learned. With good backups in place, downtime stays minimal and customers barely notice a hiccup.

Data disasters will happen. Preparation decides whether they become a footnote or a fatal blow. Cyclone 365 is ready to help you stay in the first category—protected, compliant, and always open for business. Click to Call or Email us today to take care of your disaster recovery needs.