Gainesville: 
Jacksonville:
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season is expected to produce 8 to 14 named storms, including 3 to 6 hurricanes and 1 to 3 major hurricanes. While NOAA forecasts a below-normal season, Florida businesses know that a single storm can disrupt operations for days or weeks — and sometimes more.
Most companies focus on protecting buildings, equipment and inventory. Technology often gets attention only after something stops working.
“One of the most common things I see is critical hardware plugged directly into the wall instead of being protected by a battery backup, also known as an uninterruptible power supply (UPS), or a surge protector,” says Adam Preusler, IT manager at Kustura Technologies in Jacksonville and Gainesville, Florida. “A lot of business owners don’t realize how vulnerable that equipment becomes during severe weather.”
Power surges, brownouts and electrical fluctuations frequently accompany severe weather events. Without proper protection, a single event can damage servers, networking equipment and other critical systems that businesses rely on every day.
The Weak Links Businesses Miss
Technology failures during a storm aren’t always caused by flooding or catastrophic damage. Sometimes the biggest problems come from vulnerabilities that already existed.
During more than two decades working in IT in Florida, Preusler has seen backup drives stored right next to the servers they’re intended to protect. If a roof leak, broken window or electrical event hits one device, it may hit both. He has also seen critical equipment placed near windows, increasing the risk of water damage if the building envelope fails.
Then there’s the workstation problem.
Many organizations back up servers but overlook the laptops and desktop computers employees use every day.
“A lot of people think about servers and critical data being on a server, but a lot of users keep critical data on their workstations or laptops,” Preusler says. “Those devices are just as vulnerable to surges and storm-related damage.”
A business may discover after a storm that its server backups are intact, yet an employee’s essential spreadsheets, project files or customer information existed only on a damaged workstation.
Protecting Data Before Disaster Strikes
A backup strategy exists for one reason: ensuring data is accessible when something goes wrong.
A strong data‑protection strategy requires more than a single copy of your files. Businesses should maintain off-site data backups in addition to local ones. If an office becomes inaccessible due to flooding, structural damage or extended outages, off-site copies allow organizations to recover faster.
Those backups also need to be tested regularly to confirm the data can actually be restored. Discovering a failed backup during a recovery effort is far more costly than catching the issue during routine testing.
Preusler also stresses the importance of reviewing battery backup hardware — the uninterruptible power supply (UPS) devices that protect servers and networking equipment from surges, brownouts and sudden outages. Unlike data backups, these devices don’t store information; they provide short-term power and electrical conditioning. Their internal batteries degrade over time, reducing protection, so periodic testing and replacement should be part of every disaster plan.
Keeping Communication Lines Open
Even when an office is closed, customers still need answers, vendors still need information and employees still need a way to collaborate.
Cloud-hosted VoIP phone systems can help organizations maintain communication during disruptions. Calls can be routed to mobile devices or computers, allowing employees to answer business phone lines from home or another safe location.
“Remote access capabilities can provide similar flexibility by allowing employees to securely access files, applications and systems when they cannot physically reach the office,” Preusler said.
For many businesses, continuity depends less on whether the building is open and more on whether employees can still access the tools they need to do their jobs.
Storms Create Opportunities for Scammers
Hurricanes create another challenge that many organizations overlook: cybercrime.
Bad actors often take advantage of severe weather events by launching phishing campaigns that exploit confusion and urgency. Emails and text messages may appear to come from insurance providers, utility companies, government agencies or disaster relief organizations.
Employees focused on storm preparations or recovery may be more likely to click suspicious links or respond to fraudulent requests.
“Organizations can reduce risk by reminding employees to verify unexpected communications and report suspicious messages,” Preusler said.
Preparing Before the Forecast Changes
Hurricane preparedness extends beyond boarding windows and securing physical assets. Your ability to access data, communicate with customers and keep employees productive can determine how quickly your business recovers after a storm.
Kustura Technologies helps businesses prepare for disruptions with:
- Business continuity and disaster recovery planning
• Off-site and cloud backup solutions
• Managed IT services and ongoing system monitoring
• Cloud-hosted VoIP phone systems that support remote work and communication during outages
• Remote access solutions that keep teams connected from anywhere
• Cybersecurity services that help protect against phishing attacks and other threats that often increase during disaster recovery efforts
• Local IT support from a trusted technology partner in Gainesville and Jacksonville
Kustura’s team can help you evaluate risks, strengthen business continuity plans and keep critical systems available during disruptions. To learn more, visit www.kustura.com or email info@kustura.com.