How Jacksonville's thriving logistics industry became ground zero for a new wave of cyberattacks and what your company can do about it
Jacksonville has become a logistics powerhouse. With JAXPORT, major interstate routes, and expanding warehousing operations, the city is a hub for goods moving across the nation. But that same growth has created an unexpected side effect: logistics companies here are now a prime target for cybercriminals.
Cyberattacks on logistics surged 136% in the past year
Logistics is now the second-most targeted industry after manufacturing
Average breach costs over $1.5 million and causes 3+ days of downtime
Every connected system (GPS tracking, warehouse management, customs data) is a potential entry point. The more connected your business, the bigger the target on your back.
A cyberattack doesn’t just freeze screens; it stops the movement of goods. Common outcomes include:
Ransomware shutting down warehouse systems and forcing manual shipping logs
Fleet GPS devices hijacked, leaving dispatch teams blind and deliveries delayed
Customs and shipping data stolen, leading to theft of high-value cargo and loss of customer trust
These incidents are already happening across the logistics industry — and Jacksonville’s infrastructure makes it especially attractive to attackers.
Based on recent intelligence reports and local cybersecurity assessments, here are the specific threats your Jacksonville logistics company needs to defend against:
What it is: Malicious software that encrypts your warehouse management, fleet tracking, and dispatch systems, demanding payment for restoration.
Why Jacksonville logistics: Your operational systems are more valuable than data alone—shutting down JAXPORT operations even briefly costs millions.
Recent example: JAS Worldwide, a global freight forwarder, lost their entire customer portal and operations system for several days in August 2024.
What it is: Hackers compromise your vendors, partners, or third-party logistics providers to gain access to your network.
Why Jacksonville logistics: Your connections to customs brokers, freight forwarders, and shipping lines create multiple entry points.
Recent example: The Port of Seattle attack disrupted baggage systems and flight information for three weeks after hackers infiltrated connected systems.
What it is: Cyberattacks targeting connected devices like GPS trackers, sensors, and telematics systems.
Why Jacksonville logistics: Jacksonville companies rely heavily on IoT for fleet management and cargo tracking—these devices often lack proper security.
Recent example: Baltic region attacks disrupted GPS systems for thousands of flights and maritime vessels.
What it is: Fake emails and calls impersonating shipping partners, customers, or vendors to steal login credentials.
Why Jacksonville logistics: Your staff regularly communicate with external partners, making legitimate-looking fake communications hard to spot.
Recent example: Transport for London attack started with social engineering, leading to 30,000 employee password resets.
What it is: Foreign government hackers targeting logistics data for intelligence gathering and disruption planning.
Why Jacksonville logistics: JAXPORT's military and strategic cargo makes Jacksonville logistics attractive to state-sponsored hackers.
Recent example: APT29 (linked to Russian intelligence) specifically targeted transportation and shipping sectors in 55% of their recent operations.
ou don’t need to solve everything at once. Focus on three phases:
Require multi-factor authentication on all systems
Back up warehouse and dispatch data offline
Review remote access permissions
Train staff to recognize phishing attempts
Check vendor and broker cybersecurity practices
Secure GPS and IoT devices with updated credentials and segmentation
Deploy advanced threat monitoring
Test your incident response plan
Align with FIPA and NIST compliance frameworks
Here's the business reality: Every day you delay implementing cybersecurity measures, you're gambling with your company's future.
Financial Impact:
Operational Impact:
Long-term Consequences:
The good news: logistics companies that invest in cybersecurity are seeing fewer breaches, stronger vendor relationships, and even lower insurance premiums. In Jacksonville’s competitive logistics market, strong security is no longer optional — it’s a business advantage.
Don't become the next statistic. Take action now to protect your Jacksonville logistics operation from the cyber threats that are targeting companies just like yours.