FLORIDA TREND’S cover story this month on cyber-security also appears along with an economic backbone piece on the telecommunications industry. It’s no coincidence. The two go hand-in-hand.
Where would we be without internet connectivity, computers and the ubiquitous smart phones? How could we survive without bingeing on our favorite television shows?
We probably wouldn’t survive very well. I’m as guilty as the next, glancing at my phone dozens of times per day, talking via bluetooth whenever driving, answering emails in the evening and generally staying connected.
These technologies enable us to produce Florida Trend more efficiently than ever, and I’d venture to guess that it’s the same for your company. More connectivity and more computerization equals more productivity.
In addition to reading the telecom articles (starting on page 20 of the digital issue), make sure you read all about cyber-security (page 102). Big companies are spending tens of millions to protect themselves against a cyber-attack. I particularly like the website map.norsecorp.com, which shows the continuous flow of cyber-attacks worldwide.
Florida’s colleges and universities are developing programs to combat the attacks. USF houses the Florida Center for Cybersecurity. FAU, UF, UCF, Florida Poly, FIT, Embry-Riddle, St. Thomas, Nova, St. Leo and others have also put together cyber-security programs. The private sector, of course, is boosting our defenses. Firms that specialize in law or accounting have deep expertise. Human resource departments are stepping up employee background checks to prevent nefarious insiders.
As the push for automation continues, the feature on telecommunications explains recent enhancements from fiber networks to robotic data processing. Wired lines are being replaced by wireless technology. Our millennial children wouldn’t even consider home telephones — everything is in their pockets.
It’s official. Florida’s population has topped 20 million, confirming what Florida Trend reported in the middle of last year. Florida’s official Census population is 20,271,272 as of July 1, 2015.
What’s most surprising is that Florida gained 365,703 residents in the year leading up to that release. That’s higher than the 250,000 to 275,000 I had been quoting, and it’s higher than Florida economists predicted. Florida once again is adding 1,000 people per day .
In the last five years, our state has seen a “natural increase” (births over deaths) of about 180,000 people. We’ve added 650,000 domestic immigrants and 610,000 from foreign nations. Most recently, the growth from within the United States has accelerated as Americans sell their homes up north and move here. That will probably be the trend for the next few years.
St. Petersburg is my home town — my wife, Betty, is third generation and our sons are the family’s fourth generation to be raised here — so I must brag about what’s become the most liveable city in Florida. The place is booming with new apartments and condos.
The infusion of younger, hipper residents is matched by restaurants, taverns, museums and businesses that center on health care, education and technology. Please read the entire special report here - it's free and open to all.
— Andy Corty
Publisher
[acorty@floridatrend.com]
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