What Are The Top Industries in Jacksonville & How Can They Benefit From Managed IT Services?

Jacksonville, Florida is a fast-growing metropolitan hub with a highly diversified economy. Unlike some Florida cities that are heavily reliant on tourism, Jacksonville’s industries span multiple sectors, which makes it more resilient to downturns in any one area.

“The current business market lives and dies on its technology. Our local economy depends on effective technology usage as much as everyone else’s does.” – Philipp Graves, CEO of Antisyn

In fact, the region is outpacing state and national growth, with forecasts projecting an 11% economic expansion from 2023 to 2028. Although the local economy’s diversity is a driving factor, none of these industries would be anywhere near where they are today without the help of efficient technology.

This article will take a closer look at this idea. We will showcase the top industries in Jacksonville, their unique technology needs, cybersecurity risks, and how the right managed IT service provider (MSP) can help each one of these industries thrive.

1. Healthcare & Life Sciences

Healthcare is Jacksonville’s single largest sector by employment. Roughly 14% of the local workforce is employed in healthcare and social assistance. Organizations such as the University of Florida, Health Jacksonville, and Ascension St. Vincent’s rank among the 5 largest private employers in the area.

2. Finance & Insurance

Jacksonville is a major financial services hub, sometimes nicknamed “Wall Street of the South.” Approximately 13.3% of Jacksonville’s employees work in the finance and insurance sector, a share that is higher than the state of Florida’s average.

Many banking and insurance giants have a significant presence or headquarters here, including Bank of America, Wells Fargo, JPMorgan Chase, Citi, Deutsche Bank, and Florida Blue.

3. Transportation & Logistics

Roughly 13.2% of local workers are employed in transportation, warehousing, and wholesale trade related to supply chains. As a result, Jacksonville has earned the nickname “Gateway to Florida.” Jacksonville is also home to JAXPORT, Florida’s largest container port by volume, which handles massive cargo throughput and is also one of the nation’s top vehicle-handling ports.

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4. Manufacturing

Advanced manufacturing is a high-growth industry for Jacksonville. The city has attracted manufacturers in pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, batteries, and more. Notably, Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, General Electric (Oil & Gas division), and SAFT all operate major facilities in Jacksonville.

5. Tourism, Hospitality & Retail

Although Jacksonville isn’t as reliant on tourism as other cities in Florida, there is still a significant sector in the area. In 2024, Jacksonville welcomed over 8 million visitors, who spent about $4.1 billion on lodging, entertainment, and other expenses.

Key draws include Jacksonville’s beaches, golf courses, sporting events, and cultural festivals. Big events like the annual Florida–Georgia football game and the Gator Bowl also bring in tens of thousands of visitors.

What Are The Biggest Cybersecurity Threats Facing Jacksonville’s Top Industries?

*Healthcare & Life Sciences*	Ransomware targeting hospitals Theft of protected health information Phishing aimed at staff Unpatched medical IoT devices Insider misuse of patient records
*Finance & Insurance*	Phishing aimed at customers and employees Banking trojans Ransomware Business email compromise Theft of account data and payment information
*Transportation & Logistics*	Ransomware that freezes shipping or port operations Attacks on fleet, warehouse, and port systems Supply chain compromise through third-party software Phishing and malware Attacks on industrial control systems
*Manufacturing*	Ransomware that halts production lines Theft of intellectual property Attacks on industrial control systems State-sponsored espionage Supply chain compromise
*Tourism, Hospitality & Retail*	Point-of-sale malware Credit card skimming Phishing and social engineering Ransomware eCommerce fraud

The Unique Technology Needs of The Top Industries in Jacksonville

Each of Jacksonville’s top industries relies on technology in different ways, leading to unique IT needs and challenges for each sector.

Hospitals and clinics require highly reliable and secure IT systems. Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems are the backbone of modern healthcare, so Jacksonville’s providers need powerful database servers, fast network access, and redundant backups to ensure doctors can access patient records 24/7.
Financial institutions have very demanding technology needs. 88% use heavy cloud computing, and they process large volumes of transactions and handle sensitive personal and financial information, so strong system performance and security are critical. Banks rely on core banking software and payment systems that support high activity with almost no downtime. Customers expect online banking and ATMs to work at any hour, and even brief interruptions can create major costs and reduce trust.
Logistics companies depend on technology to manage the movement of goods. They use supply chain tools such as warehouse management systems to track inventory and transportation management systems to plan delivery routes. Local distributors and port operators rely on real-time data to track containers at JAXPORT, scan items in warehouses, and monitor truck locations.
Manufacturers have specialized technology needs that blend IT and operational technology. Factory floors use systems such as ICS, SCADA, robotics, and PLCs to control equipment. These systems now connect to IT networks for monitoring and efficiency, although they often rely on older software and unique protocols.
Hotels, venues, and retail businesses rely on both customer-facing and back-end technologies. Point-of-sale systems are essential for fast, secure payment processing. Restaurants and stores need reliable POS terminals that follow PCI security standards to protect card data.

Learn More About How Managed IT Services Can Help Any Industry

How The Right Managed IT Provider Can Help Jacksonville Industries

*Healthcare & Life Sciences*	Keep EHR systems and clinical apps monitored at all times to prevent outages that delay patient care. Patch servers, workstations, and medical devices to close security gaps that ransomware groups target. Manage HIPAA-compliant cloud storage and encryption to protect patient records from theft. Maintain firewalls and threat-detection tools to block malware aimed at hospital networks. Run offsite backups and disaster recovery plans to restore systems fast when incidents occur. Support telehealth platforms and secure links between hospitals, labs, and physician offices to improve coordination. Provide 24/7 helpdesk support for clinical staff to reduce workflow delays caused by technical problems.
*Finance & Insurance*	Monitor networks for suspicious activity to stop fraud attempts and account compromises. Deploy strong encryption, access controls, and logging to meet financial regulatory requirements. Run regular vulnerability scans and patch management to remove entry points used by attackers. Maintain high availability for servers, ATM connections, and online banking systems to prevent service interruptions. Build redundancy and failover systems to keep financial operations functioning during hardware issues. Support cloud migrations and fintech application development to help firms expand digital services. Reduce operating costs by taking over routine support work that would require larger internal teams.
*Transportation & Logistics*	Monitor warehouse and port systems to catch issues early and prevent outages that delay shipments. Replace failing hardware before it breaks to keep routing, scanning, and inventory systems online. Manage secure VPNs and SD-WAN connections to keep fleets, terminals, and warehouses connected. Segment networks to separate business systems from operational systems to lower cyber risk. Back up logistics databases to allow quick recovery after ransomware or system failures. Deploy and integrate new tools like RFID tracking or routing software to improve operational speed. Provide round-the-clock support to match the 24/7 nature of transportation work.
*Manufacturing*	Segment IT and OT networks to stop attackers from reaching production machinery. Add firewalls and intrusion detection systems that understand industrial protocols to reduce attack paths. Back up configuration files for machines so production can restart quickly after an incident. Maintain servers and software used for CAD, planning, and machine monitoring to keep workflows smooth. Conduct audits and risk assessments that help meet FAA, DoD, or CMMC compliance requirements. Support analytics and cloud tools for predictive maintenance to improve efficiency. Schedule updates during planned downtime to avoid interrupting production.
*Tourism, Hospitality & Retail*	Manage POS systems, reservation platforms, and PMS software to keep sales and guest services running. Secure payment networks, segment cardholder data, and run PCI scans to reduce credit card theft. Maintain secure guest and staff Wi-Fi setups to prevent attackers from entering the network. Set up backup internet connections to keep transactions flowing during outages. Deploy tools that let stores and restaurants operate during temporary server issues to avoid lost revenue. Support new technology rollouts such as mobile check-in or integrated eCommerce platforms. Train staff on phishing awareness and data handling to strengthen security across the business.

Work With an MSP That’s Fully Prepared For All of The Biggest Industries in Jacksonville

No matter your industry, working with a Jacksonville-based IT service provider is the best way to be sure that your needs will be met. Antisyn can provide: