If you’re running a serious HVAC operation—$5M+ in top-line revenue, 10+ employees, and a fleet of trucks out there keeping buildings cool and comfortable—this message is for you.
You’ve built a solid business. But there’s a growing threat that could hit your bottom line harder than a broken chiller in July: cybercrime.
If you check just one of these boxes:
- You’ve got 10 or more employees
- Someone on your team is paying invoices
- You’re doing $5M+ in annual revenue
…then you’re a prime target for cybercriminals.
Why HVAC Contractors Are on the Radar
As a service contractor, you’re sitting on a goldmine of personally identifiable information (PII)—customer names, addresses, payment info, maybe even access credentials for building systems. That’s exactly what hackers are after.
Five Real-World Cyber Threats You Need to Know
1. Ransomware Attacks
Hackers lock down your systems and demand a ransom—often in Bitcoin—to give you access back. We’ve seen demands hit $150,000 or more, and with crypto prices rising, so are the ransoms.
2. Payment Card Data Breaches
If you’re taking card payments, you’re exposed. Social engineering tactics can trick employees into giving up credentials. From there, malware gets installed, and suddenly your customers’ card data is being siphoned off to a hacker’s server.
Even if you’re PCI compliant, breaches still happen. And when they do, you’re on the hook for:
- Fraudulent charges
- Credit monitoring for affected customers
- Legal and regulatory headaches
3. Phishing/Pretexting/Baiting
Here are three really common social engineering tactics.
- Phishing: Sending fake emails or messages that appear to be from legitimate sources to trick users into revealing login credentials or clicking malicious links.
- Pretexting: Creating a fabricated scenario (like pretending to be IT support) to gain access to confidential data.
- Baiting: Offering something enticing (like free software or a USB drive) to trick someone into compromising their system.
4. Social Engineering & Bank Fraud
Hackers don’t need to break in—they just need to trick someone on your team. By impersonating a vendor, manager, or even a customer, they can gain access to your corporate bank accounts and drain them before you even know what hit you.
5. Invoice Manipulation
This one’s sneaky. If a hacker gets into your system and learns how you process invoices, they can clone them. The invoice looks legit, gets paid through normal channels—but the money ends up in the hacker’s account instead of your vendor’s.
Now you’re dealing with:
- Forensic investigations
- Legal exposure
- Potential regulatory reporting
What You Can Do Today
- Talk to your internal IT or external IT provider (or get one if you don’t have one). Ask about detection speed—how fast can they spot an intruder?
- Review your payment processes
- Train your team on phishing and social engineering.
- Get cyber insurance. Seriously. It’s not just a checkbox—it’s a lifeline when things go sideways.
At Ochsner Insurance, we specialize in helping HVAC contractors like you protect what you’ve built. If you’re not sure where to start, let’s talk. We’ll walk you through the coverages that matter most for your business.
Stay safe out there—and stay cool.
– Jeremy Ochsner, Ochsner Insurance