A business owner recently asked, “What are the biggest IT and cybersecurity mistakes you see companies making?”
Spoiler alert: the list is long. But a few repeat offenders stand out—and they could be quietly putting your entire business at risk.
After years of working with companies across industries, there’s one pattern we’ve seen too often: treating IT and cybersecurity as afterthoughts. Despite growing headlines about data breaches, ransomware attacks, and compliance risks, too many small and midsize businesses (SMBs) still rely on minimal protections, hoping for the best. That’s not a strategy—it’s a liability.
We get it—you're busy, resources are tight, and it’s tempting to assume that a basic antivirus or a consumer-grade router will do the trick. But these stopgap tools are no match for today’s sophisticated cyber threats. Free tools might seem cost-effective, but they often leave major gaps that bad actors are more than happy to exploit.
Pro Insight: In 2024, 61% of SMBs experienced a cyberattack, with the average cost of a data breach hitting $4.45 million globally, according to IBM's Cost of a Data Breach Report.
Many business leaders assume they can afford a few hours offline. But downtime doesn’t just mean lost emails—it means stalled operations, frustrated clients, and halted revenue. For industries like legal or construction, where every hour is billable or project-based, this can be devastating.
True Cost: According to Gartner, the average cost of IT downtime is $5,600 per minute. Are you ready for that kind of hit?
Cybersecurity isn’t a one-time project—it’s a moving target. New threats emerge daily. Hackers evolve. And your tech stack changes, too. Businesses that fail to reassess and reinforce their IT strategy regularly risk falling dangerously behind.
Red Flag: If your cybersecurity plan hasn’t been updated in the past 6 months, it’s already outdated.
Trying to manage IT alone may save money in the short term, but it often leads to greater costs down the road—from breaches and fines to lost trust and productivity. You wouldn’t rely on Google to handle your legal case or build your office—so why risk your digital infrastructure?
If you want to future-proof your business, it’s time to stop treating security as a side project. Here’s what actually works:
Invest in enterprise-level solutions.
Think long-term: assess, adapt, and update regularly.
Partner with IT experts who specialize in protecting businesses like yours.
Bottom line: You’ve worked hard to build your business. Don’t let preventable IT issues undo it all.
Take Action: Book a free 10-minute Network and Cybersecurity Check-Up with us and get clear on your IT risks before they become disasters.