Skimping on IT Support?  It could cost you.

It’s easy to be drawn into the appeal of cheap IT Support.  

We all want more for less, but you should always hold that old adage ‘if it’s too good to be true, it usually is’ in the forefront of your mind when selecting a new IT partner. 

Small businesses and organisations like charities and not for profit enterprises who are managing a tight budget can unknowingly cut corners with low cost IT support that has severe consequences further down the line.

Ask yourself these questions:

• Are you getting the support your business and its employees need to maintain productivity?

• Are you settling for less because it’s a headache you don’t have the time to deal with?

Like a car that runs well, we often don’t think of buying a new one until costly repairs become a financial burden. With IT, it just works in the background, so when things appear to be working fine, choosing the cheapest option seems like a good idea. Upgrades can be left for now and those other small issues can also be pushed to one side.   But the trouble is these can be very costly problems further down the line.

So, are you getting the IT support your organisation really needs or are you settling for ‘it’ll do for now’?

1. Break-Fix Vs Proactive Support

If you only look to resolve something because it breaks, you’re operating a costly break-fix policy.  Finding an IT partner who proactively looks at your IT infrastructure, implements preventative measures and therefore minimises potential downtime works to maintain productivity, reduce the costly impact of downtime and delivers for your workforce.

IT support providers who are focused on break-fix policies, have little incentive to solve the root causes, because repeat problems create additional revenue.  Choose an IT support partner who works with you for the longer term.

2. Too much reliance on internal staff

There is often someone in-house who is tech savvy and can handle IT issues that arise.  This can often justify choosing a low-cost IT support partner to handle everything else.  But without the right training or the correct tools, even the most enthusiastic IT amateur can make mistakes, and these can compromise data security and/or compliance.  IT isn’t a hobby; it’s a specialised area that should always be provided by IT experts.

3. Gaps in IT Security and Compliance Risks

Low-cost IT support providers often lack the expertise or resources to stay ahead of evolving cyber security threats.  24/7 monitoring and management, strong endpoint security along with user education creates a strong defence in the face of ever evolving threats. Don’t leave your business or organisation open to ransomware, phishing, and insider threats. 

According to SME Guidance for Business Growth (August 2024), the average cost of a data breach in the UK rose to £3.8 million between March 2023 and February 2024, marking a 5% increase from the previous year. Aside from the immediate financial implications, data breaches damage a brand’s reputation and customer trust, which can take years to rebuild. 

User training is also a key defence in protecting a company’s IT systems from malware and phishing attacks. The main benefits are:

1. Improved Awareness: Employees learn to recognise suspicious emails, links, and attachments, reducing the chance of falling for phishing scams.
2. Reduced Risk of Human Error: Since many cyberattacks rely on user mistakes, training minimises the likelihood of someone unknowingly opening the door to malware.
3. Faster Incident Reporting: Trained staff are more likely to report suspicious activity early, allowing IT teams to respond quickly and limit potential damage.
4. Stronger Security Culture: Regular training promotes a proactive security mindset across the organisation, making cybersecurity a shared responsibility.
5. Compliance and Reputation Protection: Many industries require security training as part of compliance. Preventing breaches also protects the company’s reputation and customer trust.

4. Costly Downtime

Even the briefest outages can have significant financial implications.  It can affect your reputation too.  If your customers repeatedly experience issues contacting you or accessing their account for example, mistrust starts to creep in. If employees are unable to do their job, productivity costs the company with every minute of downtime that goes by.

5. Cheap now, costs you more

Low-cost IT providers often rely on limited human resources which doesn’t deliver the fast response that’s often needed.  Generic IT solutions don’t get to the root cause of the problem either, as you won’t get the personalised response that individual tech issues demand.

Good IT support should always be delivered with strategic guidance that’s aligned with the business goals.  24/7 monitoring with rapid response ensures your team have the right support at their disposal too.  The right IT provider can often deliver cyber security training to the team too, so you not only have a strong cyber security defence on the outside but also internally.

Want to work with an IT support provider who genuinely cares about your business and its IT systems?  

We have been a trusted IT partner to business, charities and multi-site operators for nearly 20 years.

Talk to us today.