If you run a small business, you know that staying lean with expenses leaves you with more capital for marketing and growth. IT support and cybersecurity are two areas where many SMBs trim as much “unnecessary” fat as possible, but it often comes at the expense of cybersecurity and business continuity. With 93% of small businesses’ cyber-incidents resulting in a data breach, it’s clear that having experienced and competent IT support is crucial for SMBs, especially when costs to remediate incidents can put them out of business. Risks of Letting Family Manage IT It’s tempting to cut costs by hiring family or friends to support a small business. You could cut costs this way and give an up-and-coming IT person their first job. When you have only a few PCs to support, you might also think the job is easy and doesn’t require the help of a professional. For simple support, your family might be a good resource. Trouble comes when infrastructure is configured with vulnerabilities, or they don’t perform necessary maintenance to stop vulnerabilities. A common theme in cybersecurity is “you don’t know what you don’t know,” and this issue becomes apparent only after a cyber-incident. Let’s take an example. Suppose that you decide to use Amazon Web Services (AWS) for cloud storage. Cloud storage at AWS is known as S3 or S3 buckets, which are similar to the directories you see on your PC. A common issue with S3 buckets is that they are often misconfigured to allow public access to data. The issue is so common that anyone can simply download an S3 scanner to find vulnerable buckets. When an inexperienced person misconfigures an S3 bucket, all your data is exposed to the open internet. You wouldn’t be alone. As recently as December 2024, two large cybercriminal groups, ShinyHunters and Nemesis, stole over 2TB of data, including source code, credentials, and secrets from misconfigured S3 buckets. It should be noted that the recently stolen data could be used in future attacks that these businesses won’t even see coming unless they take mitigating measures immediately. As you can see from this example, the simple act of having family or friends manage your IT could snowball into a larger issue where your small business is managing cyber-attacks targeted at your vulnerabilities. The savings on IT support can turn into six or seven-figure costs in remediation, litigation, and reputation loss. Some other risks you might not realize without a professional: Why Professional IT Support is Now Essential for SMBs Poor cybersecurity isn’t the only risk of DIY IT. Scalability and deploying tools that you can use now and in the future are also important. Let’s say, for example, that you want to deploy a server for file storage. You need a solution that not only supports the speed and space you will use currently, but also a solution that scales. Deploying too many resources is a waste of your IT budget, but too few can be a bottleneck in your productivity. Compliance is another issue. An inexperienced IT person would not know how to design infrastructure to follow compliant requirements. As an example, a small doctor’s office might not need many computers configured, but HIPAA has specific requirements for the way the internal office handles data and the network environment. You must keep office guest Wi-Fi separated from the internal network, employees must never connect to guest Wi-Fi from work computers, and strong encryption must be configured on the Wi-Fi router. Requests for data should be logged, and any protected health information (PHI) must be stored in encrypted form. Just like the consequences of a data breach can be long-term costs, having an inexperienced IT person set up a network without taking compliance and scalability into account can be an expensive mistake. The cost of HIPAA violations varies widely from $141 to $2 million per violation. More serious consequences include criminal penalties. Professional IT support is more important than ever, as any mistakes come with a high price tag. Ensuring infrastructure is configured correctly, deploying infrastructure that scales with your growing business, staying compliant, and managing infrastructure after it’s deployed are some common ways managed service providers can help. To properly manage resources, you need someone with the experience of a professional and people who have seen different issues for quick resolution when you need help. Here are a few other ways IT professionals can help: Managed IT vs DIY: What’s the Real Cost? DIY IT support is arguably the most cost-effective, but the real costs come from mismanagement of your infrastructure. Every company has a unique environment, so you can use our managed IT services calculator to estimate your costs. Costs depend on the number of users, computers, servers, compliance concerns, offices, and the services that you want. IBM reports that the average global cost of a data breach is $4.4 million, so the true costs are in failed IT support. Using managed service providers might seem like an unnecessary expense, but it can benefit you in the long run. Should your organization see massive growth, professionals at an MSP can still support expansion to new offices, hundreds of new employees, and computers, and an increase in data. Do you think your IT is in good shape? Take our free three-minute IT readiness quiz to find out. FAQs
Case Study “I’m impressed with how quickly I can get hold of someone from Corporate Technologies locally.” — Chris Ellis, IT Coordinator, KKT Architects Project Details Service: IT Managed Services Timeline: Jan 2015 – Ongoing Budget: Confidential Download the full IT Managed Services Case Study for An Architectural Firm in Tulsa (PDF) Project Summary Corporate Technologies provides managed IT services for an architectural firm. The team has monitored and updated the client’s IT infrastructure, performed backup and disaster recovery off-site preparation, and set up laptops. The Client Role: IT Coordinator Company: KKT Architects Industry: Design Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma I’m the IT coordinator for an architectural firm. The Challenge Being a one person operation we were needing some additional help to backfill areas I didn’t have time for or expertise with. We needed help with IT services. Client Rating Overall: 4.5 Quality: 5.0 Schedule: 4.5 Cost: 4.5 Would Refer: 5.0 The Approach Scope Corporate Technologies provides managed IT services and handles the more complex and tedious IT tasks, including monitoring and updating infrastructure, servers, routers, switches, WAPs, and VPNs. The team performs backup and disaster recovery offsite preparation and sets up new laptops. They perform weekly checks and reports on servers’ status, make necessary changes to the NAS, and push firmware and software updates to infrastructure devices as needed. Team Composition Three or more teammates from Corporate Technologies, depending on the project. Vendor Selection Corporate Technologies was already in the pipeline when I started working at my company. They’ve done a good job, so I see no reason to change them. Status The engagement began in January 2015 and is ongoing. The Outcome Corporate Technologies keeps me informed of any changes to our infrastructure or laptops, and they fix things in a timely manner. I get weekly updates about our server conditions and any service provided to users via email tickets. Project Management Michael (Senior Systems Engineer) and Josh (Senior Systems Engineer) can hop on a call, whether scheduled or not, to review situations or projects in process so we’re all on the same page. That’s really helpful versus playing email tag. We primarily communicate via email. What Impressed the Client How quickly we can get hold of someone from Corporate Technologies locally. Areas for Improvement They have been great. If I ever have an issue I can jump on a call and it’s addressed in a timely manner; changes are made quickly and to my satisfaction. Contact info@gocorptech.com • 952-715-3600 • gocorptech.com
Case Study “I was impressed by their professionalism.” — Aaron Vanden Berg, VP, Advantage Mechanical-Refrigeration, Inc. Project Details Service: IT Managed Services, Cybersecurity Timeline: Oct. 2021 – Sep. 2025 Budget: $50,000 to $199,999 Download the Cybersecurity & Managed IT Services case study for an HVAC & Plumbing Contractor (PDF) Project Summary Corporate Technologies provided cybersecurity and managed IT services for an HVAC and plumbing contractor. The team completed a project called Secure Advantage, which aimed to protect the client’s data from hackers. The engagement reduced IT-related issues, improved service responsiveness, and earned praise for professionalism and customer care. The Client Role: Vice President Company: Advantage Mechanical-Refrigeration, Inc. Industry: Construction – HVAC/R & Plumbing Mechanical Contractor Location: Cedar Springs, MI Advantage Mechanical-Refrigeration provides HVAC/R and plumbing services for large projects, construction, and service contracts. The Challenge The company needed Corporate Technologies to manage IT needs so the business could stay focused on core operations. A top priority was keeping company information secure from hackers. Client Rating Overall: 5.0 Quality: 5.0 Schedule: 5.0 Cost: 5.0 Would Refer: 5.0 The Approach Vendor Selection Corporate Technologies was chosen after a sales visit due to high ratings, budget fit, cultural alignment, and strong company values. One primary employee was assigned, supported by additional technicians when needed. Scope of Work Corporate Technologies acted as IT provider, completing the Secure Advantage project to strengthen cybersecurity. Ongoing services included IT management, data protection, and rapid support for user needs and infrastructure changes. The Outcome The partnership resulted in fewer IT-related issues and faster response from qualified technicians compared to the previous provider. Quote turnarounds were quick, and projects were delivered on schedule. Project Management Corporate Technologies managed the engagement effectively with email and messaging as the primary communication channels. What Impressed the Client The client praised Corporate Technologies’ professionalism, noting that engineers and support staff treated them as though they were the only customer. Areas for Improvement Tier 1 technicians had struggled at times, though performance has improved over the past six months. After-hours dispatch could improve communication, though the client acknowledged their own call center challenges.
Case Study “The 24/7 protection and assistance were a big factor in switching to Corporate Technologies.” — April Wood, Corporate Finance Director, Western Tel-Com Project Details Service: IT Managed Services Timeline: Jul. 2024 – Sep. 2024 Budget: $10,000 to $49,999 Download the Fiber Optics IT Managed Services case study (PDF) Project Summary Corporate Technologies provided managed IT services for Western Tel-Com, a fiber optics installation company. The engagement included 24/7 help desk support, proactive cybersecurity, and continuous system monitoring to protect operations and reduce IT-related disruptions . The Client Role: Corporate Finance Director Company: Western Tel-Com Industry: Construction – Fiber Optic Installation Location: Holland, Michigan The Challenge Western Tel-Com needed Corporate Technologies to deliver 24/7 protection, proactive IT maintenance, and reliable support. These services were critical due to employees working around the clock and requiring seamless system uptime . Client Rating Overall: 5.0 Quality: 5.0 Schedule: 5.0 Cost: 5.0 Would Refer: 5.
Case Study “Their ability to make everything run as one cohesive unit and maintain a customized plan for our needs was impressive.” — Tammy Dunn – Practice Manager, Animal Hospital (Grand Haven, MI) Project Details Service: IT Managed Services, Cybersecurity, IT Consulting & SI Timeline: Dec. 2022 – Ongoing Budget: Confidential Download the IT Managed Services Case Study for a Veterinary Animal Hospital (PDF) Project Summary Corporate Technologies provided IT services for a general practice animal hospital for cats and dogs. The engagement included a complete network revamp, wiring improvements, and ongoing IT maintenance. The hospital benefited from smoother operations, responsive support, and customized solutions tailored to their needs . The Client Role: Practice Manager Company: Animal Hospital Industry: Veterinary (Healthcare for cats and dogs) Location: Grand Haven, Michigan The Challenge The hospital needed help reorganizing and revamping their network and wiring, while ensuring ongoing IT support and maintenance. Their goal was to improve system reliability and reduce downtime . Client Rating Overall: 4.0 Quality: 5.0 Schedule: 5.0 Cost: 4.0 Would Refer: 5.0 The Approach Vendor Selection Corporate Technologies was selected through a referral, based on high ratings, budget alignment, and shared company values. Between 2–5 team members were assigned to the engagement . Scope of Work Corporate Technologies reviewed the hospital’s existing network, wiring, internet setup, and practice management system. The team recommended improvements, implemented the plan, and now oversees the IT environment to keep everything running smoothly. The Outcome The hospital’s operations now run more smoothly, with stable network connectivity between workstations and servers. Since the engagement began, they have not experienced downtime. Corporate Technologies’ responsiveness, punctuality, and openness to client feedback contributed to the success . Project Management The team was punctual, well-informed, and communicated effectively through in-person meetings, email, and messaging apps. What Impressed the Client Corporate Technologies impressed the client with their ability to unify systems into a cohesive operation while maintaining a customized plan for the hospital’s unique needs. Areas for Improvement The client reported no areas for improvement at this time. Contact info@gocorptech.com • 952-715-3600 • gocorptech.com