By Brittany Fugate, CEO at Cenetric 

Photo: iStock

5 Signs Your Company Needs Help From an IT Service Company

Modern businesses rely on technology more than ever — that’s why it’s so vital that your business has the resources in place to plan, maintain, and monitor your technology and support your team when all it seems to do is get in the way.

So when (and how) should you invest in the resources to support your technology? Look for the signs of tech distress to protect your business and stay on the path to success.

1. You don’t have a cybersecurity plan

Cybersecurity threats are, unfortunately, very real. While we see the high-profile cases on the news, the reality is that growing businesses are being targeted every day by cyber criminals. Research by Accenture reveals that nearly 43% of cyberattacks targeted small businesses, but only 14% of these businesses were prepared to deal with one.

Today’s hackers have a vast array of disruptive tools available to them, including AI. These tools can not only bring down your IT systems but cause your customers to trust you less too — a nightmare for your brand. According to a study by the International Association of Privacy Professionals, more than 80% of consumers involved in a data breach said they’re likely to stop doing business with a company after a cyberattack.

Making sense of all this cybersecurity lingo can be overwhelming for small-business owners. But you should understand a few key terms:

• Malware: A file or program that is specifically designed to disrupt, damage, or gain unauthorized access to a computer system — a virus is the kind of malware that comes to mind for most people. Malware is not only a security risk, but also slows down your entire network. 
• Ransomware: A specific type of malware that attempts to lock you out of using your data until you pay a ransom to hackers. But even paying up might not save your business from harm. In a 2024 study from Veeam showed that after a ransomware attack, 27% of organizations that paid the ransom still could not recover their data.
• Phishing: This tactic uses social engineering tricks, usually in the form of official-looking emails that appear to be from trusted senders, to get people in your organization to hand over sensitive company or financial information voluntarily. Hackers use various forms of phishing to get access to your IT network, disrupt your operations, tap into your financial accounts, or get Personally Identifiable Information from your servers.

You can protect yourself from the financial hardships associated with these cyberattacks with cybersecurity insurance. Choosing a policy and gathering all the information needed is sometimes a challenge, but it’s well worth the effort.

2. Troubleshooting tech is getting in the way of productivity

Managing and running a business is complicated enough on its own. But when you throw common IT issues like software incompatibilities, network connection issues, system limitations, performance issues, and hardware failure into the mix, it gets even worse.

If you experience these issues regularly, then you stand to benefit big time from working with a managed IT services company. You won’t have to dedicate staff to dealing with network issues or help desk questions – your managed services provider will take those off your plate. You can transfer all of the administrative burden of your IT systems to somebody else, letting you focus on your core operations. 

You might think your business is “too small” to need IT services, but there are options. Top IT providers offer co-managed or managed services to suit the unique needs of your business. With co-managed services, the firm will work alongside your team to share the load, and, with managed services, they can be your dedicated IT resource for all your needs. 

3. You have an IT pro on staff, but they’re overwhelmed

Many businesses think that they can solve their IT issues with a single IT professional to manage their systems. Unfortunately, one staff member usually isn’t enough and they end up frustrated with a to-do list that’s never finished. This is where co-managed services come in.

You can supplement your IT staff’s efforts with a managed IT services provider. Your IT pro can focus on strategy and specialized projects while the IT service provider handles day-to-day issues, like network monitoring and help desk services. 

Or you can flip it, letting an IT service provider with a broad range of expertise look at the big picture of your tech strategy while your team member stays focused on everyday issues. You can also bring in an IT provider on an as-needed basis to help you with special projects if you truly only need help from time to time. 

Photo: iStock

4. You’re growing fast — and so is your network infrastructure

As your company grows, your network needs will grow too, and you might not know exactly how to make that happen if you don’t have the right experience on staff. From managing the devices your expanding team uses to the changing sophistication of your network, bandwidth, and data storage needs, you could probably use a hand.

Your business, for instance, might want to improve employee collaboration over multiple locations using a video conferencing solution. But which one? What features does a company like yours really need? A managed IT services provider will know.

5. You don’t have an IT strategy implemented

IT technology has advanced considerably, but many smaller organizations aren’t taking advantage of the tools available to them. They’re missing opportunities to deliver better service for their audiences. 

Your organization needs a roadmap to help determine which technologies you could use and how they might benefit you. A strategic IT plan will set this roadmap and define how technology aligns with your overall goals.

Cenetric can help you figure it all out

When it comes to solving unique IT challenges, Cenetric has been there and done that for organizations of all types and sizes across the country. We’re pretty sure you can’t stump us — so let’s talk about your IT troubles and find out.