Photo: iStock

By Brittany Fugate, CEO at Cenetric 

When we meet with growing businesses, we find some of them have been clinging to some beliefs around their IT that just aren’t real. And hanging on to old habits and mindsets is no way to grow a thriving business. 

There are a few that stand out — are you letting any of these myths hold your business back?

My business doesn’t need to be concerned about cybersecurity

Who would bother attacking a small business in Kansas City, right? Wrong. Small businesses get attacked more often than large companies because cybercriminals are betting on them having less security in place. In fact, 41% of small businesses experienced a cyberattack in 2023. 

The cybercriminals are right about a lack of preparation by small businesses — only about half (53%) have cyber insurance coverage. Almost two-thirds of SMBs globally don’t have multi-factor authentication tools in place to keep threat actors from accessing their systems. Unfortunately, a lack of cybersecurity best practices leaves growing companies at risk.

Humans that work for any size business are going to make mistakes — 71% of users in one survey said they had taken risky actions with their company’s security, almost all of them intentionally. Common reasons they cited were convenience and saving time. 

While you should be able to expect the best cybersecurity behavior from your team, you should also be prepared for when they make mistakes with the right cybersecurity best practices. 

We have to hurry up and use AI or we’ll be left behind

While it’s never a bad idea to keep your eye on where technology is headed, don’t let yourself be pressured to adopt any technology that doesn’t specifically align with where you want to take your business. 

Amid all the AI hype, many companies have rushed to invest in AI solutions without matching them to a business case or goal. Gartner predicts AI is headed for a period in which users become disillusioned with it — even more reason to pause before you rush to make it part of your tech stack.

Most growing businesses simply can’t afford to invest in technology without a strategy behind it. Examining the outcomes you want for your business and working backward to find the right technology to help you achieve them is the best approach.

A managed IT services provider can help you look at your existing systems along with the goals you want to achieve and help you find the right technologies to get you there. (Make sure you choose one that’s vendor neutral so you get the best solutions for your unique business — not just whatever their partners push.)

Photo: iStock

My business is too small to worry about IT stuff

Too many growing businesses think they don’t need to worry about things like business continuity plans or an efficient network infrastructure. 

No matter how small you are today, if you want to keep growing, you need to have the right practices, policies and structures in place to set you up for success. You’re an expert in your business, not in IT, so you don’t know what you don’t know, right?

That’s why getting your network and devices in order and keeping tech issues from slowing your team down should be top priorities. The right managed services provider can take all the tech worries off your plate and make sure your team is free to do their best work.

Not a myth at all: Restarting solves your IT troubles (most of the time)

It’s a running joke that we IT folks always tell you to turn something off and back on again to fix your issue, but it really can help.

Though there are some differences in devices and operating systems, in general, restarting a device forces it to take a break and reset connections and operations. Just like we humans need a little refresh here and there, so do our devices. 

Cenetric brings big-organization IT management to growing businesses

At Cenetric, we know how hard it can be to navigate all the challenges of operating a small business — we’re one too, after all!  Cenetric was founded to help bring the best practices of big companies to growing businesses so they can grow and flourish. We’ll help keep you out of the technology traps so many other small organizations fall into so you can stay ahead of your competition. 

Looking for responsive, expert IT services for growing companies in Kansas City — or beyond? That’s Cenetric. Tell us about your challenges, and let’s figure them out together.