By Josh Cochran, CEO of Diverse CTI
A client asked me recently, “Josh, what are the biggest mistakes you see companies making when it comes to IT and cybersecurity?”
Honestly? More than I’d like to admit.
After decades in this industry, the most common (and most expensive) mistake I see is business owners treating IT like a fire extinguisher, ignored until there’s smoke. It’s reactive, short-sighted, and often ends up in a costly disaster recovery that could’ve been avoided altogether, or lost data because you did not back it up!
Let’s break down the top 5 things I see regularly.
1. Trusting SaaS Platforms as a Complete IT Strategy
I see it all the time: business owners assume that tools like Microsoft 365, QuickBooks, or Google Workspace are their IT strategy. They’re not.
SaaS apps are just that - apps. They’re not watching your network, patching your systems, managing your backups, or alerting you when something’s off. That’s not their job.
If your business relies on SaaS alone and thinks that’s “secure enough,” you’re missing critical layers of protection. Cloud tools are valuable, but they’re not your firewall, your help desk, or your incident response team.
2. Skipping Cybersecurity Audits
You’d be surprised how many companies never question what their IT provider is (or isn’t) doing. That’s a problem.
When’s the last time you audited your current provider?
We’ve run assessments for companies who thought they were covered, only to find outdated patches, default passwords, open ports, and unencrypted data floating around. That’s not coverage. That’s liability.
An annual cybersecurity audit isn’t optional anymore, it’s essential and for some of you, required!
3. Thinking You're “Saving Money” on IT Support
I get it, budgets are tight, and IT can feel like a behind-the-scenes expense. But trying to save money by hiring the cheapest provider, leaning on a “tech-savvy cousin,” or relying on DIY gear from Best Buy is like fixing a foundation crack with duct tape. It might hold for now… until it doesn’t.
Let me share a recent example.
We ran a cybersecurity audit for a manufacturing company that, on paper, “had IT.” But halfway through the process, their IT guy called us in a panic: “What did you do to our system?”
Turns out, their network had been fully compromised. A hacker had gained persistent remote access through outdated software and was actively stealing sensitive data, including proprietary blueprints. Their IT provider didn’t catch it. Worse, he didn’t know how to fix it.
That’s not just poor support. That’s a full-blown liability.
Here’s the truth:
Cutting corners on IT might look like cost savings, but it’s almost always more expensive in the long run. A proper cybersecurity incident can wipe out far more than your budget. It can damage your reputation, disrupt operations, and put your business at serious risk.
If your IT provider can’t detect or defend against active threats, you're not saving money, you're gambling with everything you’ve built.
4. Underestimating the Cost of Downtime
Downtime doesn’t just slow things down, it stops business. Your team can’t work. Your clients can’t reach you. Your revenue pipeline comes to a screeching halt.
I’ve seen businesses lose thousands (sometimes more) in just a few hours of outage. And if you don’t have a disaster recovery plan in place? Good luck getting back up quickly.
Your IT strategy needs to be as much about resilience as it is about prevention.
5. Playing the Short Game
Cybersecurity isn’t a one-time project or a checkbox on a to-do list. Threats evolve. Hackers get smarter. Technology changes.
If your IT provider hasn’t updated your strategy, implemented new tools, or proactively evaluated risks in the last 12 months, you’re behind and exposed.
The Bottom Line?
If you’ve worked hard to build your business, protect it like you mean it.
Here’s where to start:
- Stop taking shortcuts. Invest in infrastructure that works, no more duct tape.
- Evaluate your current provider. Schedule a cybersecurity audit. Ask the hard questions.
- Think beyond SaaS. Cloud tools are helpful, but they’re not a full IT stack.
- Get the right partner. You don’t need to go alone, but you do need a team that knows what it’s doing.
Let’s Make Sure You’re Covered
If your current IT setup hasn’t been reviewed recently, or if you’re not sure where the gaps are, let’s talk.
We offer a free 10-minute Security Assessment to review your environment, identify blind spots, and help you take the right next step (with or without us).
📅 Click Here to schedule your assessment
You’ve got too much riding on your business to leave security up to chance.
