You know the saying: You get what you pay for. And nowhere is that more obvious than in your technology stack.
On the surface, a “budget” IT services agreement might look like a win—lower monthly fees, basic helpdesk support, maybe even some antivirus tossed in. But dig deeper, and those low rates often mask hidden exclusions, surprise charges, and security gaps that can cost your company far more down the road.
After helping dozens of mid-market organizations review their IT contracts, we’ve identified the five most common corner-cutting tactics—and exactly how they become expensive headaches for your leadership team.
1. Weak (Or Nonexistent) Cybersecurity Protections
Basic antivirus isn’t a cyber defense strategy. Yet many low-cost providers stop there—no multi-factor authentication, no endpoint threat detection, no employee security training, and no backup plan if malware slips through.
Why it matters: Your cyber-insurance carrier likely requires advanced protections before issuing a policy, and lacking them can lead to a denied claim after an incident. We’ve seen businesses face tens of thousands in damages because their MSP never implemented the safeguards their insurer demanded. That’s not service—that’s exposure.
2. Backups That Leave Half Your Business Exposed
Do Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace backups cover everything? Not even close. They offer only a basic snapshot—not the comprehensive disaster-recovery and long-term retention your operations demand.
Low-cost IT shops often skip backing up third-party platforms, CRMs, or file shares—and many don’t offer immutable (unchangeable) archives. Without those, you could fail a cyber-insurance audit or lose critical data permanently.
3. “Surprise!” Fees for On-Site or After-Hours Support
A tempting low monthly rate can quickly balloon when you need someone after 5 PM—or an on-site visit. Many providers quote a rock-bottom fee but carve out emergencies, nights, weekends, and in-person work so they can tack on hefty hourly rates later.
The result: Your team hesitates to call for help, downtime stretches out, and costs spike with every minute lost.
4. No Help with Vendors or Third-Party Devices
When printers malfunction, Internet goes down, or security cameras glitch, some IT firms shrug and say, “Not our problem.” Then they bill you hourly just to liaise with your telecom or hardware vendor.
At RTB, we include full vendor coordination and network support for anything that touches your technology. After all, attacks—or outages—don’t care where the weak link lives.
5. Inexperienced Techs and No One Managing Your Account
A “one-person show” or entry-level contractors may answer your tickets—but they won’t guide your technology roadmap.
You deserve:
- A dedicated account manager crafting your long-term IT strategy
- Proactive audits of cybersecurity, compliance, and backups
- Budget planning for upgrades and refresh cycles
- A trusted advisor, not just order-takers in a ticket queue
Bottom Line: If It Looks Too Good To Be True…It Is.
Most businesses don’t realize they’re exposed until a ransomware attack, a data loss, or a compliance fine hits. Don’t wait for the breach.
If you want to know exactly what your IT contract is missing, let us review your network and map out your gaps—risk-free, jargon-free, and with no obligation.
Click here to Book your Cyber Risk Assessment Session!
