There are a lot of misconceptions about IT support, and you might think you already know everything there is to know about managed IT. When speaking with potential clients, we hear the same myths and preconceptions come up again and again. So we thought it would be useful to put five of the most common ones in one place and address them directly.
1. Macs Don’t Need IT Support
This is a refrain we still hear regularly. Unfortunately, it simply is not true. Although there are fewer viruses and ransomware variants targeting Macs than PCs, they absolutely exist. What makes this worse is that the false sense of security some Mac users carry leads them to be less cautious about what they download and click on while online.
For example, OSX.FakeFileOpener can infect Macs and replace the default file-opening application. Another example is EvilQuest, a piece of ransomware that encrypts files and folders on the infected machine and refuses to release them unless the user pays a ransom in Bitcoin.
2. In-House IT Is Always Cheaper Than Outsourcing
This is a commonly held belief, but the reality varies greatly depending on the type of company you run.
What is true, particularly for small and medium-sized organizations, is that there are often strong reasons to bring in external IT assistance rather than hire in-house staff. Smaller firms may not generate enough day-to-day technical work to justify a full-time employee, which is exactly where a managed IT contract like those offered by Carden IT Services can be extremely valuable.
3. Using The Cloud Is Unsafe
Another long-standing misconception is that company data must be kept on-site at all times to remain safe. Because data on a cloud platform is stored off-site, some have concluded that these services are inherently insecure.
In practice, cloud-based storage is frequently safer than on-premises alternatives. Providers like Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services, and Google Cloud operate some of the most secure systems in the world, with former defense and intelligence professionals on their security teams.
That said, it is still important to properly protect access to your cloud-hosted data. If someone were to obtain your username and credentials, they could potentially access your files. At Carden IT Services, we have helped organizations of all sizes adopt cloud services securely and efficiently.
4. Outsourced IT Is A One-Size-Fits-All Solution
While we cannot speak for every provider, we do not believe in a generic approach. Every one of our clients has a dedicated account manager. We build a tailored IT plan based around your organization, your industry, your team size, the threats you face, and your growth plans. We follow this up with regular reviews and can adjust the coverage as your circumstances evolve.
5. Managed IT Is Expensive
Another widespread misconception is that outsourced IT management is prohibitively costly. While it is not the cheapest option available, the full picture matters when evaluating cost.
Most organizations today are dependent on technology in some form, which means a systems failure can have a significant impact on operations. Whether it stems from faulty hardware, poor configuration, a cyberattack, or something else entirely, every minute of disruption is a minute of lost revenue.
Comprehensive IT coverage, including cybersecurity, data backup, disaster recovery, and ongoing maintenance, reduces outages and improves the efficiency of your organization. Many companies find that their overall technology costs actually decrease after partnering with an external IT provider, while productivity goes up.
Hopefully we have helped clear up some of the misconceptions that might have been holding you back from upgrading your IT coverage. If there is still something on your mind, speak to our team today and we will be happy to answer any questions you have.
