Is your IT provider really paying attention?
Last Updated July 17, 2025 by Emelia Aceto
Key Takeaways: What You’ll Learn About IT Provider Accountability
- Why familiarity with your IT provider doesn't guarantee protection, and how complacency can lead to overlooked vulnerabilities.
- Common gaps in managed IT services, including missing backups, inactive antivirus, and unpatched systems despite being listed on invoices.
- The value of third-party assessments to ensure you're truly getting the cybersecurity protection you're paying for... before a breach happens.
You might have a long-standing relationship with your current IT provider. Maybe they’ve been with you and your business for 5, 10, even 20 years. The familiarity, the routine, the trust... it’s all there.
Each month, you see the invoice: vulnerability scans, antivirus, backups, patching, and more. It sounds comprehensive, and the price suggests you’re getting full protection.
So, you assume it’s handled.
But here’s the question: Is your IT provider actually delivering on those promises and making sure you’re fully covered?
Over the past few weeks, we’ve run initial cybersecurity assessments for new clients who believed their systems were fully protected. On paper, they were. But in reality, we found missing backups, inactive antivirus, and unpatched vulnerabilities. Not because the clients didn’t care, but because no one was watching closely enough.
They paid for peace of mind. What they got was a false sense of security.
But this isn’t about blame. It’s about awareness.
Most businesses trust their provider is doing the work behind the scenes. That’s fair, and expected.
But the truth is, not all providers stay proactive. Not all follow through. And not all check in to ensure you're getting what you're paying for or even using the tools you are purchasing each month.
The image above shows a real invoice from one of our clients. Their previous provider billed for essential services (highlighted above) including vulnerability scans, backups, antivirus, and patching.
But when we reviewed their systems, we found no evidence that these critical protections were in place.
This gap in security left the client vulnerable to potential attacks that could have led to significant revenue losses and damage to their reputation.
What you need is a provider who’s committed. One who pays attention. One who cares.
Sometimes, the hardest decision in business is to rethink what’s “good enough.”
Too often, we talk to leaders who stay with the same providers, platforms, or processes, not because they’re working optimally, but because they’re familiar.
Comfort doesn’t always equal security.
Loyalty doesn’t always equal value.
And “what we’ve always done” isn’t a strategy.
If you’re second-guessing any part of your IT, infrastructure, or vendor partnerships: that instinct is worth exploring. You don’t need to make a switch today. But you should know your options.
It’s not your job to chase down the services you’re already paying for. It’s your provider’s job to deliver them and verify they’re protecting your business the way they should.
That’s why we lead with audits and assessments. Not to criticize, but to clarify. To ensure your infrastructure is aligned with your needs, and nothing is overlooked.
You shouldn’t have to wonder if your systems are safe, you should know.
Loyalty is admirable, but it shouldn’t come at the cost of your business’s safety. Choose a provider who earns your trust every day. One who actually protects your systems, your data, and your success.
If your current provider hasn’t checked in, validated your protections, or helped you maximize your IT tools recently, it may be time for a second opinion.
We offer a free cybersecurity assessment, with no pressure and no strings attached, because we believe in earning trust by showing up, staying engaged, and doing the work.
IT should never be a guessing game.
If you’re not 100% confident in the support behind your systems, let’s talk.
We’re here to help you move from assumptions to assurance.
info@reliablesgrp.com | 216.373.7768
