The Biggest Mistakes I See Business Owners Making In IT And Cybersecurity

A client recently asked me, "What mistakes do you see business owners making the most when it comes to IT and cybersecurity?"

Oh, where to begin…

After years of working with businesses of all sizes, the biggest mistake I see repeatedly is treating IT and cybersecurity as an afterthought. Despite the frequent news about data breaches, many business owners either underestimate the real risks of cyberthreats or assume that setting up some basic protections is sufficient. I hate to break it to you, but it's not enough. A single breach, ransomware attack, or IT failure can cripple your business overnight. Yet, too many companies take a reactive approach—prioritizing security only after something goes wrong—which ends up being more exhausting and costly.

Another common mistake is thinking free software is "good enough." I understand the appeal. Free antivirus programs, consumer-grade routers, and DIY security setups seem like easy ways to save money, especially for small businesses facing inflation. But those "savings" disappear quickly when your business suffers a data breach, faces compliance fines, or loses critical client trust. If you wouldn't run your business on a free spreadsheet app, why trust your entire security infrastructure to bargain-bin software?

Then, there's the issue of underestimating the cost of downtime. Many businesses assume they can afford to be offline for a few hours if something breaks. But when your network goes down, your team can't work for hours or even days, your customers can't access your services, and you start losing money fast. A solid IT strategy isn't just about security—it's about ensuring operational continuity so that when disaster strikes (and it will, to some degree), you don't have to scramble to recover.

Finally, the most overlooked mistake is failing to plan for the long game. IT and cybersecurity aren't set-it-and-forget-it investments. Threats evolve, technology changes, and hackers get more sophisticated every day. If you're not proactively assessing, updating, and reinforcing your security posture, you're already falling behind.

At the end of the day, you need to protect what you've built.

So, what's the solution? I'll give it to you straight.

1. Stop taking shortcuts. Invest in professional-grade IT and security solutions, not band-aid fixes.
2. Think long-term. A solid cybersecurity plan isn't a one-time project—it's an ongoing commitment.
3. Get expert guidance. You don't have to (and shouldn't) navigate the complexities of IT security alone. Surround yourself with people who know what they're doing and can help you stay ahead of the curve.

If you're ready to take IT and cybersecurity seriously, let's talk. Click here or give us a call at 1300 765 014 to book a free 15-Minute Discovery Call, and let's make sure your business isn't one click away from disaster.