You might think IT is expensive, and you're right

I've had countless discussions with business owners on this very topic.

"Joel, why is IT just so damn expensive?"

Breaking it down, there's:

• Software licenses (made worse by the fact that every company on the planet now uses a subscription-based model, thanks Netflix!)
• Hardware - yep, still gotta replace those laptops every few years, even if you don't own a server
• Cybersecurity - cause without it, your business has the odds of a fish in a barrel with a group of hungry Vancouver seagulls perched around the edge
• Cyber insurance, in case the unthinkable happens (and still won't cover your lost business and damage to your reputation in case the above fails)
• The folks who look after it all (that's us)

Looking at all of the above, the entire thing can feel like one big racket - and it is.

And that's why having a strategy is so important - because it's now how much you spend, but what the end result is in the long run.

Ask yourself: Are you getting the most out of your IT strategy?

Too many times, we've taken over situations from other providers where clients are locked into a bad deal.

Take annual licenses for example - they've got you signed up for annual, because it's cheaper, right? But what happens when someone leaves or your business downsizes?

Worse still, they'll often opt for Microsoft 365 Business Standard - which doesn't include any of the important cloud stuff like InTune or Entra P1 - critical pieces if you want to avoid having to rely on an ugly, archaic, power-hungry in-house server architecture.

Then there's all the add-ons and doo-dads that are required go with it - a plethora of cybersecurity mishmash all designed to bolster and protect the software that you're already paying for.

This is all too much, why not just go back to break-fix?

Because even though break-fix sounds cheaper on paper, it's not. I've covered this extensively, but here's quick recap: the first thing that will get you is the thing that isn't being monitored (like a brutal cyber attack that wipes your business out for good).

And if not that, then some critical piece breaks and now you're being billed hundreds per hour while you wait forever for someone to fix it.

Ok, so how do I get my costs down?

Before we look at slashing things you're going to regret, consider the following:

• The cost of a salary for a qualified technician (keyword: qualified). Someone with level 3 experience is going to cost you $90 - 120k per year. That's if you can find someone willing to live in Vancouver for that price. Someone with CTO experience is going to run you $150k - $200k per year if not more.
• The cost of making the wrong choices means your business can just shut down. There's no beating around the bush on this one, and if you're unfortunate enough to know, you know.
• The cost of Managed Services can be much more economical in comparison to the above, but MSPs are also known to run rackets in this town. It's a bottom-line game at the end of the day. Ask me how I know - you're damn right I have a chip on my shoulder, and that's one of the reasons I decided to branch out and start my own.

Now with all that said, even though Managed Services can help you get these costs down with a lot more predictability than going in-house, you still need to have the right plan & strategy in place.

The most egregious example I see is the 365 licensing thing. It almost never makes sense for a business under 200 staff to roll Business Standard + an on-premise server, and yet so many MSPs are still recommending it.

Instead, consider how much you can save with a proper cloud solution. Business Premium can cover 99% of your needs:

• Defender For Endpoint P1 - (not a joke - Defender used to be laughed out of the room but today it's one of the top 3, and this is coming from a guy who's tried them all. The Ransomware protection M$ offers with the new Attack Surface Reduction features is impressive to say the least).
• Entra P1 - Seamless sign on with a single account, damn-near enterprise grade security (for example you can deny logins to unauthorized devices - that's a huge step towards real security).
• InTune (replaces your expensive on-premise AD server)
• All your Microsoft software, always up to date (Word, Excel, Outlook, in other words the usual suspects)
• Anti-malware and anti-phishing w/ impersonation detection at the email edge level
• Vulnerability reporting - this is a massive bonus for anyone serious about running a big boy cybersecurity playbook and not some ad-hoc SMB bullcrap.

All of that starts to really make sense when you factor in that it costs a whopping $35 / user per month.

This is just one example, and may not be the right option for you. But it's an example nonetheless of the types of things to look for.

Good IT support is a smoke detector. Great IT support is a smoke detector AND a firefighter. Leap Cloud Solutions keeps more than 250 employees across Vancouver, British Columbia, businesses in business with IT support they trust without second thoughts, night sweats, or hallway chirps. If you need assistance with your technology, put down the fire extinguisher; pick up the phone and call Leap Cloud Solutions.