Blog - Page 22 of 24

The Real Cost of Bad IT Support

An examination of how unresolved issues, poor communication, and delayed response times quietly erode business performance.

Technology problems are rarely isolated

Most businesses treat IT support as a cost center—until it fails. When support is inconsistent or reactive, the effects ripple far beyond a help desk ticket. Productivity slows. Security risks go unaddressed. Projects stall. What appears to be a small annoyance often hides a larger operational cost.

two people talking about bad IT support

Many organizations underestimate how deeply IT support is embedded in day-to-day work. Staff rely on reliable access to files, communication systems, secure email, and responsive software. When support is slow, unreliable, or unfamiliar with the business environment, even simple tasks become friction points.

The hidden consequences of poor support

Inconsistent support doesn’t just frustrate employees—it carries measurable consequences. Time is lost as staff wait for assistance or attempt workarounds. Key contributors become bottlenecks when their tools fail. Infrastructure issues compound when patches or upgrades are delayed. Security exposures are left unresolved, increasing the risk of compromise.

Employees may begin to disengage, adjusting expectations downward and accepting persistent technical issues as the norm. Over time, the business pays in lost momentum, lower efficiency, and missed opportunities to execute or innovate.

Support quality is a leadership issue

IT support is often viewed as a technical function, but the decision to tolerate poor support is a leadership decision. It reflects how an organization views risk, cost, and operational continuity.

Support that lacks accountability, visibility, or clear escalation paths typically leads to a reactive posture. Many businesses still rely on informal arrangements—a single technician, an unmanaged relationship with a vendor, or an internal system that lacks oversight. In these models, support becomes a patchwork of fixes, not a framework for resilience.

Knowing when to reassess

Leaders should periodically evaluate whether their support structure still aligns with business needs. This includes looking at average response times, whether recurring problems are properly resolved, and how confident staff are in the tools they use.

It’s also worth asking whether your IT provider—or internal team—takes a proactive role. Are updates scheduled and communicated? Are systems monitored continuously, or is troubleshooting triggered only after something breaks?

Reliable support isn’t just about solving problems—it’s about reducing how often they occur and minimizing the impact when they do.

cmcwplgnomg4042025-06-21T21:13:36-05:00May 25, 2025|

What Law Firms Need to Know About Cyber Insurance Requirements

A grounded look at how insurance carriers assess cybersecurity preparedness—and what legal practices should have in place.

Cyber insurance is now a business standard

As cyberattacks on law firms continue to rise, carriers have tightened underwriting requirements. Premiums have increased, exclusions are more common, and claims are scrutinized. Carriers now expect firms to demonstrate that they understand the risks and have implemented basic controls.

This shift reflects the growing overlap between IT infrastructure and professional liability. A firm’s ability to secure data, respond to incidents, and prove that reasonable precautions were in place directly affects insurability.

What carriers often expect to see

Most applications today include security questionnaires or require attestations. Law firmsLegal & Law Firms are often asked to provide evidence of:

Multifactor authentication (MFA) for email, remote access, and administrative logins
Regular offsite backups with test logs and recovery capabilities
Endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools deployed across systems
Documented incident response plans and basic staff training
Email filtering or threat protection services

In some cases, carriers conduct external vulnerability scans. An exposed remote desktop port, an unpatched system, or a misconfigured mail record can influence underwriting decisions—or halt the process entirely.

Insurance exclusions tied to cybersecurity failures

What’s changing is not just how carriers evaluate risk, but how they assign blame. A growing number of policies include language that limits or voids coverage if required security controls were not implemented at the time of the incident.

For example, if a law firm suffers a breach and cannot show evidence of functioning MFA, an active backup, or a basic monitoring system, the carrier may deny the claim. These denials typically cite misrepresentation or failure to meet policy conditions.

Preparing for review and renewal

Firms that have not recently evaluated their security posture should consider doing so well before the next renewal. This may involve updating internal documentation, replacing outdated tools, or reviewing coverage language to understand what’s required.

Security standards are no longer a suggestion—they are a prerequisite for coverage. Law firms that treat cybersecurity as a compliance issue, rather than a technical one, will be better positioned to maintain coverage and reduce exposure.

cmcwplgnomg4042025-06-04T18:21:02-05:00May 25, 2025|

How to Tell If Your Business Email Has Been Compromised

You may not notice it right away, but when a business email account gets compromised, the damage can escalate quickly. Cybercriminals aren’t always looking to lock you out or cause a scene. Sometimes, they’re happy to quietly monitor your inbox — watching, waiting, and gathering information they can use to exploit your company or your clients.

That’s why it’s critical to recognize the warning signs early. The sooner you know something’s wrong, the faster you can contain the threat, reset credentials, and prevent further damage.

Why Email Is a Prime Target

Email is the front door to your business. It’s where invoices are sent, credentials are reset, client conversations are stored, and sensitive documents are shared. That makes it a high-value target for attackers — especially in industries like law, finance, and healthcare.

Unfortunately, most business email accounts (especially those using Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace) can be accessed from anywhere in the world if the credentials fall into the wrong hands. And with phishing kits and credential-stuffing tools readily available online, it’s easier than ever for attackers to break in quietly.

Warning Signs You Shouldn’t Ignore

While every attack looks different, there are a few common red flags that often point to email compromise:

You start receiving unexpected password reset requests or MFA prompts
Clients or colleagues say they received suspicious emails from your address
You see login alerts from unfamiliar locations or devices
Emails you never saw are sitting in your Sent or Deleted folders
Rules appear in your inbox that forward, delete, or move messages without your knowledge

These subtle signs are easy to miss, especially if your day-to-day email habits don’t change. But they often indicate that someone else has gained access — and may already be using your account as a launch point for further attacks.

What to Do If You Suspect a Breach

If you notice anything out of the ordinary, don’t wait. Start by resetting the account password, removing any unknown forwarding rules, and checking for suspicious sign-in activity. If you use Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace, access the admin center to review login logs and recent activity. It’s also important to notify your IT provider, even if you’re unsure — it’s always better to investigate a false alarm than ignore a real one.

And if your email doesn’t currently have multi-factor authentication (MFA) enabled, consider that a top priority. It’s one of the simplest and most effective ways to stop unauthorized access — even if your password is compromised.

Get a Free Security Check

Worried that your email account may have been compromised — or want help tightening things up before it happens? Cost+ offers a free security check that can identify vulnerabilities, scan for threats, and give you a clear path forward.

Schedule your free check today and take back control of your inbox.

cmcwplgnomg4042025-06-22T16:08:48-05:00May 24, 2025|

What to Look For in a Local IT Company

Choosing an IT company isn’t just about who can fix a computer. It’s about finding a reliable partner who understands your business, keeps your systems running smoothly, and protects you from things you don’t even know you need to worry about yet.

For small to midsize businesses, especially those without an internal IT team, that relationship matters. The right provider can save you time, reduce stress, and help you grow. The wrong one can cost you — in downtime, lost data, missed opportunities, and frustration.

So how do you make the right choice?

It’s More Than Just Technical Skills

Technical know-how is the baseline. Every IT provider should be able to handle basics like network configuration, workstation support, cybersecurity, and backups. But what separates the good ones from the rest is how they work with you.

You want a provider that’s responsive, communicates clearly, and explains things in plain language. You want someone who doesn’t disappear after installation or bury you in contracts and vague language. And you want someone who has a real, accountable presence — not just a contact form and a call center.

Key Qualities to Look For

When evaluating a local IT provider, pay attention to how they show up — not just what they sell. The best companies typically offer:

Clear communication, including how support is handled, who to contact, and what’s included
Transparent pricing with no surprise fees or locked-in multi-year contracts
A mix of proactive monitoring and responsive support
Familiarity with the platforms you use (like Microsoft 365, cloud tools, and industry-specific apps)
A willingness to meet, listen, and tailor services to your actual needs — not just push a prepackaged bundle

The relationship should feel like a partnership, not a subscription.

Don’t Rush the Decision

If you’re getting vague answers, unclear pricing, or pushback when you ask questions, keep looking. A good IT partner should be comfortable earning your trust — not pressuring you into a contract. Take the time to compare options, meet with the team, and see how well they explain things. That conversation will tell you a lot.

Need a Second Opinion?

Whether you’re choosing an IT provider for the first time or wondering if it’s time for a change, we’re happy to talk through what to look for — and how to make sure you’re getting the support you deserve.

Schedule a free consultation with Cost+ and get clear answers before you decide.

Get Started

cmcwplgnomg4042025-06-21T21:16:54-05:00May 23, 2025|

5 Things to Back Up in Microsoft 365 That Most Businesses Forget

Microsoft 365 has become the default productivity platform for businesses of all sizes — and with good reason. It’s powerful, flexible, and packed with tools that keep teams connected. But there’s a common and dangerous misconception about Microsoft 365: that everything is automatically backed up.

It’s not.

While Microsoft protects your data from things like infrastructure failures and short-term glitches, it’s not responsible for all the things that can go wrong on your end — like accidental deletions, overwrites, security breaches, or long-term data retention needs.

If you assume Microsoft 365 has it all covered, you’re likely missing some critical pieces.

What Most Businesses Overlook

You might think email is covered (and to a point, it is), but what about documents stored in OneDrive? Shared data in Teams? Calendar entries? Without the right backups in place, recovering this information can be time-consuming — or impossible.

Here are five things in Microsoft 365 that often go unprotected:

Teams chats and shared files – Teams is now a central hub for collaboration, but messages and shared content can be lost or become inaccessible after account changes or deletions.
OneDrive files – If an employee leaves and their license is removed, their OneDrive files can be permanently deleted after a short window.
Shared mailboxes – These aren’t always backed up by default and can contain important client or internal communication.
Calendar data – Lost meeting records, appointments, or shared scheduling data can impact coordination — especially for teams handling client work or deadlines.
Deleted emails and folders – After the recycle bin period ends (typically 30 days), deleted content is gone for good unless a third-party backup is in place.

You Need More Than Built-In Retention

Microsoft 365’s retention policies are designed for short-term recovery — not full business continuity. If you’re handling sensitive data, managing multiple user accounts, or simply want peace of mind, a purpose-built backup solution is essential. It ensures you can recover lost or deleted content, comply with retention rules, and stay protected in the event of accidental or malicious data loss.

Get a Free Backup Check

Not sure what your current setup is actually backing up? At Cost+, we offer a free evaluation to identify gaps in your Microsoft 365 data protection. We’ll give you a clear picture of what’s covered — and what’s not — so you can make the right decision before it becomes a problem.

Book your free Microsoft 365 backup check today and protect what matters.

Get Started

cmcwplgnomg4042025-05-25T18:36:33-05:00May 23, 2025|

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