7 Warning Signs It's Time to Switch Your IT Provider
Slow response times, surprise bills, security gaps — here are 7 red flags that your IT provider is failing your business, and what to do about it.
7 Warning Signs Your IT Provider Is Failing Your Business
You hired an IT company to make technology problems disappear. Instead, you've got a new problem: your IT company.
If any of these sound familiar, it might be time to make a change.
1. You Can't Get Them on the Phone
This is the number one complaint we hear from new clients. You call, you get voicemail. You email, you wait 24–48 hours. You submit a ticket, and it sits in a queue like it's waiting at the DMV.
What good IT looks like: 15-minute average response time. A real person answers. Your issue gets acknowledged immediately, even if the fix takes time.
2. Your Bill Changes Every Month
"Emergency support" charges. "After-hours" fees. "Special project" line items you never approved. If your IT bill is a surprise every month, your provider is either disorganized or padding invoices.
What good IT looks like: One flat rate. No surprises. No "emergency" upcharges. You know exactly what you're paying before the month starts.
3. You've Had a Security Incident (or Near-Miss)
Ransomware. Phishing emails that got through. An employee clicking a bad link with no protection in place. If your IT provider's response to security is "you should be fine," you're not fine.
What good IT looks like: Proactive cybersecurity — endpoint protection, email filtering, employee training, regular vulnerability scans. Prevention, not reaction.
4. They're Reactive, Not Proactive
Something breaks. You call them. They fix it (eventually). Repeat. This is the "break-fix" model, and it means your IT company profits when things go wrong. Think about that incentive structure.
What good IT looks like: 24/7 monitoring catches problems before you notice them. Patches and updates happen automatically. You hear from your IT team before things break, not after.
5. You Don't Know If Your Data Is Backed Up
Ask yourself: if your server died right now, how long until you're back up? If you don't know the answer — or if the answer is "days" — that's a problem.
What good IT looks like: Automated daily backups, tested regularly, with a documented recovery plan. You should be able to recover from a disaster in hours, not weeks.
6. They Can't Explain Things in Plain English
Good IT providers translate tech into business language. Bad ones hide behind jargon to avoid accountability. If you leave every conversation more confused than when you started, that's by design.
What good IT looks like: Clear communication. Monthly reports you can actually understand. Technology recommendations tied to business outcomes, not tech buzzwords.
7. You've Become the Unofficial IT Department
You were hired to run your business. Instead, you're troubleshooting printers, resetting passwords, and googling error codes. If you're doing your IT provider's job, what exactly are you paying them for?
What good IT looks like: Your team calls one number. Everything gets handled. You focus on running your business.
Ready for IT That Actually Works?
We've helped dozens of Houston businesses make the switch — and most wish they'd done it sooner. Book a free 30-minute IT assessment and we'll show you exactly what a better IT experience looks like.
Book your free IT assessment →
Or call: (972) 244-3009
