Not long ago, a client asked me a great question. They wanted to know what mistakes I see business owners making most often when it comes to IT and cybersecurity.

Honestly, it’s a long list.

After years of working with companies of all shapes and sizes, the one thing I keep seeing is a lack of priority around IT and cybersecurity. It’s not that people don’t care. It’s that too many folks treat it as something to deal with later. Despite the headlines filled with breaches, ransomware, and stolen data, it’s still common for business leaders to think a basic antivirus and a couple of settings are enough. I wish that were true. But the hard truth is that one incident can grind your entire operation to a halt.

Here’s the kicker. Most businesses don’t take real action until something goes wrong. And by then, the damage is already done. It costs more money, more stress, and more lost time trying to recover than it would have cost to do it right from the beginning.

Another trap I see people fall into is relying on free tools and consumer products to protect their systems. Free antivirus, plug-and-play routers, and other budget-friendly options may seem appealing when you’re trying to cut costs. But the money you think you’re saving can vanish fast when a data breach leads to lost customers, compliance penalties, or damaged trust. You wouldn’t run your company on a free trial spreadsheet tool, so why stake your security on a patchwork of freebies?

There’s also a big blind spot when it comes to downtime. Many businesses assume they can ride out a few hours without access to their systems. But what happens when those few hours stretch into a full day or more? When your systems are down, your team sits idle, your customers get frustrated, and the financial impact starts to pile up. A strong IT plan goes beyond security. It’s also about keeping your business running when things don’t go as planned.

And then there’s the long-term view. Or more accurately, the lack of one. Cybersecurity is not a one-time purchase or a checklist item you tick off once a year. It’s an ongoing process that needs regular attention. Threats change. Technology evolves. Bad actors get smarter. If your systems and strategies aren’t evolving too, you’re leaving yourself wide open.

Here’s the bottom line. Your business deserves better than band-aids and best guesses.

So what should you do instead?

Start treating IT and cybersecurity as essential parts of your business, not optional add-ons. Choose real solutions built to handle real risks. Think about where you want your business to be in the future, and make sure your technology is ready to support that vision. Most importantly, lean on professionals who live and breathe this stuff, so you can stay focused on growing your business while they keep it safe.

You’ve worked too hard to leave things to chance. Protect what you’ve built.