If the only time you hear from your IT provider is when your contract’s up for renewal—or when something breaks—you’re putting your business at risk.
Technology is not a “set it and forget it” tool.
It’s dynamic. Cyberthreats evolve. Compliance rules shift. And your systems need regular attention to stay secure, efficient, and ahead of the curve.
At Custom Technologies, Inc., we help Metro Atlanta business owners stay proactive with quarterly IT strategy check-ins—not just tech support calls. Not sure what to ask in those meetings? Start with this cheat sheet:
1. 🔍 Are There Any Security Vulnerabilities We Need to Fix Right Now?
Don’t assume no news is good news. Ask:
- Are our antivirus and firewall systems current?
- Are there any unpatched systems or software?
- Have we had any near misses or unusual activity?
💡 Pro Tip: A good IT partner flags risks before you ask about them.
2. 💾 What’s the Status of Our Backups—and Have You Tested Them?
Backups aren’t useful if they don’t work. Ask:
- When was our last full restore test?
- Are we backing up to the cloud, off-site, or both?
- Are we protecting the right data?
- Is the backup secure, encrypted, and verified?
📉 Don’t find out your backups failed when it's too late.
3. 🛡 Are Our Employees Following Cybersecurity Best Practices?
One bad click can compromise your whole network. Ask:
- Have there been any suspicious logins or phishing attempts?
- Do we need to schedule security awareness training?
- Is multifactor authentication (MFA) enforced company-wide?
📊 Cybersecurity is a team sport. Everyone needs to play their part.
4. 🚀 How’s Our Network Performance? Anything Slowing Us Down?
Poor tech performance kills productivity. Ask:
- Are there recurring slowdowns or outages?
- Are we outgrowing our current systems?
- What upgrades or tweaks would improve speed?
⚙️ Even small changes can deliver a big performance boost.
5. 📋 Are We Still Compliant With Industry Regulations?
Metro Atlanta businesses in healthcare, finance, retail, or legal are subject to strict compliance rules like HIPAA, PCI-DSS, and GDPR. Ask:
- Are we still compliant with current regulations?
- Do we need to update our policies or software?
- Have any data protection standards changed?
🚨 Noncompliance can result in serious fines—and reputation damage.
6. 💰 What Should We Budget for Next Quarter?
Avoid tech surprises by planning ahead. Ask:
- Are any licenses, services, or warranties expiring?
- Is any hardware approaching end-of-life?
- What should we invest in for growth or security?
📅 Smart budgeting keeps you prepared and protects your bottom line.
7. 🔄 Are We Falling Behind on IT or Cybersecurity Trends?
Ask your provider to compare your setup with industry standards:
- Are there new tools or trends we should know about?
- Are we behind on any best practices?
- What are similar Metro Atlanta businesses doing differently?
- Are there emerging threats we’re vulnerable to?
🚀 Your IT partner should help you innovate—not just maintain.
❗Not Having These Conversations? Red Flag.
If your current IT provider isn’t offering quarterly strategy reviews or can’t answer these questions clearly, they might be reactive—not proactive. And in today’s fast-paced business landscape, reactive IT support just isn’t enough.
🛡 Ready for Real Support?
At Custom Technologies, Inc., we meet with our Metro Atlanta clients regularly to review performance, prevent problems, and plan for growth. Our FREE Network Security Assessment will show you exactly what’s working, what’s not, and how to fix it—before issues arise.
