{"id":865,"date":"2026-04-27T10:14:50","date_gmt":"2026-04-27T15:14:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/des-moines-ia-1210\/?p=865"},"modified":"2026-04-28T13:21:46","modified_gmt":"2026-04-28T18:21:46","slug":"how-to-protect-small-business-cyber-attacks-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/des-moines-ia-1210\/blog\/how-to-protect-small-business-cyber-attacks-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Protect a Small Business from Cyber Attacks 2026: When to Switch to Managed IT Support"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><b>Key Takeaways<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">DIY IT becomes unsustainable as businesses grow<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Lack of backups and cybersecurity policies are major risk factors<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Cloud storage does not replace proper backup systems<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Compliance requirements apply regardless of company size<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Managed IT services provide scalability, security, and peace of mind<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Proactive IT management significantly reduces the risk of costly breaches<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In today\u2019s fast-evolving digital landscape, business owners can no longer afford to treat IT as an afterthought. Understanding <a href=\"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/it-services\/cybersecurity\/\">how to protect a small business from cyber attacks 2026<\/a> is no longer optional\u2014it\u2019s essential for survival and growth.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">This blog is based on insights from the Behind the Firewall podcast, hosted by Mike Downer and featuring Edgar Ortiz, Managing Partner of CMIT Solutions of Des Moines. Their conversation highlights the warning signs, risks, and strategic advantages of moving from DIY IT to professional managed IT services.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>The Warning Signs Your Business Has Outgrown DIY IT<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Many small businesses start by handling IT internally, often relying on a tech-savvy employee. However, as discussed on Behind the Firewall, several red flags indicate it\u2019s time to seek professional support:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Frequent downtime and slow network performance<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Employees wasting time troubleshooting tech issues<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Outdated hardware and lack of system updates<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">No reliable backup systems in place<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Use of personal devices without proper security controls<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">According to Edgar Ortiz of CMIT Solutions of Des Moines, once a business reaches around 10 to 50 employees, IT complexity typically exceeds what one person can manage effectively.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Critical Security Risks You Shouldn\u2019t Ignore<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">One of the biggest concerns highlighted in the podcast is how vulnerable businesses become without proper cybersecurity measures.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Key red flags include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">No backup or disaster recovery plan<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Lack of cybersecurity policies<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Unpatched systems and outdated software<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">No network monitoring or testing of backups<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A major misconception addressed in the conversation is the idea that being \u201cin the cloud\u201d automatically protects your data. In reality, providers like Microsoft, Google, and Amazon still require businesses to manage their own backups.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Why Growth Creates IT Challenges<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">As organizations expand, the number of devices, applications, and data points grows rapidly. Many businesses rely on someone internally who \u201cknows computers,\u201d but as Ortiz explains, that person often already has a full-time role.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">This leads to:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Increased downtime<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Higher risk of security breaches<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Overlooked updates and vulnerabilities<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Eventually, this approach becomes unsustainable and exposes the business to serious operational and financial risks.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>The Hidden Costs of DIY IT<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A key takeaway from the Behind the Firewall episode is that the true cost of DIY IT is often hidden.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">These costs include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Lost productivity from ongoing tech issues<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Downtime impacting revenue<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Increased exposure to cyber threats<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Ortiz notes that many small businesses underestimate these risks, but even a single mistake\u2014like a misconfigured update\u2014can lead to data loss or a costly breach.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Compliance: A Growing Responsibility<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Compliance requirements such as HIPAA and PCI DSS were also emphasized in the discussion. These regulations apply equally to small businesses and large enterprises.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Failing to meet compliance standards can result in:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Financial penalties<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Legal consequences<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Damage to customer trust<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">CMIT Solutions of Des Moines helps businesses navigate these requirements by implementing proper controls, documentation, and security practices.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>What the Transition to Managed IT Looks Like<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Transitioning to a managed IT provider is more straightforward than many business owners expect.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">As described in the podcast, the process typically includes:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A full assessment of current systems<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Identification of vulnerabilities and inefficiencies<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Deployment of monitoring tools<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Gradual improvements with minimal disruption<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Most businesses begin to notice smoother operations and faster response times within the first month.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Managed IT vs. In-House IT<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The podcast also compares hiring a single IT employee versus partnering with a managed service provider.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>In-House IT:<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Limited expertise<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Single point of failure<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">No after-hours monitoring<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Managed IT Provider:<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Access to a full team of specialists<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">24\/7 monitoring and support<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Predictable monthly costs<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">As Ortiz explains, a managed provider functions as a complete system rather than relying on one individual.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Real-World Outcomes: Reactive vs. Proactive<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Real examples shared during the episode highlight the difference between reactive and proactive approaches:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A 25-employee firm without tested backups suffered a ransomware attack, losing three days of work and spending weeks rebuilding systems\u2014costing over $75,000.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A healthcare company that partnered early with CMIT Solutions of Des Moines had a potential breach stopped within minutes due to proactive monitoring.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The lesson is clear: proactive businesses are far more resilient in today\u2019s threat landscape.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In an era where cyber threats are constantly evolving, knowing <a href=\"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/it-services\/cybersecurity\/\">how to protect a small business from cyber attacks 2026<\/a> is critical. Insights from Behind the Firewall and CMIT Solutions of Des Moines make it clear: investing in managed IT services is not just about technology\u2014it\u2019s about securing the future of your business.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>FAQs<\/b><\/h2>\n<h3><b>1. When should a business consider managed IT services?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">When you experience frequent downtime, lack proper backups, or have more than 10 employees, it\u2019s time to consider professional support.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>2. Is cloud storage enough to protect my data?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">No. Cloud providers require businesses to manage their own backups. Without a backup plan, your data is still at risk.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>3. How expensive is managed IT compared to hiring in-house?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Managed IT is often more cost-effective, providing access to a full team of experts at a predictable monthly cost.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>4. What happens if my business ignores cybersecurity?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Ignoring cybersecurity increases the likelihood of breaches, data loss, and financial damage\u2014many small businesses never recover from major incidents.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>5. How quickly can a managed IT provider improve my systems?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Most businesses see noticeable improvements within the first month after onboarding.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>Podcast Transcript<\/h3>\n<p><b>Mike Downer:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Hello, everybody. I am your host, Mike Downer, and I am joined once again with Edgar Ortiz, the managing partner of CMIT Solutions, and we are talking Behind the Firewall. How are you doing today, Edgar?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Edgar Ortiz:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> I&#8217;m doing amazing, Mike. How\u2019s everything?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Mike Downer:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Everything is going great. I&#8217;m excited to learn a little bit more about your services and how you can help benefit companies and what all this means to business owners. I guess every business owner needs what you do. First question \u2014 today we&#8217;re going to talk about how you know when your business needs managed IT support. So that\u2019s kind of our topic today. What are the signs that a business has outgrown DIY IT and needs professional managed technology support?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Edgar Ortiz:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Yeah, that\u2019s one of the biggest signs \u2014 frequent downtime, slow networks, or employees losing time fixing tech issues instead of doing their jobs. You\u2019ll see outdated hardware, no backups, and people using personal devices without security controls. Once a business hits around ten to fifty employees, the IT complexity usually outgrows what one person can manage. That\u2019s when it\u2019s time to bring in a managed IT partner.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Businesses sometimes don\u2019t understand that they don\u2019t have controls, backups, or even know their RTO and RPO. RTO means Recovery Time Objective, and RPO is Recovery Point Objective. Without an actual recovery plan, you don\u2019t know how much data you can afford to lose or how long you can be down before losing money. And it happens really fast. A lot of small businesses don\u2019t understand that \u2014 and that\u2019s when you need to start thinking about bringing someone on board.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Mike Downer:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> That sounds like you covered all the warning signs really well for us. So what security red flags tell you a company is at serious risk \u2014 like missing backups or lacking cybersecurity policies?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Edgar Ortiz:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> That\u2019s a great question. One of the biggest red flags is no backup system. Obviously, no cybersecurity plan and employees using personal devices without security controls. Another warning sign is when updates and patches aren\u2019t being done regularly \u2014 that leaves the door open for attacks.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If no one is monitoring your network or testing backups, it\u2019s not a matter of if something fails \u2014 it\u2019s when. One big thing is backups. People say, \u201cOh, I\u2019m in the cloud.\u201d I always ask, what does that mean? You took all your stuff and gave it to somebody else\u2019s computer? Microsoft actually tells you in their cloud services agreement that you need a third-party backup because they\u2019re not responsible for your data. That\u2019s scary.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Not only Microsoft \u2014 Google and Amazon also state you need to be responsible for your backups. It\u2019s right there in their policies. Nobody reads that because it\u2019s huge, but that\u2019s the reality. One of the biggest red flags is when someone says, \u201cI\u2019m in the cloud,\u201d but they don\u2019t have a backup plan or understand their recovery objectives.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Mike Downer:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> So Edgar, why do many businesses start to struggle with IT when they reach between ten and fifty employees?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Edgar Ortiz:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Usually, that\u2019s the point where one person can\u2019t handle everything. Businesses often have someone internally who knows a little about computers, and they try to handle everything. As the team grows, you get more devices, software, and data, and the complexity skyrockets.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Most businesses rely on someone who \u201cknows computers,\u201d but that person already has a full-time job. That\u2019s when things start slipping through the cracks. Downtime and security risks increase quickly because that person is juggling too much. That\u2019s when things escalate and go off the rails.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Mike Downer:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> That was a great answer. To lead me to the next question \u2014 what is the true cost of handling IT and cybersecurity internally without a trained professional?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Edgar Ortiz:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> The true cost is usually hidden. It\u2019s in lost productivity, downtime, and security risk. Studies show about 85% of small businesses self-manage IT, and a quarter of those admit the person doing it isn\u2019t properly trained.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">One mistake \u2014 like a misconfigured update \u2014 can lead to data loss or a breach that costs far more than a managed IT plan. Many business owners think IT and cybersecurity are expenses, but they\u2019re actually value drivers. When you stop thinking of IT as an expense and start viewing it as business protection and growth \u2014 especially with AI tools \u2014 everything changes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Mike Downer:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> We\u2019re going to get a little technical. How do compliance requirements like HIPAA or PCI DSS change the need for professional IT management?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Edgar Ortiz:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Compliance is a conversation most business owners want to avoid \u2014 until they can\u2019t. If you&#8217;re in healthcare or dental, HIPAA requires documented security policies, access controls, and breach notification procedures. There\u2019s no exception for small practices.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If you accept credit cards, PCI DSS applies. Almost 90% of small businesses we assess are out of compliance, and they don\u2019t realize they\u2019re being charged for it. Regulators don\u2019t grade on a curve for small businesses. A ten-person office faces the same requirements as a large organization. Not knowing isn\u2019t a defense.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">That\u2019s where professional IT management comes in \u2014 we oversee compliance, assessments, and protections so businesses operate legally and securely.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Mike Downer:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> After listening to all this, tell me what the transition from DIY IT to managed services looks like.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Edgar Ortiz:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> The transition is simple and structured. We start with a full assessment of your current systems to see what\u2019s working and what\u2019s not. Usually, there\u2019s little to no disruption. Within the first month, most clients notice smoother operations and faster response times.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">We document everything, deploy monitoring tools quietly in the background, and improve systems without disrupting business flow.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Mike Downer:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> How does partnering with a managed services provider compare to hiring a single in-house IT person?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Edgar Ortiz:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Hiring one IT person costs $55,000\u2013$75,000 plus benefits, training, and PTO. When they leave at 5 PM, your systems aren\u2019t monitored. If they\u2019re sick or leave the company, you\u2019re stuck.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">With a managed service provider, you get a full team \u2014 help desk, monitoring specialists, cybersecurity experts, cloud engineers, and strategic advisors \u2014 all for a flat monthly rate. One IT person is a single point of failure. A managed service provider is a system.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Mike Downer:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Can you share real examples of businesses that waited too long versus those that moved proactively?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Edgar Ortiz:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> A professional services firm with about 25 employees self-managed IT. They had no tested backups. A ransomware attack hit Friday afternoon. By Monday, they lost three days of work and spent two weeks rebuilding. The impact exceeded $75,000 \u2014 not including lost trust and clients.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Another healthcare company called us proactively after seeing a competitor get hit. We onboarded them in under 30 days. Six months later, we detected compromised credentials after hours and locked it down in minutes. The owner never even knew there was a threat. Same threat landscape \u2014 completely different outcome.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Proactive businesses win. Reactive businesses risk losing everything. Statistics show 63% of small businesses don\u2019t recover after a major breach.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Mike Downer:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Edgar, thank you today. You\u2019ve cleared up how a business knows when it\u2019s time to move to managed IT support. I look forward to our next conversation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Edgar Ortiz:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Excellent. Thank you, Mike. See everyone next week. We\u2019re here at CMIT Des Moines to protect your business.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Mike Downer:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Thank you so much, Edgar. Have a terrific day.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Edgar Ortiz:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Thank you.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key Takeaways DIY IT becomes unsustainable as businesses grow Lack of backups&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1033,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-865","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-local-it"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/des-moines-ia-1210\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/865","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/des-moines-ia-1210\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/des-moines-ia-1210\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/des-moines-ia-1210\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1033"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/des-moines-ia-1210\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=865"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/des-moines-ia-1210\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/865\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/des-moines-ia-1210\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=865"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/des-moines-ia-1210\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=865"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/des-moines-ia-1210\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=865"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}