Summary:
- IT problems like ransomware, downtime, and data loss can cost businesses millions and significantly damage operations and reputation.
- Real-world examples from Canadian companies illustrate how issues like ransomware and shadow IT have led to major financial and operational fallout.
- Revotech offers services that can help businesses avoid these costly problems—like Managed IT, Co-Managed IT, Data Backup & Recovery, Cloud Services, and HaaS.
- Investing in proactive IT support costs far less than the damage caused by avoidable tech failures or security breaches.
- Consider investing in customized, scalable IT solutions that help your business stay secure, productive, and prepared for growth.
IT Problems Are Expensive. Here’s How to Avoid the Worst Ones.
When most companies think about IT issues, they think about the inconvenience: downtime, lag, login problems. But make no mistake—the real cost of IT problems can be measured in dollars and cents. We’re talking serious operational disruptions, missed revenue, and reputational damage that can cripple your bottom line for years to come.
From ransomware attacks to lost productivity and failed backups, many of the most common IT problems are also the most financially devastating. As BC’s go-to providers of managed IT services, we’ve spent years helping businesses avoid these pitfalls—so we’ve seen them all and we understand the risks you face.
Below, we break down the five most expensive problems in IT, how much they can actually cost your business, and what you can do to prevent them. Read on and learn to give your organization the protection it deserves.
1. Ransomware & Cybersecurity Incidents
In 2024, the average cost of a data breach in Canada reached $6.32 million, according to IBM. Cyberattacks like ransomware can bring your operations to a standstill, damage customer trust, and trigger regulatory fines.
Real-World Example: A real estate firm in Vancouver had their deal data encrypted by ransomware mid-transaction. It delayed closings for two weeks and forced them to pay a five-figure ransom just to recover access.
How to Fix It:
- Advanced Threat Protection: Endpoint detection, firewall management, and intrusion prevention via Revotech’s Managed IT Services.
- Ransomware Protection & Recovery: With 24/7 monitoring and automated failover backups from Revotech’s Data Backup & Recovery service, you can recover quickly without giving in to cybercriminals.
- Employee Training: Phishing is still the leading cause of breaches. Revotech provides ongoing awareness training through our Co-Managed IT solutions.
2. Downtime & Lost Productivity
Downtime costs larger businesses an average of $9,000 per minute. For small and mid-sized companies, the hit may not make headlines—but it can still be devastating. Imagine your CAD engineers sitting idle for hours, or your finance firm unable to access client data during tax season.
Real-World Example: In February 2023, Indigo Books & Music, Canada’s largest bookstore chain, experienced a cyberattack that disrupted its internal systems and e-commerce platform. The incident forced the company to revert to manual processes, resulting in significant operational disruptions and lost sales.
How to Fix It:
- 24/7 Infrastructure Monitoring with Managed IT Services that proactively prevent downtime and solve it quickly when incidents occur.
- Scalable On-Demand Support through Co-Managed IT, so your internal team isn’t stuck firefighting while projects stall.
- Hardware as a Service (HaaS) from Revotech helps avoid equipment-related downtime by providing regular upgrades and proactive hardware replacements.
3. Data Loss from Inadequate Backups
Inadequate backup procedures can lead to significant data loss, with 50% of organizations experiencing data loss due to insufficient backup strategies.
Real-World Example: In March 2023, the City of Toronto confirmed unauthorized access to its internal systems, leading to data loss that took months to restore. The breach highlighted the importance of having robust backup and recovery solutions to mitigate the impact of cyber incidents.
How to Fix It:
- Automated Backups with Redundancy: Revotech’s Data Backup & Recovery includes multi-location storage, including offsite and cloud-based backups.
- Disaster Recovery Planning: Every backup solution comes with business continuity planning to minimize risk.
- Regular Testing & Monitoring: We don’t just set it and forget it. Our team regularly tests recovery protocols to ensure your backups actually work.
4. Shadow IT & Data Leakage
When employees use unsanctioned apps or cloud services (Slack, Dropbox, Google Drive, etc.), your organization is exposed to what’s called “Shadow IT.” It’s a leading cause of data leakage and compliance violations.
Real-World Example: The Capital One data breach of 2019 impacted millions of Canadians when Paige Thompson, a former Amazon Web Services software engineer, managed to access Capital One data servers via unapproved cloud services. A lack of proper security controls also contributed to the breach.
How to Fix It:
- Microsoft 365 Management: With Revotech’s Office 365 Services, we help businesses centralize collaboration through secure, fully managed apps.
- Access Management & Permissions Control: Role-based access, multi-factor authentication, and single sign-on capabilities.
- Cloud Usage Monitoring through our Cloud Services, including real-time usage alerts and compliance enforcement.
5. Outdated or Over-Purchased Hardware
Buying IT equipment is a balancing act: too little, and you bottleneck your team. Too much, and you’re wasting thousands on underused assets. Outdated gear also introduces compatibility issues and security risks.
Real-World Example: The infamous TJX Cos. breach exposed over 94 million credit and debit cards—thanks to obsolete tech used by the parent company of the affected businesses. The thieves didn’t need anything beyond a laptop, an antennae, and a little bit of specialized software. If the company had kept their hardware up to date, it might never have happened.
How to Fix It:
- Hardware-as-a-Service (HaaS): Revotech supplies up-to-date hardware as part of a flat monthly fee—no upfront investment required.
- Lifecycle Planning & Maintenance: We plan your hardware lifecycle, monitor performance, and replace systems before they cause problems.
- Bundled IT Support: All devices from Revotech come with patching, antivirus, and remote management as standard.
How Much Are These Problems Costing You?
The average small to mid-sized business in BC might expect to spend several thousand dollars per month on managed IT support. That’s significantly less than the cost of a single day of downtime—or one serious data breach.
Whether you’re in construction, consulting, finance, or manufacturing, these five issues aren’t just annoying—they’re expensive. And if you wait until one of them causes a crisis, it will cost far more to recover than to prevent.
Work with Revotech & Avoid the Costliest IT Mistakes
Revotech provides customized, proactive IT solutions that protect your business, increase productivity, and reduce your risk.
Whether you need full IT outsourcing or just want a hand managing your existing infrastructure, our experts are here to help you:
- Secure your data and systems
- Eliminate downtime
- Plan for sustainable growth
- Support your employees 24/7
Get expert support that saves you time, stress, and money. Contact Revotech today for a free IT assessment.
