Why Relying on Your Relative for Business IT is a Major Risk

Chances are pretty good that you know someone—a coworker, friend, or relative—who seems pretty confident that they know their way around technology. Maybe it’s your niece, who was the one to set up your Wi-Fi and spends her time on her self-constructed gaming PC. It kind of makes sense to lean on her for some tech advice for the office, too… doesn’t it?

The short answer: absolutely not.

While your niece may have a bright future ahead of her in the IT industry, there are numerous reasons why relying on her in lieu of a professional is a terrible, self-destructive idea.

There are Three Primary Issues with Entrusting Your Business IT to a Hobbyist

First: There’s No Guarantee They’ll Be Available When They’re Needed

Let’s say you encounter a server issue at 10:43 AM on Wednesday morning. You need IT assistance… but your niece is currently taking an exam in her computer science class. As a result, you’re dead in the water for the rest of the day, or at least until your niece can come over and take a look at the issue.

Nowadays, you can’t let an issue put your business on pause for any longer than you can avoid. You need someone who will be there to assist you whenever you need it, whatever the hour. 

Second: You’re Extra Stuck if Things Go Wrong

Continuing with this server error, what if your niece neglected to back up its entire contents, which ultimately costs you years of essential data? You are officially up the creek… and as for the party responsible, you also have a litany of extra complications to deal with interpersonally.

Are you going to fire your niece or file a lawsuit against them for damages? This kind of connection just makes things sloppy, especially if/when things go wrong.

Third: A Hobbyist’s Tools Will Be Limited

Of course, there is also the fact that comparing professional IT services to those provided by a casual hobbyist is like comparing apples to oranges—and in some ways, like comparing apples to an air compressor. Consumer-grade tools are notoriously less interconnected or communicative than professional options and will be insufficient to properly protect you.

These Problems Contribute to Larger Challenges Concerning Compliance

The law is changing almost daily, but despite this, the “oops, I didn’t know” defense simply will not hold water. Laws at both the state and federal levels now place the onus on businesses to tighten their security, requiring documentation signed by a qualified pro confirming that certain safeguards are in place.

Again, this is something your niece could miss—or, worse, fraudulently sign off with an insurance provider that these precautions have been taken. This is a great way to get a claim denied.

Let’s Talk a Little More About Availability and Costs

The difference in return on investment between a personal favor and a professional relationship is significant. Let’s break down the financial realities of each:

• Working with your niece, while initially free or very low-cost, can quickly result in far higher costs due to the downtime an issue incurs until your niece is available to fix the problem.
• Working with an MSP will guarantee your uptime for a predictable monthly fee, with updates and maintenance scheduled so your team is not inconvenienced.

Oftentimes, free is the more expensive option.

Trust the Experts to Take Care of Your Business

While your niece’s gumption is admirable, it is better to wait until she’s a licensed professional before entrusting your business to her expertise. In the meantime, we’re here to help you keep your business productive and secure. Give us a call at (804) 264-9339 today for an evaluation to see where your business’ IT currently stands.