You know how it goes: your Uncle Ray tells you he can patch that roof for half the price, and sure enough, the next Florida rainstorm turns your living room into a splash pad. The same is true for “budget” IT providers—except the damage they leave behind isn’t water. It’s ransomware, regulatory fines, and lost trust.
Here at Reef Cyber Security, we work with firms across Tampa, St. Pete, Sarasota, and Clearwater—particularly financial services and professional firms like yours. And let me tell you: the upfront savings of bargain-bin IT rarely outweigh the long-term damage.
Let’s take a look at what “cheap IT” really costs.
The Risk You Don’t See: When Basic Protection Just Isn’t Enough
Most low-cost providers throw in antivirus and call it a day. But modern cyberattacks aren’t stopped by the basics. Without proper protections—multi-factor authentication, endpoint monitoring, secure backups—your firm is left wide open.
And if you’re applying for cyber insurance or trying to meet FTC Safeguards Rule requirements, “just antivirus” won’t cut it. In fact, some of the breaches we’ve helped clean up happened because an MSP failed to put the right safeguards in place—and the firm didn’t know until it was too late.
Cloud Apps Aren’t Automatically Backed Up (And Neither Is Your Reputation)
Think Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace has your back? Think again. These platforms have basic redundancy, but they don’t protect against deleted files, ransomware encryption, or long-term archiving.
We’ve met RIA firms in Pinellas and Hillsborough counties that lost months of email history or CRM data because their IT vendor never set up proper cloud backups.
Surprise Fees and Shrinking Trust
Some IT providers promise low monthly fees—then hit you with a bill every time someone visits your office, answers a weekend call, or helps during an outage. That’s not support. That’s nickel-and-diming when you need them most.
With Reef, we believe in predictable, transparent pricing. If your team hesitates to call because they’re worried about the cost, that’s a support model working against you.
Your Vendor, Your Problem? Not With Us
We hear it all the time: “Our IT guy said he doesn’t handle our internet issue.”
A solid MSP manages your whole ecosystem—printers, cameras, phones, cloud apps. If it touches your network, it touches your business. We act as your single point of contact so you don’t get bounced around.
Entry-Level Techs Aren’t Strategic Advisors
Many bargain IT shops run on freelancers or junior techs with no oversight. They can fix a printer jam, maybe. But can they forecast your tech budget? Prep you for your next audit? Craft a cybersecurity roadmap?
We provide every client with a dedicated account manager and quarterly reviews. That means proactive support, not just break-fix help.
Bottom Line: Don’t Gamble With Your Firm’s Reputation
If you’re a managing partner, COO, or compliance officer in a Tampa Bay firm, you can’t afford to find out your IT wasn’t enough after the breach.
Let us give you a complimentary risk assessment. We’ll review your current IT setup, pinpoint any vulnerabilities, and provide honest recommendations—in plain English.
Because cheap IT isn’t cheap when it puts your clients, your compliance, and your peace of mind at risk.
— Want to see how your current IT stacks up?
Let Reef Cyber Security take a look. No pressure. No jargon. Just local experts who make things work.
