June 21, 2025
Why "Cheap" IT Support Can End Up Costing You More
You've heard the saying: you get what you pay for, and nowhere is that truer than in the world of IT support.
At first glance, a budget-friendly managed IT agreement might look like a win: low monthly fees, basic service coverage, and maybe a few cybersecurity tools thrown in. But when you look under the hood, these bargain packages often hide costly surprises—missing protections, vague contracts, and extra fees that end up costing far more in the long run.
After years of reviewing IT service agreements for small businesses, we've spotted the same red flags over and over again. Here are the top five ways "discount" IT providers cut corners—and why those cut corners could put your entire business at risk.
1. Minimal (Or Missing) Cybersecurity Measures
A basic antivirus tool does not count as a cybersecurity strategy.
Unfortunately, many low-cost MSPs rely on outdated, surface-level protections, no multifactor authentication (MFA), no endpoint detection and response (EDR), no employee security training, and no layered defenses in case something slips through.
Why it matters: Cyber insurance companies now require advanced protections before offering coverage. If your MSP didn't implement the right controls, you could be denied coverage after a breach and stuck paying for the damages yourself.
We've seen business owners lose tens of thousands simply because their provider failed to follow best practices.
2. Partial (Or Nonexistent) Backups
Think your data is safe just because you're using Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace?
Think again. These platforms offer basic retention, but they do not provide true backups or disaster recovery. Most budget MSPs overlook third-party tools, cloud-based apps, and CRMs entirely, leaving huge chunks of your data unprotected.
Worse, many don't use immutable backups, which are now required by several cyber insurance providers.
Ask your current provider: What exactly are you backing up and what are you not?
3. Surprise Fees for On-Site Help or After-Hours Support
It's a classic bait-and-switch: advertise a low monthly rate, then pile on fees for anything outside of the "standard" support window, like emergencies, evening requests, or onsite visits.
This discourages your team from calling for help, which only leads to more downtime, lost productivity, and avoidable costs.
At Dragonfly MSP, we believe in flat, transparent pricing. You should never have to second-guess whether it's worth it to ask for help.
4. "That's Not Our Problem" Support Policies
Struggling with your internet provider, security cameras, or office phones?
Some MSPs will tell you they "don't support third-party hardware" or "can't help with vendor issues." Others charge an hourly fee just to talk to your ISP.
We don't believe in passing the buck. If it touches your network, we help you fix it, including coordinating with other vendors. That's what full-service IT should look like.
5. Inexperienced Staff and No Strategic Oversight
One of the biggest risks with cheap IT support? Lack of experience.
Many budget providers are "one-person shows" or rely on freelancers with limited skills. There's no dedicated account manager, no ongoing technology planning, and no long-term strategy.
You deserve more than just a help desk.
You need:
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A partner who understands your business goals
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Proactive risk assessments and compliance reviews
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Clear budgeting guidance and upgrade planning
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A true advisor, not just someone who resets passwords
Bottom Line: If It Seems Too Good To Be True… It Usually Is
Most small businesses don't realize they're underprotected until something goes wrong, like a data breach, compliance audit failure, or critical system outage.
By then, it's too late to fix it.
The real cost of "cheap IT" isn't the monthly invoice; it's the downtime, the data loss, the stress, and the mess you're left to clean up.
Want To Know If You're Getting What You're Paying For?
We offer a FREE IT and Cybersecurity Review to help you evaluate your current setup no strings attached. We'll tell you what's covered, what isn't, and what it would take to protect your business the right way.
📞 Call us at +1 888-498-2019 or
📅 Click here to schedule your FREE consultation
Let's make sure your IT investment is actually protecting your business.