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7 Risk-Focused Questions to Ask Your IT Provider Every Quarter
If you only hear from your IT provider when the invoice is due, or something breaks... we need to talk.
At qnectU, we’ve seen it all. Business owners buried in day-to-day chaos, relying on outdated tech, or worse—unaware of critical vulnerabilities, putting their entire operation at risk. Technology isn’t a one-and-done setup. It’s a living system that can either drive your growth or quietly sabotage your success.
That’s why Technology & Business Reviews aren’t a “nice to have," they’re your frontline defense against cyberattacks, employee downtime, and falling behind the competition.
Here are the 7 questions smart business owners (the ones who want fewer surprises and more control) should be asking their IT provider every quarter.
1. What vulnerabilities are putting us at risk right now?
This isn’t about being paranoid. It’s about staying in control.
Are your antivirus and endpoint protections actually active and up to date?
Have any critical patches or updates been missed?
Has there been any suspicious activity that nearly turned into a breach?
Waiting until "something happens" is not a strategy. It’s a liability.
2. Can you prove our backups actually work?
Backups are the business equivalent of insurance. But here’s the catch: most business owners have never seen a test restore.
When was the last full test of our backup system?
Is it off-site, cloud-based, or hybrid? Do you even know?
Are you backing up what matters most—AND is it encrypted?
The number of companies that think they’re backed up but aren’t would terrify you.
3. Are our employees unknowingly creating risk?
One click is all it takes. You don’t rise to the level of your security tools—you fall to the level of your weakest user.
Are employees reusing passwords or skipping MFA?
Have there been signs of phishing attempts being clicked?
Is ongoing security awareness training happening, or was it a one-and-done?
Business & Technology Reviews should highlight human risk—not hide it.
4. What’s slowing down our systems—and our people?
IT isn’t just about protection. It’s about performance.
Are outdated machines creating a drag on productivity?
Is your network architecture built for today’s workload—or yesterday’s (or worse, are you stuck in the year 2003 using macros to run your business)?
Where are you wasting time or money because of laggy tools?
Fast tech = focused teams = real results.
5. Are we still compliant—and how do we prove it?
Whether it’s HIPAA, PCI-DSS, or cyber insurance questionnaires, you need answers that hold up under scrutiny.
Have any requirements changed this quarter?
Are policies updated and documented?
Would we pass an audit today without scrambling?
If our customers asked for proof of compliance, can we provide it quickly?
More an more we are seeing companies scramble for help to PROVE they are compliant, not to the government, but to their own customers and vendors! Can you afford to lose your largest customer if you can't provide proof of compliance when they ask for it?
Don’t wait for a fine, lost revenue, or a denied insurance claim to find out you were out of compliance.
6. What tech costs are around the corner?
Surprises kill budgets. Predictable IT spending makes you look like a rockstar to your CFO.
Are licenses about to expire?
Are any devices nearing end-of-life?
Are we planning ahead for infrastructure, software, or security upgrades?
Proactive planning beats reactive repairs every time (and costs a LOT less in the long run).
7. What’s coming that we’re not prepared for?
Cybercriminals evolve faster than most IT firms can keep up.
Are there new threats that could exploit our current setup?
Are we still using any legacy tools that create risk?
What’s the competition doing that we’re not?
You don’t want to be the business that almost avoided a breach...or worse, the one that covered it up because you didn't think anyone would find out!
If your IT provider can’t answer these—or isn’t even initiating these conversations—you’ve outgrown them.
At qnectU, we help business owners stop playing defense and start leading with confidence. Our strategic reviews are built around risk, performance, and business growth—not geek speak and vague promises.
Want to know where your business stands? We’ll show you exactly where you’re exposed, how to fix it, and how to build a plan that protects your business and your future.
Technology should empower your business, not hold it hostage.
👉 Click here to schedule a quick 26-minute call and take back control of your tech.
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Answers To Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you offer access to senior IT consultants or a vCSO for oversight and guidance?
Yes, we offer access to senior IT consultants and provide vCSO(Virtual Chief Security Officer) as a service for our clients. Our vCSO service provides your organization with expert leadership and strategic direction tailored to your unique cybersecurity and legal compliance needs. We are here to help you navigate the complexities of cybersecurity and ensure that your security posture is robust, compliant, and capable of addressing evolving cyber threats. Book a call today to get expert help with your company’s cybersecurity and compliance.
Do you have a high level of confidence in your security posture? If so, can you explain why?
We have a high level of confidence in the security posture of our company and our clients. Our security stack includes several components to ensure strong and resilient cybersecurity measures. We provide comprehensive risk management, regular audits and assessments, advanced security technologies, employee training and awareness, and incident response planning. Our systems and solutions follow established industry standards and best practices to keep your company safe and your data secure. Since every company has different risks depending on the data, systems, utilization, and more, we can work with your team to develop a robust security plan and implement the proper measures as needed. Reach out today to strengthen your company’s security posture!
Do you have a Disaster Recovery (DR) plan? If so, what’s in place? Is it tested regularly?
We provide robust Disaster Recovery (DR) plans, covering preventative, detective, and corrective measures. Our DR strategies are tailored to each client’s specific needs and are designed to ensure rapid recovery and continuity of operations in the event of any disaster. These plans are regularly reviewed and tested to guarantee they function effectively and meet the highest standards of resilience and reliability. And if a disaster were to occur outside of regular business hours, we have you covered! At qnectU, we have a response time of mere minutes for emergency after-hours calls, ensuring a rapid response to implement your Disaster Recovery plan. Book a call today to protect your company in the event of a disaster.
Do you perform regular risk assessments?
Here at qnectU, we conduct regular risk assessments as a core part of our risk management strategy. Our process is comprehensive, involving identification, categorization, and response planning for potential security risks, including technical vulnerabilities, access controls, and more. These assessments help us understand, control, and mitigate all forms of cyber risk, ensuring that our security measures are effective and up-to-date. But most importantly, we provide continual risk assessments at pre-determined intervals based on your company’s risk level. This ensures that issues are corrected, new risks are identified, and compliance is properly documented. Want to see how our in-depth business risk assessments work? Book a consultation today to get an in-depth risk assessment of your company’s current network security.
Do you follow proven change management principles?
We are committed to following proven change management principles. We understand the importance of structured and systematic processes in implementing changes that affect cybersecurity protocols and IT environments. Our approach is based on industry-recognized frameworks and methodologies that ensure changes are managed effectively, focusing on minimizing risks, enhancing security posture, and achieving strategic objectives.
Do you address all my compliance needs, including HIPAA?
We specialize in Compliance as a Service (CaaS), and our program is designed to meet a wide range of regulatory requirements to ensure that your business adheres to the highest standards of compliance. We demonstrate our compliance through detailed assessments, documentation, and third-party audits. Our expertise and ongoing support can give you confidence that your company’s sensitive information is managed securely and in full compliance with all regulations.
Is third-party auditing provided to ensure cybersecurity and compliance requirements are being met?
In today’s world a business can easily be compromised via a “supply chain hack.” There have been several instances where the IT company has exposed all of their clients to hacking due to their own lack of cybersecurity measures. In order to prevent this within our own company, we work closely with a third party for comprehensive auditing services to ensure that all cybersecurity and compliance requirements are met. Our rigorous audit process involves a thorough examination of our systems and practices against established industry standards and best practices. This collaboration provides an objective perspective and deep expertise to identify any potential vulnerabilities, ensuring that our cybersecurity measures are robust, up-to-date, and in full compliance with regulatory demands.
What is Compliance as a Service (Caas)?
Compliance as a Service (Caas) means that our experts will give you specialized help in handling all the rules and regulations your business needs to follow. We do this by providing expert guidance to help you determine what rules apply to your business and how to follow them. All while giving ongoing support to monitor your compliance status and updates in regulations. This may also include any advanced tools to help manage compliance tasks and risk management surrounding compliance. CaaS takes the hassle out of compliance so you can focus on running your business with confidence.
Who is Greg Mauer?
Gregory Mauer is the founder and CEO of our company, a best-selling author, speaker, and a cybersecurity & compliance expert. He has been on stage with the likes of the “Nice Shark”, Robert Herjavec, Siri co-founder Adam Cheyer, and business coach and author Mike Michalowicz.
Answers To Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you offer access to senior IT consultants or a vCSO for oversight and guidance?
Yes, we offer access to senior IT consultants and provide vCSO(Virtual Chief Security Officer) as a service for our clients. Our vCSO service provides your organization with expert leadership and strategic direction tailored to your unique cybersecurity and legal compliance needs. We are here to help you navigate the complexities of cybersecurity and ensure that your security posture is robust, compliant, and capable of addressing evolving cyber threats. Book a call today to get expert help with your company’s cybersecurity and compliance.
Do you have a high level of confidence in your security posture? If so, can you explain why?
We have a high level of confidence in the security posture of our company and our clients. Our security stack includes several components to ensure strong and resilient cybersecurity measures. We provide comprehensive risk management, regular audits and assessments, advanced security technologies, employee training and awareness, and incident response planning. Our systems and solutions follow established industry standards and best practices to keep your company safe and your data secure. Since every company has different risks depending on the data, systems, utilization, and more, we can work with your team to develop a robust security plan and implement the proper measures as needed. Reach out today to strengthen your company’s security posture!
Do you have a Disaster Recovery (DR) plan? If so, what’s in place? Is it tested regularly?
We provide robust Disaster Recovery (DR) plans, covering preventative, detective, and corrective measures. Our DR strategies are tailored to each client’s specific needs and are designed to ensure rapid recovery and continuity of operations in the event of any disaster. These plans are regularly reviewed and tested to guarantee they function effectively and meet the highest standards of resilience and reliability. And if a disaster were to occur outside of regular business hours, we have you covered! At qnectU, we have a response time of mere minutes for emergency after-hours calls, ensuring a rapid response to implement your Disaster Recovery plan. Book a call today to protect your company in the event of a disaster.
Do you perform regular risk assessments?
Here at qnectU, we conduct regular risk assessments as a core part of our risk management strategy. Our process is comprehensive, involving identification, categorization, and response planning for potential security risks, including technical vulnerabilities, access controls, and more. These assessments help us understand, control, and mitigate all forms of cyber risk, ensuring that our security measures are effective and up-to-date. But most importantly, we provide continual risk assessments at pre-determined intervals based on your company’s risk level. This ensures that issues are corrected, new risks are identified, and compliance is properly documented. Want to see how our in-depth business risk assessments work? Book a consultation today to get an in-depth risk assessment of your company’s current network security.
Do you follow proven change management principles?
We are committed to following proven change management principles. We understand the importance of structured and systematic processes in implementing changes that affect cybersecurity protocols and IT environments. Our approach is based on industry-recognized frameworks and methodologies that ensure changes are managed effectively, focusing on minimizing risks, enhancing security posture, and achieving strategic objectives.
Do you address all my compliance needs, including HIPAA?
We specialize in Compliance as a Service (CaaS), and our program is designed to meet a wide range of regulatory requirements to ensure that your business adheres to the highest standards of compliance. We demonstrate our compliance through detailed assessments, documentation, and third-party audits. Our expertise and ongoing support can give you confidence that your company’s sensitive information is managed securely and in full compliance with all regulations.
Is third-party auditing provided to ensure cybersecurity and compliance requirements are being met?
In today’s world a business can easily be compromised via a “supply chain hack.” There have been several instances where the IT company has exposed all of their clients to hacking due to their own lack of cybersecurity measures. In order to prevent this within our own company, we work closely with a third party for comprehensive auditing services to ensure that all cybersecurity and compliance requirements are met. Our rigorous audit process involves a thorough examination of our systems and practices against established industry standards and best practices. This collaboration provides an objective perspective and deep expertise to identify any potential vulnerabilities, ensuring that our cybersecurity measures are robust, up-to-date, and in full compliance with regulatory demands.
What is Compliance as a Service (Caas)?
Compliance as a Service (Caas) means that our experts will give you specialized help in handling all the rules and regulations your business needs to follow. We do this by providing expert guidance to help you determine what rules apply to your business and how to follow them. All while giving ongoing support to monitor your compliance status and updates in regulations. This may also include any advanced tools to help manage compliance tasks and risk management surrounding compliance. CaaS takes the hassle out of compliance so you can focus on running your business with confidence.
Who is Greg Mauer?
Gregory Mauer is the founder and CEO of our company, a best-selling author, speaker, and a cybersecurity & compliance expert. He has been on stage with the likes of the “Nice Shark”, Robert Herjavec, Siri co-founder Adam Cheyer, and business coach and author Mike Michalowicz.
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