When you’re leading a growing business, IT rarely tops your to-do list. Growth, culture, and cash flow demand attention first. But here’s the truth: technology underpins them all. The best CEOs know IT isn’t just a cost center, it’s a performance driver that protects your company’s future.
If you want to minimize risk, maximize uptime, and understand your true exposure, start with these seven questions.
1. What’s the Financial Impact of Downtime?
Imagine your $10 million company is offline for a single day. Servers are down, email is silent, and no one can access files. You’re losing productivity, revenue, and customer trust by the hour.
At 50 employees, that could cost over $48,000 per day. That’s money you’ll never recover—and a reputation hit you can’t afford.
The right IT strategy isn’t just about preventing outages; it’s about knowing how long you can afford to be down.
2. How Quickly Could We Recover?
Knowing the cost of downtime means nothing if you don’t know your recovery time. How fast could your business get back online after an outage or cyberattack?
Backup and disaster recovery plans differ widely. Some get you operational in hours, others take days. A trusted IT partner helps you define your Recovery Time Objective (RTO) and Recovery Point Objective (RPO)—and ensures they align with your business tolerance for downtime.
3. Where Is Our Data Stored?
The post-pandemic world changed data management forever. Between remote work, cloud apps, and file-sharing tools, most companies don’t fully know where all their data lives.
Shadow IT—employees using unsanctioned apps—creates blind spots that your IT team can’t protect or back up. Visibility is the first step toward control.
4. Do We Have Protection Against the Most Common Cybersecurity Threats?
Ransomware. Business Email Compromise (BEC). Network intrusion.
These are the attacks that cripple small and mid-sized businesses every week in Central Texas. A layered cybersecurity strategy—endpoint protection, MFA, email security, and continuous monitoring—keeps your company out of the headlines.
5. Where Do We Have Technical Debt?
Outdated systems and legacy software add risk with every passing quarter. The longer you delay modernization, the more expensive and complex it becomes.
Think of technical debt like interest on a loan—it compounds until you’re paying for it in lost efficiency and emergency repairs.
6. How Does Our Staff Feel About IT?
A healthy IT culture fuels productivity. If employees feel ignored or unsupported, frustration grows—and small tech issues become costly bottlenecks.
Ask your frontline teams about their IT experience. Their perspective will tell you more about your operational health than any report.
7. Do We Have Adequate Cybersecurity Insurance?
Even with the best protections, risk remains. Cyber insurance fills the gap, but only if it’s the right kind. Many policies exclude human error, pre-existing vulnerabilities, or insider attacks.
Ask your broker to walk through real-world scenarios: Would you be covered for a ransomware payout? For an employee clicking a phishing link? The answers might surprise you.
The Bottom Line
Asking these questions isn’t about micromanaging IT—it’s about protecting your company’s continuity, reputation, and profitability.
At CTTS, we help Central Texas CEOs gain clarity on their IT posture and develop a plan to reduce risk, recover faster, and empower their teams with reliable technology.
Your business deserves more than “good enough” IT. It deserves a roadmap for growth and resilience.
Schedule a free IT strategy session with CTTS today and get answers before the next outage finds you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: How often should I review IT risk with my team?
At least annually—or quarterly if your business is scaling quickly or managing sensitive data.
Q2: What’s the biggest IT risk most CEOs underestimate?
Downtime costs. Many leaders underestimate how quickly lost productivity compounds into real financial loss.
Q3: How can CTTS help my company prepare?
We assess your current systems, uncover hidden vulnerabilities, and create a clear roadmap for protection, recovery, and growth.
Contact CTTS today for IT support and managed services in Austin, TX. Let us handle your IT so you can focus on growing your business. Visit CTTSonline.com or call us at (512) 388-5559 to get started!