You wouldn’t let your cousin do your root canal. So why let them set up your firewall?
It starts innocently enough. Your niece just graduated with a degree in graphic design and “knows computers.” Your brother-in-law once built a gaming PC, so now he’s your de facto CTO. You’re bootstrapping, and Google makes everything look easy.
But if you’re a small business owner relying on a tech-savvy friend or going the do-it-yourself route to save money, here’s a not-so-gentle PSA: DIY IT is a trap.
We’re not saying this just because we’re an IT company (okay, also because we’re an IT company). We’re saying it because we’ve seen firsthand how things can go sideways—fast.
Real Talk: DIY IT Horror Stories
1. The Case of the Crypto-Miner Cafe
A charming coffee shop owner in New Jersey called us after her “friend from college” set up the Wi-Fi and point-of-sale system. Everything worked great until customers started complaining that their phones were overheating when connected to the shop’s free Wi-Fi.
Turns out, her “tech guy” had unknowingly installed software that hijacked connected devices to mine cryptocurrency. While customers sipped lattes, their phones were secretly churning out Dogecoin.
Lesson: If it sounds like a side hustle inside your network, it probably is. Professional-grade cybersecurity isn’t optional.
2. The Email That Broke Christmas
One boutique retailer had their nephew “set up the email stuff.” He connected their domain to a free email provider, didn’t bother with SPF/DKIM records, and used the main admin account to sign up for… let’s say… questionable newsletters.
By December, their holiday campaigns were going straight to spam folders—or being rejected entirely. A missed opportunity that cost them an estimated $30,000 in seasonal revenue.
Lesson: Deliverability isn’t just about catchy subject lines. Your tech stack needs structure, not shortcuts.
3. Death by Excel Spreadsheet
A growing architecture firm decided to manage all their client records and project workflows through an elaborate, multi-tabbed Excel spreadsheet built by their office manager’s boyfriend—because he was “really good with formulas.”
One accidental ‘Sort A-Z’ later, client data was scrambled beyond recovery. The backup? Nonexistent. The fallout? Ugly.
Lesson: There’s a reason CRMs exist. And no, Excel is not one of them.
Why This Keeps Happening
Here’s the trap: technology has become more accessible, not necessarily easier. Cloud apps, plugins, and website builders have made it look like you can cobble together a secure, scalable IT system on your own.
But if you’re running a real business with customer data, payment systems, and digital communication tools, “cobbling” is just a fancy word for “gambling.”
And let’s not forget: Uncle Bob might be able to reset your Wi-Fi router, but is he updating your firmware, setting up endpoint protection, and backing up your data across redundant systems? Probably not.
So, What Should You Do Instead?
Hire someone who lives and breathes this stuff. And no, that doesn’t mean mortgaging your office espresso machine.
At NetConnect, we help small businesses get enterprise-level IT support without enterprise-level pricing. From network security and cloud backups to setting up your email and helping you avoid crypto-miners in your latte foam—we’ve got you covered.
💬 Need advice that won’t break the bank?
Book a no-pressure consult with NetConnect here.
We promise—no jargon, no judgment, and absolutely no friends-of-friends setting up your infrastructure.
