Are you married to the old ways of managing your technology, even though newer, smarter solutions could save your business time, money, and frustration?
In a recent TNtv segment, Mike Heil, Partner at ThrottleNet, broke down why so many business owners keep “digging IT holes” — throwing more money and effort at outdated systems that can’t keep up with modern demands.
According to Heil, there are four major reasons companies fall into this trap — and four ways modern IT solutions for businesses can dig them back out.
1. The Fear of Change
Change is uncomfortable — especially when your last technology project didn’t go as planned. Many leaders still carry scars from failed implementations or costly upgrades. So, instead of trying again, they stick with what they know… even if what they know is holding them back.
The problem? Outdated systems don’t just slow things down — they become a barrier to growth. Software and hardware that were “good enough” five years ago can now create compatibility issues, inefficiencies, and serious cybersecurity risks.
“A better, proven technology solution can eliminate the process of constantly applying duct tape to a bad situation,” Heil says.
Modern IT solutions—like cloud hosting, managed services, and automation tools—are designed to reduce downtime, improve performance, and simplify your workload. The upfront change might feel uncomfortable, but the long-term payoff is speed, scalability, and reliability.
2. The On-Site Email Server Problem
Heil calls this one out directly: too many businesses are still maintaining on-premise email servers.
Once upon a time, hosting your own Exchange server was the best option for performance and control. Today, it’s a money pit. These servers are slow, expensive to maintain, and often outdated, dragging down your entire network.
Modern, cloud-based solutions like Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace offer faster speeds, better uptime, and built-in compliance for HIPAA, SEC, and Sarbanes-Oxley standards.
At ThrottleNet, our cloud migration specialists help St. Louis businesses transition from legacy servers to cloud environments seamlessly. No downtime. No surprises. Just faster, safer, always-available communication tools that scale with your company.
Why it matters:
Switching to the cloud doesn’t just improve performance — it cuts costs, eliminates server maintenance, and ensures your team can work securely from anywhere.
3. Poor Backup and Disaster Recovery
Many companies assume they’re covered because they have “a backup system.” But Heil warns that not all backups are created equal.
Traditional backups often lack cloud retention or real disaster recovery capabilities. That means when disaster strikes — from ransomware to hardware failure — you may not actually be able to restore your systems quickly (or at all).
“If you don’t know how long it would take to get back up after an outage,” Heil says, “you don’t have a backup plan. You have a risk.”
Modern IT solutions for businesses include automated, redundant, cloud-based backups with real-time verification. That means your data is recoverable in minutes, not days.
At ThrottleNet, our clients benefit from 24/7 monitored backups and disaster recovery testing. If something goes wrong, we can spin up your environment in the cloud and have your team operational within hours.
That’s the difference between an inconvenience and a crisis.
4. Avoiding Managed Service Providers (MSPs)
This is one of the most common mistakes Heil sees — and one that costs businesses the most in the long run.
Some leaders avoid partnering with an MSP because they’ve been burned before. Maybe a provider overcharged, underperformed, or disappeared when things got tough. So they go back to hiring one in-house IT person or managing things piecemeal.
But as Heil explains, not all MSPs are created equal.
Modern MSPs, like ThrottleNet, are completely transparent. We use open-book management, detailed reporting, and clear service agreements — so you always know what’s being done, when, and why.
ThrottleNet’s model gives you:
- A full IT department’s expertise for less than one in-house salary.
- A 2-minute average response time and 93% same-day resolution rate.
- 24/7 proactive monitoring to prevent downtime before it starts.
- A dedicated vCIO strategist who helps align your technology with your business goals.
So instead of patching old problems, you’re investing in technology that works for you.
The ROI of Modern IT Solutions
The truth is simple: old systems cost more than new ones.
Every hour of downtime, every slow login, every frustrated employee trying to access files is money lost.
Modern IT solutions — like managed services, cloud infrastructure, AI automation, and layered cybersecurity — aren’t just about technology. They’re about efficiency, resilience, and scalability.
That’s why more companies in St. Louis and Kansas City are modernizing their networks, moving to the cloud, and partnering with proactive MSPs like ThrottleNet. They’ve stopped digging IT holes — and started building future-ready foundations.
Why ThrottleNet?
At ThrottleNet, we help businesses:
- Eliminate downtime with proactive monitoring and next-gen threat protection
- Improve productivity through cloud migration and strategic planning
- Simplify IT management with vCIO consulting and vendor coordination
- Gain peace of mind with our $500,000 Cybersecurity Protection Guarantee
Whether you need co-managed IT support or fully managed services, our team has one mission: to turn your technology frustration into business growth.
About the Video
This article is based on a TNtv segment featuring Mike Heil, Partner at ThrottleNet, where he explains how businesses unintentionally “dig IT holes” by clinging to outdated systems and old habits.
Heil highlights four common mistakes — fear of change, outdated email servers, weak backups, and avoiding MSPs — and shows how modern IT solutions for businesses can help companies save time, money, and stress.
Watch the full TNtv episode to learn how to stop patching old problems and start building a modern, secure, and efficient IT foundation.
