If you’re only talking to your IT provider when 
you renew your contract, you’re doing it wrong.
Technology isn’t a “set it and forget it” part of 
your business. It’s constantly evolving and so 
are the threats that come with it. That’s why 
quarterly IT check-ins are non-negotiable if you 
want your business to stay protected, productive 
and competitive.
But here’s the thing: Most business owners don’t 
know what to ask.
These are the questions your IT provider should 
be ready to answer every single quarter without 
tech-speak or vague promises.
Question 1: What security 
problems do we need to 
address? 
Every business has vulnerabilities. The important 
question is whether your IT provider is actively 
identifying and addressing them before they 
become costly.
Ask them:
•	
Are there systems that need security patches?
•	
Have there been any unusual login attempts 
or suspicious activity?
•	
Are there users, devices or processes creating 
unnecessary risk?
You want specifics, not a generic “you’re 
protected” response. A good IT provider should 
be able to explain where your biggest risks are 
today and what’s being done about them.
Question 2: Have you tested 
our backups recently? 
A backup is valuable only if it works when 
you need it. That sounds obvious, but many 
businesses assume they’re protected simply 
because backups exist. Then a server fails, 
ransomware hits, or someone accidentally deletes 
critical data, and suddenly nobody’s sure how 
quickly systems can be restored.
Ask:
•	
When was the last full recovery test?
•	
How long would restoration 
realistically take?
•	
Are backups stored securely and separately 
from our primary systems?
•	
Are cloud applications included in 
backup coverage?
You don’t want guesses during an outage. 
You want a process that’s already been tested 
under pressure.
Continued on Page 2 ...
SMART COMPANIES 
ASK THEIR IT PROVIDER 
EVERY QUARTER
6 QUESTIONS 
AUGUST 2026
In December 2020, Walmart became the 
first major partner of what technology 
company to host a “shoppable livestream”?
A.	
Snapchat
B.	
TikTok
C.	
Instagram
D.	 YouTube
Answer on Page 2
OUR MISSION:
Technology That Works!    •    844-KLOUD9IT (556-8394)    •    1
This monthly 
publication provided 
courtesy of Trent 
Milliron, CEO of 
Kloud9 IT.
"Do It Right The 
First Time"
844-KLOUD9IT (556-8394)

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