You’ve heard it before: You get what you pay for. Nowhere is that more true than in the world of IT support for medical practices in Salt Lake City.
At first glance, a low-cost managed IT services contract might seem like a smart financial move: a lower monthly fee, basic support, maybe even a few security tools bundled in. But when you scratch the surface, these “budget” IT agreements often come with costly blind spots that can leave your practice vulnerable—to audits, breaches, and devastating downtime.
After reviewing dozens of Salt Lake City IT contracts for healthcare practices, we’ve seen the same red flags appear again and again. Here are five common ways bargain IT providers cut corners—and how that can end up costing you far more than you bargained for.
- Weak (Or Nonexistent) HIPAA Security Protections
A basic antivirus solution is not cybersecurity—especially not for a HIPAA-covered entity.
Yet many Salt Lake City IT providers install the bare minimum, slap a “security” label on it, and move on. No multi-factor authentication (MFA). No endpoint detection and response (EDR). No phishing training for staff. No layered backups if ransomware strikes.
This is a ticking time bomb. Without full-stack cybersecurity, your practice could be denied a cyber insurance claim—or worse, fined during a HIPAA audit.
We've seen practices lose tens of thousands because their IT vendor never implemented the safeguards their insurer required. That's not just poor support—it's malpractice.
- Incomplete Backups That Miss Your EMR And Cloud Tools
Think Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace are backing up your data? Think again.
Most of these platforms have only basic recovery tools—not full data backups, and certainly not HIPAA-compliant retention. Low-cost IT companies often skip backing up EMRs, cloud-based practice management tools, and third-party platforms.
Even worse? Many don’t offer immutable backups (a cyber insurance must-have). That means once ransomware hits, your data could be encrypted forever.
Ask your current IT provider: What’s actually being backed up? Your entire environment? Or just a few folders on the server?
- Surprise Fees For On-Site Or Emergency Support
Here's how some "cheap" providers operate: They quote you a rock-bottom monthly rate… then tack on extra charges anytime someone comes onsite, supports you after hours, or responds to an emergency.
The result? You're hesitant to call for help. Your staff puts off reporting issues. And those delays lead to longer outages, frustrated patients, and potential compliance failures.
At Qual IT, we believe support should be predictable, transparent, and stress-free.
- No Help With Your EMR, Internet, Or Diagnostic Equipment
You call with a problem—and they say, "Not our issue."
Whether it's your EMR vendor, your imaging system, or your office Wi-Fi, too many Salt Lake IT providers refuse to help unless it's on their approved list of devices.
That leaves you stuck in vendor limbo—bouncing between tech support calls while your patients wait.
We believe in full-network support. If it's connected to your business, we help manage it. Period.
- No Strategy, No Oversight, No Healthcare Expertise
The biggest red flag? No leadership.
Budget providers often send junior techs with no healthcare experience. There’s no account manager, no long-term planning, no one checking your compliance or forecasting upgrades.
In healthcare IT, that’s unacceptable. What you need is:
- A dedicated advisor who understands HIPAA and healthcare workflows
- Quarterly check-ins to review security, backups, and compliance
- A roadmap for growth—whether that means expanding telehealth or integrating new systems
You deserve more than a ticketing system. You deserve a partner who speaks healthcare fluently.
Bottom Line: If It Looks Too Good To Be True, It Is.
Most medical practices in Salt Lake City don’t realize their IT coverage is lacking—until it’s too late. A breach, an audit, a disaster—and suddenly you’re in crisis mode.
Don’t wait for a wake-up call. Don’t assume your low-cost provider is handling everything. Ask the hard questions. Demand clear answers.
If you want to know where your current setup stands, we’ll review your IT systems for free. No pressure, no tech-speak, just a real conversation about how to protect your practice.
Click here to book your FREE Network Assessment with Qual IT.
