The IT Risks You’re Probably Overlooking in Your 2025 Operations
When you think about IT risks, what comes to mind?
- Hackers
- Data breaches
- Ransomware
Those are real threats—but they’re not the only ones you should be worried about in 2025.
The truth is, many small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs), nonprofits, and even schools are blindsided not by what they know is risky—but by what they never even thought about.
At Pacific IT Support, we help organizations uncover these blind spots before they turn into expensive downtime, compliance headaches, or reputation damage. Here are the overlooked IT risks you might not be thinking about—and how to get ahead of them.
- Risk #1: Unsecured “Smart” Devices
Printers. Smart TVs. VoIP phones. Even that connected coffee machine.
Every internet-connected device is a potential entry point for attackers. In fact, research shows that IoT attacks rose by 400% in just two years, Yet most businesses don’t include these devices in their security strategy.
Solution:
- Conduct regular device audits
- Update firmware on all connected equipment
- Include printers and VoIP systems in your endpoint protection policies
Read also: Your Office Printer Might Be a Security Risk—Here’s Why (and How to Fix It)
- Risk #2: Shadow IT
Employees often download “helpful” apps or use personal devices for work without IT approval. While convenient, this “shadow IT” introduces security and compliance gaps. According to Gartner, by 2027, 75% of employees will acquire, modify, or create technology outside of IT’s visibility (gartner.com).
Solution:
- Provide staff with approved, secure tools
- Implement mobile device management (MDM)
- Run employee awareness campaigns about the risks of unapproved apps
- Risk #3: Outdated Software & Hardware
Running old systems may feel like a cost-saving move—but it could cost you more in downtime and security risks. Microsoft warns that end-of-life software is a prime target for attackers.
Solution:
- Create a hardware & software lifecycle plan
- Budget for predictable refresh cycles
- Leverage MSP support to stretch budgets with refurbished or cloud-based alternatives
- Risk #4: Compliance Gaps You Don’t Notice Until an Audit
Nonprofits, schools, and healthcare providers are especially vulnerable here. Many think they’re compliant with HIPAA, FERPA, or GDPR—until they face an audit and realize data isn’t properly protected. HIPAA fines alone reached $15 million in 2023 (hhs.gov).
Solution:
- Conduct annual IT compliance audits
- Train staff on handling sensitive data
- Work with an MSP that specializes in your sector’s compliance needs
Read also: Guide: Ensuring Compliance for Your Business
- Risk #5: Backup Without a Recovery Plan
We’ve said it before: backups ≠ recovery. Too many organizations only realize this when disaster strikes.
Industry reports show the average cost of downtime for SMBs is $8,000–$25,000 per hour (datto.com). Without a recovery plan, your backups may still leave you offline for days.
Solution:
- Implement Business Continuity & Disaster Recovery (BCDR)
- Test your recovery plan quarterly
- Keep both cloud and offline backups
Read also: Why Your Backup Isn’t Enough Without a Recovery Plan
- Risk #6: Underestimating Human Error
Technology can fail, but people are often the weakest link. Verizon’s 2025 Data Breach Investigations Report found that 74% of breaches involve human factors—like errors, privilege misuse, or social engineering.
Solution:
- Run regular security awareness training
- Simulate phishing and social engineering attacks
- Foster a “security-first” culture
Read also: Ransomware 3.0: What YOU Need to Know in 2025
How Pacific IT Support Helps Eliminate Blind Spots
At Pacific IT Support, we:
- Audit IT environments to expose hidden vulnerabilities
- Build proactive lifecycle and compliance strategies
- Train teams to be your human firewall
- Design backup + recovery plans that actually work
- Provide 24/7 monitoring for IoT, shadow IT, and overlooked devices
It’s not just the obvious cyber threats you need to prepare for—it’s the overlooked risks that quietly build up until they cost you big.
Don’t wait for a data breach, audit fine, or costly downtime to reveal your blind spots.
📩 Book your IT Risk Audit today and let’s make sure nothing slips through the cracks in 2025.