Built From the Ground Up: How a Father and Son Reimagined IT with Security at the Core

Your IT Company is Probably Making You Less Secure

(Here’s How We Fixed That Problem)

When my father and I launched Secure Smart Office, we had one question we couldn’t shake:

  • Why do so many business owners think they’re protected… when they’re actually sitting ducks?

We’d spent decades watching it happen. Small and mid-sized businesses cutting checks to “managed IT providers” who treated cybersecurity like an oil change upsell — something you get around to eventually, not the foundation everything else depends on.

At first, we thought we could fix that by partnering with IT firms and layering in real security expertise while they handled the day-to-day.

Sounded like a clean solution.

It wasn’t.

The Problem We Couldn't Ignore

Those partnerships revealed a deeper issue: most IT companies are still operating like it's 2005.

  • Reactive support

  • Break-fix contracts

  • Security slapped on after a breach — not designed in from the start

That’s when it hit us: you can’t secure a broken system.

So we did what most people thought was crazy — we acquired an IT company, rolled up our sleeves, and rebuilt the model from scratch. As a family.

We call it Secured-IT.

The Big Idea: Security Isn't a Product — It's a Philosophy

Most IT companies still treat cybersecurity like a checkbox — a feature you might tack on. That’s the problem.

Security isn’t something you add. It’s how you build.

Would you live in a house where locks were added after construction? Or one designed from the start with strategic lighting, hidden sightlines, and reinforced entry points?

That’s the difference.

That’s Secured-IT.

We don’t bolt on security after the fact. We embed it into every part of your infrastructure — from endpoints and cloud environments to backup systems and user access.

The Result?

  • Faster systems

  • Higher uptime

  • Fewer vulnerabilities

Takeaway: Stop treating IT and security as separate budgets. Businesses that win have already figured out that integrating the two saves money and reduces risk.

What Makes Us Different (and Why It Matters)

No fluff. Here’s how Secured-IT works — and what it means for your business:

Proactive, Not Reactive

We don’t wait for problems. We prevent them.

That Friday panic when email dies? It doesn’t happen here.

Security-First by Design

Everything gets vetted through a security lens before deployment.

No patching holes after the fact. No scrambling when a new exploit hits.

Clear, Honest Communication

We speak in plain English. No jargon. No hiding behind buzzwords.

If we can’t explain it clearly, we don’t deserve your trust.

Actual Partnership

No “set it and forget it.” No auto-renew contracts where you never hear from us.

We grow with you — and make sure you understand how your systems work.

Why Being Family-Owned Changes Everything

We’re not just another IT shop. We’re a father-son company.

That means:

  • We answer the phone.

  • We make the decisions.

  • And we’re on the hook when something goes wrong.

There’s no corporate ladder. No shareholders to please. Just a name — our name — on every piece of work we deliver.

That’s accountability. That’s pride of ownership. That’s legacy.

In real terms, it means:

  • Faster decisions: No red tape

  • Real flexibility: Custom solutions, not cookie-cutter packages

  • Skin in the game: We built this like you built your business — from nothing

Long-term thinking: We're not chasing quarterly metrics. We’re building something that lasts.

This isn’t about being a feel-good family story. It’s about how we operate — and why that leads to better outcomes for our clients.

Your 30-60 Day Action Plan: DIY Security Audit

Not sure if your current IT setup is actually protecting you? Run this internal check:

Week 1–2: Visibility

  • List all devices connected to your network (including personal devices)

  • Identify who has admin-level access to critical systems

  • Check for software that hasn’t been updated in 60+ days

Week 3–4: Test Your Defenses

  • Run a phishing simulation for your team

  • Perform a full backup restore test

  • Review who has access to customer or financial data

By Day 60:

You’ll know exactly where you’re vulnerable — and whether your current IT provider is doing enough. Even if you don’t work with us, you’ll be making smarter decisions.

One Thing You Can Do Right Now

Before you close this page, do this one thing:

Turn on Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) on your 3 most critical business accounts:

  • Email

  • Banking

  • CRM or cloud storage

It takes less than 10 minutes and blocks 99.9% of automated attacks.

How to do it:

  1. Open account security settings

  2. Enable "Two-Factor" or "Multi-Factor Authentication"

  3. Use an authenticator app (avoid SMS where possible)

  4. Follow the prompts

Done. You just hardened your digital perimeter — with zero budget.

Who We’re Built For

We serve growing companies that are:

  • 30 to 300 employees

  • Past the “DIY IT” phase

  • Frustrated with slow response times, unclear bills, and recurring outages

  • Concerned about compliance and risk

  • Looking for a real partner, not a faceless vendor

If you’re nodding your head, let’s talk.

Three Ways to Work With Us

We believe in options. Pick the path that fits your business today:

Try It Yourself

Request our free security checklists and guides.

Use them even if we never talk — because better security helps everyone.

reach@ssowow.com

Ask for Help

Book a free 30-minute strategy session.

We’ll assess your current environment and give you straight answers — no pressure, no sales script.

[Schedule a Call →]

Hire the Experts

Ready to outsource IT with security built in from day one?

Let’s build a Secured-IT solution that scales with your business.

[Start the Conversation →]

Final Thought

My father and I didn’t start Secure Smart Office to become another IT company.

We started it because we were tired of watching good businesses get burned by providers who overpromise, underdeliver, and treat cybersecurity like a checkbox.

We saw what wasn’t working — and we built the opposite.

If you’re ready to stop patching around problems and start building a secure, stable IT foundation for growth — we’re ready when you are.

Your systems should work for you. They should be secure by design — not by accident.

That’s what we deliver. And that’s why we put our family name on it.

P.S.

Not ready to talk? That’s fine.

Start with the MFA step we shared above. When you’re ready to do more — we’ll be here.

Previous
Previous

Your IT Is Designed to Deliver the Results You’re Getting. Don’t Like Them? Change the System.

Next
Next

Had a Tough 2025? Here's Why Now is the Time to Reset and Rebuild for 2026