Your options
Your options for IT and security, in plain English.
There is no single “right” way to handle IT and cybersecurity. Most small businesses end up choosing between doing it themselves, hiring a fully managed provider, buying tools directly, or using a focused service like ShawTech PGH to keep an eye on everything. This page walks through those options so you can decide what actually fits your business.
This isn't meant to talk badly about anyone. Managed service providers, security platforms, and tools all have a place. The goal is simply to explain where ShawTech PGH sits in the mix and when it does or doesn't make sense.
Option 1: Do it yourself
A lot of small businesses end up here by default. Maybe there is someone on staff who is “good with computers”, or the owner searches for answers online and installs a few tools. Some updates get done, some do not, and the main measure of success is whether things seem to work on a normal day.
What works well
- Lowest direct cash cost if you already have someone on payroll.
- Decisions are close to the business and its day-to-day reality.
- No contracts or onboarding fees.
Where it struggles
- Hard to keep up with patches, vulnerabilities, and configuration risks.
- No central place to see the health of all systems at once.
- People get busy and “we'll fix that later” can stretch into months.
Option 2: Fully managed IT (MSP)
Managed service providers bundle tools, monitoring, and human expertise into a single contract. They usually handle helpdesk, patching, antivirus, and often projects as well. For some organizations this is exactly the right move, especially if they have more staff and complex systems.
Typical setup: a monthly fee per user or per device, plus onboarding and project charges when something big needs to change.
What works well
- One place to call for day-to-day issues and outages.
- Staff have a helpdesk instead of troubleshooting everything themselves.
- Projects like migrations or new systems can be scoped and handed off.
Where it struggles
- Cost can be a big jump for very small teams.
- Reports are often written for IT people, not owners or managers.
- You are one of many customers, so focus naturally has to be shared.
Option 3: Buy monitoring and security tools directly
Another path is to buy the same kinds of tools that IT providers use. Remote monitoring platforms, endpoint security, and cloud security bundles can all be purchased directly, especially by businesses that have someone technical on staff.
Typical setup: a low monthly cost per system or per user, plus someone's time to watch dashboards, tune alerts, and decide what to fix.
What works well
- Strong technical visibility for whoever manages IT.
- More control over which tools you use and how they are configured.
- Good fit if you already have an in-house IT person who wants those controls.
Where it struggles
- Most tools are designed for technicians, not for owners.
- Someone still has to read the data, connect the dots, and explain it.
- It is easy to end up paying for tools that no one really has time to use.
Option 4: ShawTech PGH as your Proactive Grid Hub
ShawTech PGH is built to sit in the middle of all of this. It does not try to replace every IT function or every tool. Instead, it focuses on giving small businesses a clear, honest view of the health and risk across their grid of systems.
The service pulls in the most important information about device health, patching, and high-risk vulnerabilities, then turns that into plain-English daily, weekly, and monthly reports that anyone on the leadership team can understand.
Where ShawTech PGH fits best
- Small and smaller-medium businesses that can't justify a full MSP contract.
- Owners who want clear answers in plain English instead of long technical reports.
- Teams that want to stay in the loop even if someone else helps with hands-on fixes.
How it plays with others
- Works alongside a local IT provider or MSP as a shared source of truth.
- Makes your existing IT support more effective by giving them better data.
- Can be a stepping stone before investing in a larger MSP or security stack.
Quick comparison
DIY only
Lowest direct cost, highest risk of missed issues and “we had no idea that was happening” moments.
Full MSP
Strong coverage and support, but at a higher monthly cost and with reporting that is often written for IT teams.
Tools only
Great for technical staff, but usually not enough on their own for owners who just need a clear story.
ShawTech PGH
Focused on visibility and understanding. A Proactive Grid Hub that shows you what is healthy, what is not, and what to talk about with whoever helps you fix it.
Which option is right for you?
If your business is small, your budget is tight, and you are tired of guessing about risk, ShawTech PGH is likely a good starting point. It gives you real visibility without locking you into a huge contract.
If you already have a trusted IT provider or MSP, ShawTech PGH can act as a shared dashboard and reporting layer that keeps everyone on the same page. If you ever grow into a size where a full MSP stack makes sense, you will go into that decision with much better data.
And if you look at all of this and decide that a fully managed provider is the best fit, that is okay too. The important part is that you make that decision with clear, honest information instead of guesswork.