Miss the earlier parts? Learn how Alex battled cyber threats, cleaned up digital clutter, and tackled a Windows 11 upgrade.

From crisis to champion: How Alex transformed his Oregon business with proactive IT (and saved $87,000)

How Oregon SMBs Can Outsmart 2025 Cyber Threats — Part 4 of 4Over the past few weeks, we’ve followed Alex, fictional owner of a Salem-based engineering firm, on his journey from IT fire drills to business resilience. From dodging a $75K phishing attack to cleaning up clutter and navigating a major upgrade, each step laid the groundwork for the final move: shifting from reactive to proactive IT management.

And that move saved him $87,000 in a single year.

The breaking point: When reactive IT becomes too costly

“The moment usually comes when a business has had enough of the chaos,” says David Hodgert, Co-Founder of 10D Tech. “Every unexpected outage, every scramble, every lost file, those costs add up fast.”

Here’s what that looked like for Alex’s company:

  • Downtime: $70,000 annually
  • Security incidents: $15,000 annually
  • Lost productivity: $25,000 annually
  • Emergency IT support: $30,000 annually

Total: $140,000/year in avoidable IT costs

The transformation: Before vs. after proactive IT

When Alex adopted a proactive IT strategy, the difference was dramatic:

Before (reactive IT)

  • Downtime: $70,000
  • Security response costs: $15,000
  • Lost productivity: $25,000
  • Emergency support: $30,000
  • Total annual losses: $140,000

After (proactive IT)

  • Downtime: $5,000
  • Security incidents: $0
  • Productivity gains: +$22,000
  • Predictable IT management cost: $70,000
  • Total annual savings: $87,000

“It’s not just about cutting costs,” says Hodgert. “It’s about building confidence. The business isn’t at the mercy of IT emergencies anymore.”

Alex’s proactive IT game plan (and how it could work for you)

1. 24/7 system monitoring

Alex’s team worked with 10D Tech to implement always-on monitoring powered by AI. Every endpoint, server, and network device now has real-time threat detection and automated alerts.

Result: Problems are caught before they cause downtime.

The three pillars behind Alex’s IT transformation

Prevention over reaction

“Proactive IT stops problems before they start,” Hodgert says. “That alone saved Alex’s team over $65,000 in downtime.”

Strategic IT planning

With strategic IT consulting from 10D Tech, Alex aligned technology with business goals—improving timelines, budgeting, and scalability.

Result: 28% increase in project completion rates.

Employee empowerment

No more sluggish systems or confusing workflows. With strong infrastructure and responsive support, Alex’s employees stayed focused.

Impact: 34% fewer IT-related complaints.

A message to Oregon business owners

“Whether your breaking point is a breach or a breakdown,” says Hodgert, “making the move to proactive IT creates stability. And stability is the foundation of growth.”

Alex’s journey proves it’s possible to go from scrambling to scaling—with the right IT partner.

Ready to transform your IT strategy?

Whether you're currently reacting to problems or simply overdue for a tune-up, now is the time to change course. 10D Tech’s free network assessment is your starting point.

We’ll help you:

  • Evaluate your current IT setup
  • Spot opportunities to save and streamline
  • Create a proactive plan tailored to your Oregon SMB

Get started today—before the next crisis hits.

Missed any part of the series? Catch up here:

  • Part 1: The Wake-Up Call – A near-miss phishing attack (Feb 4)
  • Part 2: Taking Action – A digital clean-up (Feb 11)
  • Part 3: Strategic Investment – Windows 11 transition (Feb 18)
  • Part 4: The Transformation – Building a proactive IT strategy (Feb 25)

This page was last updated August, 2025.

FAQs

Enhanced FAQs:

  • Q: What is proactive IT management?
    A: It prevents problems before they happen. Alex’s firm cut downtime by 93%, saving $65,000 annually.
  • Q: How much can proactive IT save my business?
    A: Many SMBs save tens of thousands. Alex saw $87,000 in net annual gains from this approach.
  • Q: Is proactive IT just for large enterprises?
    A: No. Oregon SMBs benefit most, since a single outage can cost them $5,000+ per day.
  • Q: How do I know if I need proactive IT?
    A: Frequent outages, surprise IT bills, or rising support tickets are warning signs. Alex’s firm logged 3 tickets per old PC per week before upgrading.
  • Q: What does a free network assessment include?
    A: A full IT health review. One 10D Tech client found 30% of devices unpatched during their initial assessment.