Black Friday Bargains or IT Nightmares?
Published By: Paul Smith | 11.27.24
When That Too-Good-to-Be-True Deal Isn’t Just a Steal—It’s a Tech Disaster Waiting to Happen.
Ah, Black Friday. That magical time of year when people camp outside electronics stores, fueled by turkey leftovers and sheer determination, all for the chance to score a $10 waffle iron or a 65-inch TV that might only work until New Year’s. But businesses, beware: the same tempting chaos has crept into your inbox with “unbelievable deals” on IT hardware and software. Spoiler alert: some of those deals should stay unbelievable.
Here are a few gems we’ve seen:
- The “Budget” Firewall
You’re running a small business and suddenly there it is—an email promising an enterprise-grade firewall for $299. Sounds great, right? Except the fine print says it hasn’t had a firmware update since the Obama administration, and your “protection” is basically a polite suggestion to hackers. Oh, and the license renewal costs as much as a Tesla.
- Cloud Storage for a Buck
“Unlimited cloud storage for $1/month!” Sure, that sounds nice, but where exactly is this “cloud”? Spoiler: it’s probably someone’s external hard drive in their garage. By the time you need to restore data, the company’s disappeared like your Thanksgiving leftovers.
- Super Cheap Laptops
“Amazing business laptops! Only $199!” But then they arrive, and the specs are so outdated they can’t even handle the latest Windows update. Cue your team fighting over who gets the “good” computer, while this deal-turned-doorstop gathers dust in the corner.
- “Smart” Office Gadgets
Black Friday is full of “smart” office gadgets that are only smart at stealing your time. A voice-activated coffee maker that only works if you shout commands like a drill sergeant? A Wi-Fi-enabled whiteboard that erases all your notes every time someone uses the microwave? Pass.
- Mystery Software Bundles
“Get 30 software tools for $30!” It might sound like the app jackpot, but here’s the catch: none of them integrate with each other, and the customer support is just a chatbot who “responds” with the same link to an outdated FAQ page.
Here’s the Lesson:
If a deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Investing in your IT infrastructure isn’t the time to roll the dice. Sure, snag those 75% off headphones for your personal Spotify binges, but when it comes to your business tech, think long-term. Trust vendors who prioritize security, reliability, and support over flashy holiday gimmicks.
Because let’s face it—an IT nightmare costs more than any “bargain” ever saved.
