Here, Nathan Charles, Head of Customer Success at managed IT specialist OryxAlign, explains how neglecting the digital foundations can quietly stunt progress and what startups can do to ensure that their IT infrastructure is always ready to accommodate rapid growth.

In the early days of a new business, laptops, a shared drive and maybe a plug-and-play collaboration platform might all work fine when there are five people in a room. But after a few more client wins, a spike in orders or service users, suddenly you need more devices, more access points, more data, which brings more opportunities for things to go wrong. Without a plan, that growth quickly hits technical bottlenecks that impact everything from productivity to customer experience.

The hidden friction of fast growth

Growing pains in IT don’t always announce themselves with flashing red alerts. More often, it’s a build-up of small frustrations like slow systems, unreliable remote access and security concerns that no one quite has the time or expertise to resolve. As systems evolve organically, startups can find themselves managing a patchwork of tools and platforms with no central oversight. Meanwhile, employees may be downloading their own apps or connecting via unsecured networks, which creates invisible risks that only become obvious after something goes wrong.

Security, in particular, becomes harder to manage as startups grow because the attack surface widens with every new team member, integration and remote login. Measures like firewalls, endpoint protection and regular audits might have felt like overkill at the beginning, but these can quickly become essential when the stakes are higher and the data more sensitive.

What does ‘scalable IT’ really mean?

Scalable IT isn’t just about adding more storage or faster internet when needed, but about having a tech environment that can flex and adapt as the business changes. It includes aspects like modular infrastructure that can grow without starting from scratch and cloud platforms that scale up or down based on usage, helping manage costs. It also makes it easier to have centralised management to avoid tool sprawl and shadow IT and allows for clear processes and support that reduce friction as the team expands.

For many startups, building that in-house is unrealistic, be it because of time constraints or a lack of qualified employees in IT to do it. Managed IT service providers can act as an extension of a business, where close collaboration and transparency in business goals allows them to plan IT infrastructure in advance. The right partner can help anticipate needs, set up the right tools early and adjust quickly when new demands appear.

Future-proofing with smart consulting

While managed support handles the day-to-day, IT consulting adds longer-term value, especially for startups with ambitious growth plans. Whether it’s planning for multi-office expansion, ensuring systems are compliant with evolving data regulations or preparing for investment due diligence, consulting helps build with the future in mind.

It’s not just about picking the right software, but about understanding how each piece of technology supports the business model, where flexibility is needed and where investment will yield returns. For example, startups operating in regulated sectors like fintech or healthtech might need specialist advice on compliance from day one, before issues arise that could hold up partnerships or funding rounds.

Don’t bolt security on later

One of the most common pitfalls is treating cybersecurity as a problem to solve later. But the longer it’s left, the harder it is to retrofit properly. Startups are often surprised to learn that they’re just as likely, if not more likely, to be targeted by cyberattacks as larger firms. Nearly half of UK businesses, and 70 per cent of medium-sized firms, reported a cybersecurity breach in the past year. Without the right protections in place, a single breach can be financially and reputationally devastating.

A scalable IT setup bakes security in from the start. That means clear access policies, regular updates, employee training and active monitoring. And as teams grow or go hybrid, it also means securing devices and endpoints wherever they are, and not just in the office.

The weakest link when it comes to cybersecurity is usually the people that work at the company. OryxAlign’s simulated phishing tests and tailored cybersecurity training have proven to reduce breach risks by up to 80% over 12 months.

Startups exist to move fast and break new ground. But speed needs support. With the right IT infrastructure in place founders can spend less time firefighting tech issues and more time focusing on customers, product and scale.