What started as a need became a mission. When Nimbl couldn’t find an IT service provider that met our needs—balancing security, affordability, and scalability—we did what entrepreneurs do best: we built our own.
That decision launched Nimbl Tech, a managed service provider born out of the necessity of delivering exceptional IT for accounting firms and now serving companies across the U.S. CAN with global teams.
In a recent webinar with Anchor, our very own Nathan Anderson, Head of Operations at Nimbl Tech, and Dave Olsen, Nimbl’s Founder & CEO, shared their journey of building IT at an accounting firm from the inside out. Here’s a recap of their insights and the lessons we think every modern accounting firm, or really ANY scaling company, should take to heart.
The Origin Story: From Frustration to Innovation
Nimbl’s IT journey started in 2020, not with a strategy but with a need. As the team grew, so did the complexity of our data management and the risk associated with it. But early conversations with IT vendors led to dead ends: many wouldn’t take on smaller clients, and those would charge fees well beyond reach.
So Nimbl pivoted. We built an internal IT team, starting small but with a mission: create an IT strategy that was not only robust and secure but scalable.
IT Is Strategy, Not Just Support
Nathan broke down how IT has evolved from “turn-it-off-and-on-again” support into a strategic pillar. At Nimbl, over 4,000 internal IT hours in 2024 were split between:
- 25% – Help desk & user support
- 20% – IT strategy
- 17% – Software & hardware management
- 11% – Security & Compliance
- 4% – Infrastructure
The takeaway? If your firm sees IT as an overhead cost rather than a strategic advantage, you’re likely under-leveraging it.
The Case for Outsourced, In-House, or Hybrid IT
Nimbl Tech offers services based on what we wish we had found during our search for a partner. Nathan explained the trade-offs:
- In-House: Greater control but higher cost, limited scalability.
- Outsourced: Affordable and expert-led, but potentially less responsive and less customized.
- Hybrid: The best of both—an internal point person coordinating with an external provider.
This flexible approach allows firms to keep control where they want it, and delegate where they need help.
Building a Scalable IT Roadmap
A major turning point for us was when Dave created a spreadsheet that listed every IT risk the firm faced—what we later coined our “IT Roadmap.” It included:
- The risk
- Its location in the system
- Potential impact
- Mitigation strategies
This roadmap became our guiding light. It helped us prioritize urgent risks, tackle quick wins, and plan for long-term infrastructure upgrades. Today, that same spreadsheet continues to evolve—now including modern threats like AI-enabled phishing and smishing (SMS phishing).
IT Starter Kit: What We’d Do from Day One
If you’re wondering where to start, Nathan shared his “starter kit”—three essential tools for any firm:
- Antivirus/Anti-malware (e.g., Malwarebytes)
- Business Continuity Plan (for data recovery)
- Password Manager (to prevent daisy-chaining of credentials)
These three pillars can dramatically reduce your risk profile—even before you hire your first IT staffer.
IT Best Practices Are Everyone’s Responsibility
The conversation is wrapped with an important truth: protecting data isn’t just about tools—it’s about culture. From requiring team members to use company-issued devices, to implementing VPNs for contractors, to running phishing simulations, it’s about proactively shrinking your attack surface.
And if you’re thinking, “My team is tech-savvy, we don’t need this,” think again—Nimbl Tech’s clients often discover every team member reaches out to IT support at least once a month.
Final Thought: IT Is an Investment in Trust
Nimbl Tech’s foundation is simple: if we can build secure, reliable IT for ourselves, we can do it for other firms too. And we understand the stakes better than most because we’ve lived them.
Whether you’re managing 5 devices or 500, IT isn’t just about compliance or convenience—it’s about safeguarding your business, your clients, and your peace of mind.
Want to explore Nimbl Tech’s managed services? See what we offer in comprehensive support or reach out for a discovery call—we’d love to support your growth journey.
