The 6 Disciplines of IT (And Why Your IT Person is Overwhelmed)
Most companies have an “IT guy” or maybe even a small team. They’re the ones who get the call when a printer goes down, an email won’t send, or someone clicks on the wrong thing. These folks are smart, resourceful, and usually wearing a hundred hats.
But here’s the truth most people don’t realize: IT isn’t one job. It’s six.
We call these the Six Disciplines of IT, and we’ve built our entire approach around covering them properly. One person can’t be expected to do it all, at least not well and not consistently.
Let’s break them down:
- Application
This is the software your business runs on. From QuickBooks to industry-specific tools, applications need support, integration, updates, and troubleshooting. If these stop working, so does your team. - Database
This is where all your information lives. If the database isn’t managed well, you risk data loss, corruption, or performance issues. Most businesses don’t know there’s a problem until something breaks. - Hardware
Think servers, laptops, firewalls, and everything in between. Hardware has a shelf life. It also needs patching, firmware updates, and eventually replacement planning. Ignoring it leads to downtime. - Network
Your systems don’t work in a vacuum. They’re connected, or at least they should be. When things are slow or disconnected, chances are it’s a network problem. Proper configuration and monitoring are key. - Software
Operating systems, productivity tools, antivirus, and everything else that runs in the background. If software isn’t kept current, it opens up security holes. Updates aren’t optional anymore. - Security
This is the layer that touches all the others. Security has to be baked into everything. Think phishing tests, MFA, endpoint protection, backups, training, and more. No single tool gets the job done.
The Problem: Everyone Thinks the “IT Guy” Knows It All
In most companies, the IT person is skilled in one or two of these areas. Maybe they’re great at hardware and networking. Or maybe they’re a Microsoft 365 wizard. The rest? They dabble. They Google. They figure it out under pressure.
But because their title says “IT,” everyone assumes they know everything. Firewalls, backups, compliance, Azure migrations, security frameworks… it all gets thrown on their plate. Over time, they burn out or start missing things.
That’s Where GRIT Comes In
We’re not here to replace your IT person. We’re here to give them a team. A team that understands all six disciplines. A team with documented processes, layered security, and clear accountability.
Whether you need full IT support or just help where it matters most, we’ve built our services to fit around you. No more guessing. No more juggling. No more hoping your IT person can be everything to everyone.
If you’re ready to take the pressure off your internal team and get serious about IT, let’s talk.
