Post by Summit OS Group

Most companies treat IT as an expense. That’s the first mistake. In my conversation with Tom Kirkham, Founder & CEO of Kirkham IronTech, we discussed how IT should function as a growth engine — not a cost center. Tom’s IronTech Framework rests on three pillars: 1. ROI on IT — Technology should increase productivity and efficiency. 2. Cybersecurity — A serious breach can put 40–60% of businesses out of operation within two years. 3. Governance — Policies, procedures, and leadership alignment that make everything actually work. That third pillar is where most companies fall short. Tools alone don’t protect you. Training alone doesn’t protect you. Compliance checklists alone don’t protect you. Without governance — clear policies, accountability, executive involvement — the system breaks down. What also stood out is how Tom reframes cybersecurity. Hacking isn’t random. It’s an industry. A $10+ trillion one. It operates at scale, just like marketing. High volume. Conversion rates. Repeatable systems. If your company is underinvesting in IT — spending 3–4% of revenue when your industry benchmark is 6–12% — you’re not “efficient.” You likely have gaps. When IT is aligned with leadership goals, when governance is in place, and when cybersecurity is treated as strategic — conversations shift from cost control to competitive advantage. That’s when IT stops being overhead. And starts becoming leverage.