January 12, 2026
Right now, millions are embracing Dry January by giving up alcohol to boost their health, productivity, and stop procrastinating on positive change.
Your business has its own version of Dry January — a list of outdated tech habits that drag down efficiency and security.
These familiar bad habits are risky and inefficient, yet everyone clings to them out of convenience or being overwhelmed.
Until the consequences become unavoidable.
Discover six harmful tech habits to quit immediately and the smarter alternatives to transform your operations.
Habit #1: Postponing Software Updates Indefinitely
That "Remind Me Later" button has compromised more small businesses than any cybercriminal.
While inconvenient to restart midday, updates are crucial, often closing security vulnerabilities hackers actively exploit.
Delaying turns days into weeks, weeks into months, leaving your systems dangerously exposed.
Remember the global WannaCry ransomware attack? It thrived on unpatched systems just like yours, costing billions worldwide.
Take action: Schedule updates for off-hours or delegate automatic installs to your IT team to close security gaps without disrupting work.
Habit #2: Using One Password Across Multiple Accounts
Using a single, "strong" password for emails, banking, and various platforms makes you vulnerable when breaches expose those credentials.
Hackers use credential stuffing—trying stolen passwords everywhere—to hijack accounts effortlessly.
Break free: Adopt a reliable password manager like LastPass, 1Password, or Bitwarden. Secure your business with unique passwords generated and stored safely. Setup is quick, security is lifelong.
Habit #3: Sharing Passwords Through Insecure Channels
Sharing login details over Slack, email, or text may seem fast and easy but these messages remain accessible indefinitely, putting your accounts at risk if anyone's inbox is compromised.
Think of it like mailing your house key on a postcard.
Quit this practice: Use password managers with secure sharing functions that grant access without exposing the password. If manual sharing is unavoidable, split credentials across different channels and change them immediately after.
Habit #4: Granting Everyone Admin Rights for Convenience
Giving admin access because "it's easier" opens doors to installing harmful software, disabling security, or deleting critical files—and if those credentials are phished, attackers gain full control.
Admin accounts are prime targets for ransomware attacks, increasing the potential damage exponentially.
Correct it: Implement the principle of least privilege—assign only the permissions users absolutely need. The slight initial effort safeguards your entire business.
Habit #5: Letting Temporary Workarounds Become Permanent
Workarounds may keep things moving, but they add complexity, reduce productivity, and create fragile processes prone to failure when people or software change.
Stop this cycle: List your team's workarounds and seek professional help to replace them with reliable, long-term solutions that enhance efficiency and reduce frustration.
Habit #6: Dependence on a Single Complex Spreadsheet
That one convoluted Excel file with numerous tabs and secret formulas is a critical risk—easily corrupted, poorly backed up, and known only by a few.
Fix the foundation: Document the business processes the spreadsheet supports and transition to specialized tools like CRMs, inventory, or scheduling software with secure backups and audit trails to ensure continuity and scalability.
Why These Tech Habits Persist
These habits aren't from ignorance but from being too busy. Their risks remain invisible until disaster strikes, and the easier shortcuts often outweigh perceived immediate benefits.
When the entire team normalizes risky behavior, breaking the cycle feels impossible.
How to End These Habits for Good
Changing your business environment makes safe practices the default, eliminating reliance on willpower or discipline.
- Deploy company-wide password managers to make secure sharing automatic and seamless.
- Automate software updates to remove delays and human error.
- Manage user permissions centrally to prevent unnecessary admin privileges.
- Replace temporary fixes with durable, scalable solutions supported by experts.
- Migrate critical operations from fragile spreadsheets to robust, backed-up systems.
A skilled IT partner transforms your systems so the safest and most efficient way forward is also the easiest.
Ready to Break Free from Costly Tech Habits?
Schedule your Bad Habit Audit today.
In just 15 minutes, we'll evaluate your business challenges and deliver a clear roadmap to streamline, secure, and boost your growth.
No jargon, no judgment—just actionable insights for a safer, faster, and more profitable 2026.
Click here or give us a call at 702-896-7207 to book your 15-Minute Discovery Call.
Some habits deserve to be quit cold turkey. There's no better moment than January to start.
