January 12, 2026
Across the globe, countless individuals are embracing Dry January — stepping away from alcohol to boost their wellbeing and productivity.
Your business faces its own version of Dry January, tackling inefficient tech routines rather than cocktails.
These tech habits are familiar — risky or inefficient patterns everyone recognizes but continues due to busyness or complacency.
But when those habits backfire, the consequences can be severe.
Discover six harmful tech practices to eliminate immediately and the smarter alternatives to adopt.
Disconnect Habit #1: Postponing Software Updates
Hitting "Remind Me Later" on updates is one of the biggest threats to small businesses—not hackers themselves.
While inconvenient to restart mid-day, software updates are crucial for patching security weaknesses actively targeted by cybercriminals.
Delaying updates turns into extended vulnerabilities, leaving your systems exposed to attacks like the devastating WannaCry ransomware, which exploited unpatched systems worldwide.
The fallout? Billions in losses and halted operations across more than 150 countries.
Change it: Automate updates to occur after hours or allow your IT team to quietly install them in the background. This eliminates disruptions and secures your system against threats.
Disconnect Habit #2: Using a Single Password Across All Accounts
A go-to password may feel strong and easy, but reusing it everywhere—from banking to forgotten online forums—is a major security risk.
Data breaches happen frequently. Once your credentials leak, hackers use "credential stuffing" to access multiple accounts effortlessly.
That "strong" password you trust could already be compromised and circulating among cybercriminals.
Change it: Adopt a trusted password manager like LastPass, 1Password, or Bitwarden. Secure your data with unique, complex passwords generated and stored automatically—giving you lasting peace of mind.
Disconnect Habit #3: Sharing Passwords via Email or Messaging Apps
Quickly sharing passwords through Slack, text, or email seems convenient but leaves sensitive information permanently in writable, searchable inboxes, vulnerable if any account is breached.
It's equivalent to mailing out your house keys—an avoidable security nightmare.
Change it: Use password managers with built-in, secure sharing capabilities. Passwords remain hidden and can be revoked anytime. If manual sharing is unavoidable, split credentials over different channels and change passwords right after.
Disconnect Habit #4: Granting Admin Rights to Everyone for Convenience
Assigning full admin privileges broadly to avoid adjusting permissions is a common shortcut but exposes your business to high risk.
Admins can install software, alter settings, and delete files. If their accounts are compromised, attackers gain full access, rapidly increasing damage potential, especially for ransomware attacks.
Change it: Implement the principle of least privilege—grant access only to what's necessary. Although it takes more setup time, it protects you from costly errors or breaches.
Disconnect Habit #5: Letting Temporary Workarounds Become Permanent
Many teams rely on short-term fixes that stretch over years, adding complexity and inefficiency without proper resolution.
Though these workarounds get the job done, they increase effort, depend on specific knowledge, and collapse when systems change.
Change it: Identify all band-aid fixes your team uses and collaborate with experts to replace them with durable, streamlined solutions—saving time and reducing frustration.
Disconnect Habit #6: Relying on a Complex, Fragile Spreadsheet as Your Business Backbone
That intricate Excel file with multiple tabs and convoluted formulas controlled by a handful poses severe risks if corrupted or if knowledge holders leave.
Spreadsheets lack transparency, scalability, proper backups, and integrate poorly with other systems.
Change it: Document what the spreadsheet manages and transition to specialized software tailored for those functions—CRMs, inventory systems, scheduling tools—that offer security, audit trails, and reliability.
Why Breaking These Habits Is Challenging
You're well aware these shortcuts are risky, but day-to-day demands make change difficult.
- Consequences are hidden until disaster strikes.
- Implementing best practices feels slower upfront compared to quick fixes.
- Widespread adoption of poor habits masks their dangers and normalizes risky behavior.
Dry January succeeds by making unconscious decisions visible and breaking autopilot behavior. The same awareness can improve your tech habits.
How to Quit Bad Tech Habits Without Relying on Willpower Alone
Success comes from reshaping your environment—not sheer discipline.
Businesses that break these cycles do so by making secure practices the default:
- Company-wide adoption of password managers removes unsafe sharing options.
- Automatic update deployments eliminate manual delays.
- Centralized permission management prevents excessive admin rights.
- Replacing workarounds with scalable solutions removes reliance on tribal knowledge.
- Transitioning key operations from spreadsheets to robust platforms ensures safety and continuity.
With the right IT partner, the easier path is also the safer path—empowering your team through better systems, not lectures.
Ready to Eliminate the Tech Habits Undermining Your Business?
Schedule a Bad Habit Audit today.
In just 15 minutes, we'll explore your unique challenges and provide a tailored action plan to enhance security, efficiency, and profitability for 2026 and beyond.
No jargon. No judgment. Just a clear path forward.
Click here or give us a call at 332-217-0601 to Speak to an Expert.
Some habits deserve to end abruptly. There's no better moment than January to start fresh.
