January 12, 2026
Right now, millions are embracing Dry January, choosing to cut out alcohol to boost their health, productivity, and finally ditch the "I'll start Monday" mindset.
Your business faces its own version of Dry January — a challenge to abandon detrimental tech habits that silently sabotage success.
These habits are well-known pitfalls — risky, inefficient actions everyone recognizes but continues "because it's convenient" or "we're too busy."
But beneath that complacency lies growing vulnerability.
Here are six harmful tech habits your company should completely eliminate this month, along with effective strategies to replace them.
Habit #1: Postponing Vital Software Updates
That "Remind Me Later" button on updates has caused more damage to small businesses than many hackers combined.
We understand—no one wants an unexpected reboot during the workday. Yet, updates don't just deliver new features; they seal security gaps hackers actively exploit.
Delaying updates from days to weeks to months leaves you exposed to threats criminals know how to breach.
Remember the devastating WannaCry ransomware attack? It devastated businesses globally by exploiting a vulnerability patched by Microsoft months before—most victims had repeatedly hit "remind me later."
Result? Billions lost across more than 150 countries.
Break the cycle: Schedule updates for the end of your day or let your IT partner run them seamlessly in the background, ensuring no disruption and no open door for attackers.
Habit #2: Using One Password for Everything
That go-to password you trust—easy to remember, meets "requirements," and works everywhere—is actually a major security risk.
Data breaches happen daily; even forgotten forums you signed up for leak your credentials onto hacker marketplaces.
Hackers don't need to guess your bank password—they try your leaked combos across all your accounts in a technique called credential stuffing, which causes a large share of breaches.
Your "strong" password is actually a master key copied and sold.
Change the game: Adopt a password manager like LastPass, 1Password, or Bitwarden. You only memorize one master password, while it generates unique, complex credentials everywhere else—installation takes minutes, peace of mind lasts forever.
Habit #3: Sharing Passwords via Email or Messaging
"Hey, can you send the shared account login?" "Sure, it's admin@company.com, password Summer2024!"
Sent over Slack, text, or email—quick fix in seconds.
But these messages never disappear. They stay in inboxes, sent folders, cloud backups—searchable and forwardable indefinitely.
If any account is breached, attackers scan for "password" and collect every credential ever shared.
This is akin to mailing your house keys publicly.
Fix this: Use password managers with secure sharing features that grant access without revealing actual passwords. These can be revoked anytime, leaving no permanent record. If manual sharing is unavoidable, split credentials across separate channels and update passwords immediately after.
Habit #4: Granting Everyone Admin Rights "For Convenience"
Giving a team member admin access because it's "easier" than assigning specific permissions creates a dangerous overload.
Admin rights allow installing software, disabling security, changing critical settings, and deleting files—and if compromised, attackers gain all these powers.
Ransomware attacks thrive on admin accounts, accelerating damage.
Handing out admin rights like this is like giving everyone keys to the safe because one person needed a stapler.
Correct approach: Enforce the principle of least privilege—only grant the access necessary for tasks. Setting permissions takes moments but saves you from colossal risks like breaches or accidental data loss.
Habit #5: Allowing Quick Fixes to Become Longterm Solutions
Broken process? You applied a workaround with a promise to fix it later.
That was years ago, yet the patch remains "how things get done."
Though it adds extra steps and relies on individual memory, the task gets done—so why fix what's "working"?
This actually drains productivity by multiplying inefficiencies across users and days.
More importantly, these fragile fixes break with changes—inevitably causing collapse without anyone knowing the original proper fix.
Action plan: List all workaround processes your team uses. Don't try to fix them solo; instead, let our experts deliver permanent solutions that cut frustration and dramatically save time.
Habit #6: Depending on a Complex Spreadsheet to Run Critical Business Functions
You know the infamous Excel file: dozens of tabs, convoluted formulas, understood by only a handful, one of whom is no longer with the company.
If it gets corrupted or the expert leaves, what's your contingency? This spreadsheet represents a hidden single point of failure.
Spreadsheets lack audit trails, don't scale well, rarely have proper backups, and hinge on fragile institutional knowledge—leaving vital business processes dangerously dependent.
Better alternative: Map out the business functions this spreadsheet supports rather than the file itself. Then implement specialized software tailored for those needs—CRM for customer management, inventory tools for stock, scheduling platforms for planning. These systems offer backups, permissions, and audit logs, reducing risk and freeing you from reliance on a lone expert.
Why Breaking These Tech Habits Feels Difficult
Most of these bad practices are no secret.
You're not unaware; you're simply overwhelmed.
These habits persist because:
- Problems remain invisible until a disaster strikes—password reuse seems fine until it leads to a breach.
- The secure, correct choices feel slower or more complex initially—setting up password managers takes time, typing memorized passwords takes seconds.
- When the entire team normalizes risky behavior, it stops feeling like a risk and instead feels routine.
This mirrors Dry January's success: raising awareness breaks autopilot and forces invisible dangers into view.
How to Successfully Quit Without Relying on Willpower
Pure discipline rarely sustains habits in business tech—environment design does.
Companies that truly overcome these habits change their systems to make the safe, correct choice the easy default:
- Deploy password managers company-wide to eliminate insecure credential sharing.
- Automate updates so "remind me later" isn't even an option.
- Centralize permission management to prevent unnecessary admin rights.
- Replace fragile workarounds with robust, documented solutions.
- Migrate critical spreadsheets to dedicated systems with built-in controls.
When the right choice is easier, bad habits fade.
That's the value of a proactive IT partner—transforming your business environment so proper security and efficiency become automatic rather than aspirational.
Ready to Eliminate Hidden Tech Risks Dragging Down Your Business?
Schedule your Bad Habit Audit today.
In just 15 minutes, we'll dive into your business pain points and craft a tailored roadmap to permanently resolve them.
No jargon. No judgment. Just a clearer, safer, faster, and more profitable 2026.
Click here or give us a call at 714-369-8197 to book your 15-Minute Discovery Call.
Because some habits deserve to be kicked cold turkey—and January is the perfect moment to start.
