January 12, 2026
Right now, millions are embracing Dry January, stepping away from alcohol to boost wellness, enhance productivity, and ditch the "I'll start Monday" mindset once and for all.
Your business faces its own version of Dry January — a list of harmful tech habits rather than cocktails.
These habits are well-known productivity and security risks, yet persist under the guise of "it's fine" or "we're too busy."
Until they stop being fine.
Here are six damaging tech habits to break immediately — and smarter alternatives to replace them with.
Habit #1: Postponing Updates with "Remind Me Later"
That tempting button has caused more harm to small businesses than any cyberattack.
We understand, mid-day restarts are inconvenient. But updates don't just add features; they close security loopholes hackers actively exploit.
Delaying updates weeks or months leaves your software open to attacks and vulnerabilities.
The infamous WannaCry ransomware showed how ignoring patches can halt global businesses — every victim had ignored critical updates.
The price? Billions lost as operations came to a standstill in over 150 countries.
Action Step: Schedule updates for after hours or automate them through your IT team. No unexpected restarts. No security gaps.
Habit #2: Using One Password Everywhere
We all have that go-to password — it ticks the security boxes and sticks in memory, so it's used across emails, banking, shopping, and more.
But when breaches leak data, hackers grab that password and try it everywhere — a tactic called credential stuffing.
This method leads to countless account hacks, turning your "strong" password into a master key stolen and misused.
Action Step: Adopt a password manager like LastPass, 1Password, or Bitwarden to generate and securely store unique passwords. Remember one master password and safeguard every account effortlessly.
Habit #3: Sharing Passwords Through Email or Messaging Apps
Quick exchanges like "Admin login: admin@company.com, password: Summer2024!" via Slack, text, or email may solve problems fast.
But such messages never truly disappear — lingering in inboxes, backups, and cloud storage, fully searchable and vulnerable if an account is compromised.
This practice is like mailing your house key to strangers.
Action Step: Use password managers with secure sharing features that grant access without exposing actual passwords and allow immediate revocation. If manual sharing is unavoidable, split credentials across channels and change passwords right after.
Habit #4: Granting Admin Rights to Everyone for Convenience
To install software or tweak settings swiftly, many turn to giving full admin rights — sometimes without reconsidering the risks.
Admin access lets users install programs, disable protections, alter critical configurations, and delete files. If compromised, attackers inherit these dangerous powers.
Ransomware thrives on excessive admin access, escalating damage rapidly.
Handing out admin rights as shortcuts is like giving everyone keys to the safe just to grab a stapler.
Action Step: Apply the principle of least privilege — grant access strictly based on need. Spending a few extra minutes configuring permissions is far less costly than recovering from a breach.
Habit #5: Letting Temporary Fixes Become Permanent
A quick workaround was put in place years ago, intended as a short-term fix.
Now it's the norm, adding extra steps and relying on tribal knowledge everyone must remember.
This drains productivity and introduces fragility—any change could collapse the system, and no one recalls the proper fix.
Action Step: Document all workaround methods your team employs. Then partner with experts to replace them with robust, streamlined solutions that save time and reduce frustration.
Habit #6: Relying on a Complex Spreadsheet to Run Your Business
That single Excel workbook with endless tabs and tangled formulas is known by only a few—one of whom has left the company.
What if it gets corrupted or the experts move on? Your entire business process hangs on fragile, undocumented digital tape.
Spreadsheets lack proper audit trails, scalability, integrations, and secure backups—making them risky foundations.
Action Step: Clearly map out the business workflows the spreadsheet supports. Then transition to specialized software—CRM for customer relationships, inventory management tools, or scheduling apps—that offer security, backups, and access controls.
Why These Habits Persist Despite Risks
These issues aren't unknown. The real culprit is busyness and invisible consequences.
- Threats stay hidden until disaster strikes — like password reuse working flawlessly until the moment it doesn't.
- Quick fixes feel easier immediately, while the right approach seems slower until the costs of breaches or downtime hit.
- When everyone shares insecure habits, risks become normalized and overlooked.
Just like Dry January simplifies alcohol breaks by raising awareness and interrupting habits, your business must create new environments to support smarter tech behavior.
How to Break These Habits Without Relying on Willpower
Willpower isn't enough — smart systems make good habits automatic.
- Company-wide password managers prevent unsafe sharing.
- Automatic update deployment removes the temptation to delay.
- Centralized permission controls stop unnecessary admin access.
- Real solutions replace fragile workarounds.
- Proper platforms with backups secure critical data beyond spreadsheets.
The solution is to make the right choice the easiest one. A skilled IT partner enables these system changes, eliminating guesswork and setting your business up for success.
Ready to Eliminate Hidden Tech Risks Dragging Down Your Business?
Schedule a Bad Habit Audit today.
In just 15 minutes, we'll dive into your business's challenges and deliver a clear roadmap to powerful, lasting fixes.
No jargon. No judgment. Just a faster, safer, and more profitable 2026.
Some habits are worth quitting cold turkey — start yours this January.
