January 12, 2026
Right now, millions are embracing Dry January, intentionally avoiding alcohol to boost their health, enhance productivity, and quit delaying positive change with "I'll start Monday."
Your company has an equivalent "Dry January" list—except it's filled with detrimental tech practices instead of cocktails.
These familiar but risky tech habits persist because "it's fine" or "we're busy," even though everyone knows they're inefficient or dangerous.
Until one day, they're no longer fine.
Discover six harmful tech behaviors you need to break immediately, with effective alternatives to replace them.
Habit #1: Constantly Hitting "Remind Me Later" on Software Updates
That tempting button has caused far more harm to small businesses than any cyber attacker.
Avoiding inconvenient restarts is understandable, but updates do more than add features—they patch security vulnerabilities hackers are actively exploiting.
Delaying updates turns into weeks and months running outdated software with known security holes.
Take the WannaCry ransomware attack: it devastated businesses worldwide by exploiting a vulnerability patched two months earlier, which victims failed to update due to repeatedly clicking "remind me later."
The damages? Billions lost across 150+ countries as operations froze.
Take action: Arrange updates during low-usage hours or let your IT team apply them silently in the background. No interruptions, no security gaps, no regrets.
Habit #2: Reusing One Password Across All Accounts
You probably rely on a favorite password that "meets requirements," feels strong, and is easy to recall across email, banking, shopping, and obscure websites.
The downside? Data breaches leak these credentials constantly. That forgotten forum could have exposed your email-password combo, now sold cheaply to hackers.
Attackers don't need to guess your banking password—they've already got it. They just test it ubiquitously until access is gained.
This cybercrime tactic, credential stuffing, causes a large percentage of breaches. Your one password acts as a universal key someone else owns.
Stop now: Use a password manager like LastPass, 1Password, or Bitwarden. You keep one master password; the tool creates and remembers unique, complex passwords everywhere else. Setup is quick, peace of mind lasts indefinitely.
Habit #3: Sharing Passwords Through Email or Messaging Apps
"Can you send the login details for the shared account?"
"Sure, it's admin@company.com, password Summer2024!"
Sent casually via Slack, text, or email—problem solved instantly.
But those messages live forever—in inboxes, sent folders, cloud backups—fully searchable and retrievable.
If anyone's email account is ever breached, attackers quickly locate "password" strings and harvest all shared credentials.
It's like mailing your house key openly.
Fix it: Use password managers with secure sharing features providing access without exposing the actual password. You can revoke access anytime, eliminating permanent email trails. If you must share manually, split credentials across channels and immediately update passwords afterward.
Habit #4: Granting Admin Rights to All Employees Because "It's Easier"
Someone needed to install software or change settings, so you gave them admin access instead of configuring precise permissions.
Now, half the team has admin rights by default because it felt faster.
Admin access lets users install programs, disable security software, change critical configurations, or delete vital files. If credentials get stolen, attackers inherit all powers.
Ransomware thrives on widespread admin rights, amplifying damage swiftly.
Giving everyone admin is like handing out safe keys because one person needed a stapler.
Correct this: Follow the principle of least privilege—grant staff only the permissions they need. Although it takes more setup time, it prevents costly breaches or accidental data loss.
Habit #5: Letting "Temporary" Fixes Become Permanent Workarounds
When something broke, a quick workaround was found with a promise to fix it later.
That promise was made years ago.
Now, the workaround is just "how things get done," despite extra steps everyone reluctantly follows.
These inefficient workarounds multiply lost productivity dramatically.
More dangerously, they create fragile systems dependent on specific tools, software versions, or tribal knowledge. When changes happen—and they always do—the process collapses with no fallback.
Resolve it: Inventory all such workarounds without trying to fix them yourself. Then partner with experts who can deliver lasting, user-friendly solutions that eliminate frustration and reclaim your team's time.
Habit #6: Relying on a Complex Spreadsheet to Run Your Business
You know the infamous Excel file—dozens of tabs, complicated formulas only three people understand, one of whom no longer works here.
What if it corrupts? What if the insider leaves and no one can maintain it?
This spreadsheet is a critical failure point disguised as a lifeline.
Spreadsheets lack audit trails, can't scale, don't integrate, and usually have insufficient backups. Using them as core business platforms is digital duct tape.
Upgrade now: Document the business processes supported by that spreadsheet—not just the file. Then migrate those functions to dedicated systems like CRMs, inventory management, or scheduling software offering backups, audit logs, and permission controls. Spreadsheets excel at calculations but fall short as enterprise solutions.
Why Breaking These Bad Tech Habits Is Challenging
These issues aren't unknown; you're simply overwhelmed.
Bad tech habits persist because:
- Consequences remain hidden until disaster strikes. Password reuse seems fine until a breach exposes everything.
- The right approach feels slower in the moment. Setting up password managers takes hours, but typing memorized passwords takes seconds—until a breach destroys your reputation.
- Everyone else follows the same flawed methods. When password sharing on Slack is company culture, risks feel normal and invisible.
This mirrors why Dry January succeeds: it raises awareness, interrupts autopilot behavior, and reveals hidden risks.
How to Break These Habits Without Pure Willpower
Willpower alone doesn't stop Dry January habits—changing your environment does.
The same applies to business tech habits.
Successful companies shift their environment to make secure behaviors automatic:
- Company-wide password managers remove insecure credential sharing options.
- Automatic software updates eliminate "remind me later" procrastination.
- Centralized permission controls prevent unnecessary admin rights.
- Genuine fixes replace fragile workarounds, reducing reliance on individual knowledge.
- Proper systems replace spreadsheets with backups, audits, and controlled access.
When good practices become easier than bad ones, habit-breaking happens naturally.
A skilled IT partner doesn't lecture—they transform your environment so secure choices are the default.
Ready to End the Tech Habits Holding Back Your Business?
Schedule a Bad Habit Audit.
In just 15 minutes, we'll explore your challenges and provide a clear, actionable roadmap to fix these habits permanently.
No jargon. No judgment. Just a streamlined, secure, and more profitable 2026.
Because some habits are worth quitting cold turkey—and January is the perfect time to start.
