January 11, 2026
Right now, millions are embracing Dry January, intentionally cutting out alcohol to boost their health, productivity, and ditch the endless "I'll start Monday" procrastination.
Your business has its own "Dry January"—a list of tech habits that drain efficiency and risk your security.
These aren't cocktails, but risky tech moves everyone knows are flawed yet keep doing anyway because "it's fine" and "we're too busy."
But it's not fine—until it becomes a crisis.
Here are six damaging tech habits to eliminate immediately, plus smarter alternatives to adopt.
Habit #1: Postponing Software Updates by Clicking "Remind Me Later"
This tempting button is secretly causing more business harm than hackers themselves.
We understand—nobody wants unexpected restarts midday. However, updates aren't just new features; they fix critical security flaws hackers target relentlessly.
Delaying updates turns days into weeks, weeks into months, leaving your systems vulnerable with unlocked doors to cyberattacks.
Consider the global damage from WannaCry ransomware—it exploited a vulnerability patched months prior but ignored due to delays. Billions lost, operations halted worldwide.
Take action: Schedule updates for off-hours or have your IT team manage them silently in the background—no disruptions, no security loopholes.
Habit #2: Using One Password Everywhere
Maybe you rely on a "strong enough" password you remember for everything—email, banking, shopping, and more.
But frequent data breaches expose these credentials, selling them to hackers who then test your other accounts.
This method, called credential stuffing, accounts for a large portion of account hacks because your single password acts as a master key in the wrong hands.
Break the cycle: Use a reputable password manager—LastPass, 1Password, or Bitwarden—to generate and store complex unique passwords. You only memorize one master key. Setup is quick, security is permanent.
Habit #3: Sharing Passwords Through Email or Messaging
It's common to resolve password requests with a quick email or Slack message sharing login details.
But these messages linger indefinitely—in inboxes, backups, and searchable archives—making your credentials easy targets if any account is compromised.
This is equivalent to mailing your house keys to a stranger.
Secure sharing: Password managers offer encrypted sharing that lets recipients access accounts without revealing passwords—and revoke access anytime. If you must share manually, split info over multiple channels and change passwords right after.
Habit #4: Granting Admin Rights to Everyone for Convenience
To bypass permission hassles, many give full admin rights to too many people.
Admin privileges let users install software, disable security, or delete files. If an attacker compromises one admin, total control falls into their hands.
Ransomware thrives on admin accounts, causing maximum damage quickly.
Implement principle of least privilege: Assign only necessary access per user. It takes only moments more but shields your organization from costly mistakes and breaches.
Habit #5: Leaving Temporary Workarounds as Permanent Solutions
Quick fixes that were supposed to be temporary often become entrenched processes.
Though these workarounds might complicate tasks and rely on insider knowledge, they persist because "it works"—even if it slows everyone down.
Worse, these fragile methods fail unpredictably when systems or personnel change.
Get organized: List all current workarounds. Don't struggle solo; let our experts replace them with robust systems that boost productivity and reduce frustration.
Habit #6: Relying on a Complex Spreadsheet to Run Your Business
That infamous spreadsheet—multi-tabbed, filled with cryptic formulas, known only to a few—is a ticking time bomb.
If it corrupts or the creator leaves, your critical business operations risk collapsing.
Spreadsheets lack audit trails, scalability, and proper backup. They're band-aids, not foundations.
Upgrade your infrastructure: Document your processes and transition to specialized tools—CRM for customers, inventory software for stock, scheduling apps for appointments. These provide security, backups, user controls, and continuity.
Why These Destructive Habits Persist
You know these habits are risky; the challenge is often the relentless pace of business.
- Risk only becomes clear when disaster strikes—for example, a reused password works fine until it suddenly doesn't.
- The right approach seems slower initially. Installing a password manager takes time, but breaching an account can ruin reputations instantly.
- When everyone on the team shares insecure habits, risk feels normal and invisible.
This effect parallels Dry January—it disrupts the autopilot, making hidden dangers clear.
Break Habits by Shaping Your Environment
Willpower can fail; modifying your environment makes secure habits effortless.
Successful businesses establish systems where:
- Password managers deployed company-wide prevent unsafe credential sharing.
- Software updates install automatically, removing deferral options.
- Account permissions are centrally controlled, avoiding admin overload.
- Temporary workarounds get replaced with stable, documented solutions.
- Critical operations move from spreadsheets to secure, backed-up platforms.
This makes doing the right thing easy, and bad habits inconvenient.
That's the true value an expert IT partner brings: transforming your systems so secure, efficient practices are the default—not a struggle.
Ready to End Habits Quietly Holding Back Your Business?
Schedule a Bad Habit Audit with us.
In 15 minutes, we'll explore your business challenges and deliver a clear, actionable roadmap to eliminate costly habits for good.
No pressure. No jargon. Just a smoother, safer, faster, and more profitable 2026.
Click here or give us a call at 1300 765 014 to book your 15-Minute Discovery Call.
Some habits deserve to be quit cold turkey, and January is the perfect moment to start.
