Millions of People Are Doing Dry January Right Now
They’re cutting the one thing they know isn’t good for them.
Not because it’s fun.
Not because it’s easy.
But because they want to feel better, work better, and stop pretending “I’ll start Monday” is a strategy.
Your business has a Dry January list too.
It’s just made of tech and security habits instead of cocktails.
You know the ones.
Everyone knows they’re risky or inefficient.
Everyone still does them because “it’s fine” and “we’re busy.”
Until it’s very much not fine.
Here are six bad tech habits to quit cold turkey this month and what to do instead.
Habit #1: Clicking “Remind Me Later” on Updates
That little button has caused more real-world damage than most hackers ever could.
We get it. Nobody wants a restart in the middle of the day.
But those updates aren’t just new features, they’re security patches for vulnerabilities attackers are already exploiting.
“Later” becomes weeks.
Weeks become months.
Now you’re running software with known security holes and hoping no one notices.
That’s exactly how WannaCry crippled businesses in over 150 countries.
Microsoft released the patch two months earlier.
The victims didn’t get hacked,they postponed.
Quit it:
Security updates should never depend on human memory. An MSSP pushes updates automatically, after hours, with monitoring to make sure they actually succeed. No pop-ups. No guesswork. No open doors.
Habit #2: One Password to Rule Them All
You’ve got a favorite password.
It meets the rules.
It feels strong.
It’s easy to remember.
And you use it everywhere.
Here’s the problem: data breaches happen constantly. That random tool or forum you signed up for years ago? Its credentials are already for sale.
Attackers don’t guess passwords anymore.
They reuse leaked ones.
This is called credential stuffing, and it’s one of the most common causes of business breaches. If one account falls, they try that same password everywhere- email, accounting, banking, cloud systems.
Your “strong” password becomes a master key someone else owns.
Quit it:
Deploy a company-wide password manager. Period. One master password. Unique, complex passwords everywhere else. Most breaches die right here when this habit ends.
Habit #3: Sharing Passwords Over Email, Text, or Slack
“Can you send me the login real quick?”
Sure, problem solved in 30 seconds.
Except now that password lives forever:
- In inboxes
- In cloud backups
- In searchable chat logs
If one account gets compromised, attackers can search for the word “password” and harvest everything.
That’s not convenience.
That’s leaving the vault open with a sticky note.
Quit it:
Use secure credential sharing through a password manager. Access without exposure. Revocable at any time. No permanent paper trail. An MSSP enforces this so insecure sharing simply stops happening.
Habit #4: Making Everyone an Admin Because “It’s Easier”
Someone needed to install something once.
Instead of configuring permissions properly, they got admin rights.
Then someone else.
Then someone else.
Now half the company has full control over systems, security tools, and data.
If any one of those accounts gets phished, the attacker doesn’t just get access, they get power.
Ransomware loves admin accounts. More access = faster spread = bigger damage.
Quit it:
Principle of least privilege. People get exactly what they need,nothing more. An MSSP manages permissions centrally so admin rights aren’t handed out as a shortcut.
Habit #5: “Temporary” Fixes That Became Permanent
Something broke.
You found a workaround.
“We’ll fix it properly later.”
That was years ago.
Now it’s tribal knowledge.
Three extra steps.
One person who remembers how it works.
Workarounds cost time but worse, they create fragile systems. When something changes (and it always does), everything breaks at once and nobody knows why.
Quit it:
Document the workarounds. Then eliminate them. A good security-focused IT partner fixes the root cause so your business isn’t held together with memory and luck.
Habit #6: The Spreadsheet That Runs the Business
You know the one.
Twelve tabs.
Insane formulas.
No audit trail.
No real backup.
If it corrupts, you’re stuck.
If the creator left, you’re guessing.
That spreadsheet is a single point of failure wearing a green hat.
Quit it:
Spreadsheets are tools, not platforms. Replace critical spreadsheets with systems built for security, backups, permissions, and growth. An MSSP helps migrate without blowing up operations.
Why These Habits Are So Hard to Break
You already knew most of this.
The problem isn’t ignorance, it’s busyness.
Bad tech habits survive because:
- The consequences are invisible… until they’re catastrophic
- The “right way” feels slower in the moment
- Everyone else is doing it, so it feels normal
This is why Dry January works.
It breaks autopilot.
It forces awareness.
It makes invisible damage visible.
How Businesses Actually Quit (Without Willpower)
Willpower doesn’t fix habits.
Environment does.
The companies that break these habits don’t rely on discipline. They change the system:
- Updates happen automatically
- Password managers remove insecure sharing
- Permissions are locked down by default
- Monitoring runs 24/7
- Risk is reduced without daily effort
The right behavior becomes the easiest behavior.
That’s what a good Managed Security Service Provider does.
Not lectures.
Not guilt.
Actual change.
Ready to Quit the Habits Quietly Hurting Your Business?
Book a Bad Habit Security Audit.
15 minutes.
We’ll identify the riskiest habits, show you where you’re exposed, and map the fastest way to fix it permanently.
No judgment.
No jargon.
Just a cleaner, safer, less stressful 2026.
Give us a call at (303) 423-4500 or book your FREE Security Huddle instantly here: https://business.newpush.com
Because some habits are worth quitting cold turkey.
And January is a very good time to start.
