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Somewhere right now, a cybercriminal is setting New Year's resolutions too.

They're not staring at a vision board about "self-care" or "work-life balance." They're reviewing what worked in 2025 and planning how to steal more in 2026.

And guess what, small businesses are their favorite target.

January is the month people schedule the stuff they've been putting off.

Doctor. Dentist. Maybe finally getting that weird noise in the car looked at.

Preventive care is boring. But not as boring as a preventable disaster.

So let's ask the uncomfortable question:

When's the last time your business tech got a real checkup?

Not "we fixed the printer last week.

Millions of people are doing Dry January right now.

They're cutting the one thing they know isn't good for them because they want to feel better, work better, and stop pretending "I'll start Monday" is a plan.

Your business has a Dry January list too.

January is a magical month.

For about three weeks, everyone believes they're a new person.

Gyms are packed. Salads are eaten on purpose. Planners get opened.

Then February shows up with a baseball bat.

Business resolutions go the exact same way.

As the new year rolls in, most of us commit to changes that make life easier, more efficient, or more intentional. Businesses aren’t any different. If you’re choosing just a few resolutions that could genuinely streamline your operations in the months ahead, here’s one that deserves a spot on your list: partnering with a managed services provider (MSP).

Instead of juggling server management, software updates, security patches, and day-to-day troubleshooting on your own, an MSP can take that weight off your shoulders and do it with a level of consistency and expertise that’s hard to match internally.

A business owner spent one hour in late December auditing every technology tool her 12-person company used. What she discovered was staggering.

Her team used three different project management systems – none talking to each other. Two separate document storage solutions because half the team refused to switch.

Every January, tech publications release breathless predictions about revolutionary trends that will “change everything.” By February, most business owners are drowning in buzzwords – AI this, blockchain that, metaverse something-or-other – with no idea what actually matters for a company with 15 employees trying to increase revenue by 20%.

Here’s the truth: Most tech trends are hype designed to sell expensive consulting services.

You’re three hours into a five-hour drive to visit family for the holidays. Your daughter asks, “Can I play Roblox on your laptop?” Your work laptop. The one with client files, financial data and access to your entire business. You’re exhausted from packing, you’ve got three more hours to go and, honestly, keeping her entertained sounds pretty good right now.

You know that drawer in your office filled with old USB drives, tangled earbuds and tech gadgets from conferences you attended three years ago? That’s where most “tech gifts” end up – forgotten within a month, gathering dust alongside the branded stress balls and cheap power banks that never held a charge.

Thanksgiving is a season of gratitude, generosity, and, for businesses, a boost in sales. But along with the hustle and holiday cheer comes a heightened risk of scams that take advantage of busy operations. Between seasonal hires, increased transaction volume, and year-end pressures, fraudsters see an opportunity to strike.