The start of a new year can bring changes for your business: new goals, new hires, new technology, and new challenges. As exciting as it is, it’s also a time when hidden IT issues tend to surface, disrupting productivity if they aren’t addressed early.
After downtime during the holiday season, small issues can quickly turn into bigger disruptions. Below are some common IT issues that small businesses may experience in the New Year, and what you can do to prevent them.
Password Problems and Account Access Issues
With employees returning from time off or stepping into new roles, forgotten passwords and locked accounts are common in the new year. These issues may seem minor, but they can impact productivity.
How can you avoid it? Secure, company-wide password managers (like Bitwarden) can help minimize this issue.
Outdated Systems and Missed Updates
Devices that aren’t regularly updated can miss critical security updates and performance improvements. One major example is Windows 10, which reached its end-of-life date in 2025. Not keeping up with updates in your business can create vulnerabilities and increase the risk of system failures.
How can you avoid it? Enable automatic updates whenever possible, schedule regular system maintenance checks, and don’t delay updates.
Slow Computers and Poor Performance
As workloads increase in the New Year, aging hardware and inefficient systems become more noticeable. Slow computers can frustrate your team and reduce the efficiency of your business.
How can you avoid it? Evaluate device performance at the start of the year and plan hardware replacements before your devices become unreliable.
Increased Cyber Threats
The new year is a popular time for phishing attacks, invoice fraud, and impersonation scams. Cybercriminals know businesses are handling new budgets, renewals, and other changes, and can use this to take advantage of your business.
How can you avoid it? Train employees to recognize suspicious emails or calls, use multi-factor authentication wherever possible, and keep security tools up to date and properly configured.
The most common IT issues seen in the New Year are rarely unexpected and are often a result of postponed maintenance or lack of visibility. Taking a proactive approach at the start of the year can help your business mitigate risks, improve security, and support growth throughout the year.
If your company needs help reviewing systems, updating security, or preparing your technology for the year ahead, working with an IT support provider can make all the difference!
