The start of a new year is the perfect time to reset, refocus, and improve the systems your business relies on every day. While many people make personal resolutions, businesses should be making IT resolutions — small, intentional changes that lead to better security, reliability, and productivity all year long.

At CloudCore IT Solutions, these are the resolutions we encourage every small business to make as the year begins.

1️⃣ Turn On Multi-Factor Authentication Everywhere

If MFA isn’t enabled across email, cloud apps, VPNs, and admin accounts, this should be priority number one.

Passwords alone are no longer enough. MFA dramatically reduces the risk of account compromise — especially as phishing and credential theft continue to rise.

Resolution: Enable MFA on every business account, without exceptions.

2️⃣ Eliminate Shared Passwords

Shared logins make it impossible to track who accessed what — and they create massive security blind spots.

Resolution:

• Give each user their own login
• Use a password manager for shared resources
• Remove “everyone knows the password” accounts

3️⃣ Actually Test Your Backups

Many businesses have backups… but haven’t tested a restore in years.

A backup that doesn’t restore properly is just a false sense of security.

Resolution: Schedule regular test restores and verify that critical systems and files can be recovered quickly.

4️⃣ Review User and Vendor Access

Over time, businesses accumulate access they no longer need — former employees, old vendors, unused admin accounts.

Resolution:

• Remove access for departed staff
• Limit vendor permissions
• Apply the principle of least privilege

This single step reduces risk dramatically.

5️⃣ Patch and Update on a Schedule

Outdated systems remain one of the easiest ways attackers gain access.

Resolution:

• Enable automatic updates where possible
• Schedule patching for systems, applications, and devices
• Don’t ignore firmware updates for firewalls and network gear

6️⃣ Document Your IT Environment

If your IT provider changed tomorrow, would anyone know what systems you have?

Resolution:

• Create (or update) an IT inventory
• Document vendors, licenses, and subscriptions
• Keep credentials stored securely

Good documentation saves time, money, and stress.

7️⃣ Invest in Ongoing Security Awareness

Cybersecurity isn’t just a technology problem — it’s a people problem.

Resolution:

• Train employees regularly
• Teach them to spot phishing, MFA fatigue, and social engineering
• Make reporting suspicious activity easy and encouraged

An informed team is one of your strongest defenses.

🎖️ Start the Year Strong with CloudCore IT Solutions

At CloudCore IT Solutions, we help businesses turn these resolutions into reality through proactive management, monitoring, and guidance.

As a veteran-owned company with four generations of military service, we believe success comes from preparation, discipline, and continuous improvement — the same principles that make for strong IT and cybersecurity.

If this year is the year you want fewer surprises and more confidence in your technology, we’re here to help.