5 IT Resolutions Every Growing Business Should Make This Year
- Alex Hughes
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
The new year always brings a moment of pause.
A chance to look at what worked, what didn’t — and what quietly made things harder than they needed to be.
For many businesses, that thing is IT.
Not because it’s completely broken.
But because people have slowly adapted around it.
🔷 Logging off and on again
🔷 Chasing approvals that should be automatic
🔷 Recreating files because no one knows where the latest version lives
🔷 Hoping nothing goes wrong — especially on a Monday morning
It’s rarely one big problem.
It’s the daily friction that drains time, energy, and focus.
So instead of vague promises to “sort the IT at some point”, here are five realistic IT resolutions that actually make a difference — without disruption, drama, or ripping everything out.
Resolution 1: Stop Guessing Whether Your IT Is Secure 🔐
If you’re assuming your systems are secure, that’s understandable — but it’s not the same as knowing.
We often speak to businesses who believe:
🔷 Backups are running (but no one’s checked them recently)
🔷 Antivirus is “on” (but hasn’t updated properly)
🔷 Microsoft 365 is secure (but still using risky default settings)
The problem?
Most security gaps don’t announce themselves — they sit quietly in the background until something goes wrong.
What to aim for this year:
🔷 Clear visibility over what’s being monitored
🔷 Confidence that backups actually work
🔷 Security that’s proactive, not reactive
When IT security is done properly, it doesn’t create noise.
It creates peace of mind.
Resolution 2: Use Microsoft 365 for More Than Just Email 📧
You’re probably already paying for Microsoft 365.
But most businesses are only using a fraction of what it can do — often without realising it.
We regularly see:
🔷 Files scattered across inboxes, desktops, and shared drives
🔷 Teams used for meetings, but not collaboration
🔷 Manual processes that could easily be streamlined
What to aim for this year:
🔷 Fewer spreadsheets and email chains
🔷 Clear file structures everyone understands
🔷 Tools that support how your team actually works
This isn’t about adding more tech.
It’s about making the tools you already have work harder — and smarter — for your people.
Resolution 3: Reduce the Manual Tasks Your Team Has “Just Lived With” 🧠
Every business has them.
The small, repetitive admin jobs no one questions anymore — because everyone’s too busy just getting through the day.
🔷 Chasing approvals
🔷 Copying data between systems
🔷 Rewriting the same emails
🔷 Updating spreadsheets that are instantly out of date
Individually, they don’t feel dramatic.
Together, they quietly eat away at productivity — and morale.
What to aim for this year:
🔷 Automate the obvious, everyday tasks
🔷 Remove friction from simple processes
🔷 Give your team time back to focus on meaningful work
Modern IT isn’t about replacing people.
It’s about removing the boring, mindless work that shouldn’t exist anymore.
Resolution 4: Make IT Feel Calm — Not Reactive 🌊
When IT only shows up when something breaks, it becomes a background source of stress.
Slow logins. Missing files. Small issues that interrupt focus and flow.
Your team feels it — even if they don’t always say it out loud.
What to aim for this year:
🔷 Proactive monitoring instead of constant firefighting
🔷 Issues resolved before users notice
🔷 A support team that already knows your setup
When IT is working properly, something interesting happens:
people stop talking about it — because everything just works.
And that calm?
It spreads across the whole business.
Resolution 5: Have an IT Partner Who Thinks Ahead With You 🤝
Good IT support fixes problems.
Great IT support helps you avoid them — and plan what’s next.
That means:
🔷 Regular conversations, not just tickets
🔷 Advice aligned with your business goals
🔷 Clear guidance as you grow, hire, or change
What to aim for this year:
🔷 An IT partner who feels like part of your team
🔷 Direction, not just reaction
🔷 Technology that supports growth — not slows it down
Your IT shouldn’t be something you worry about.
It should be something you can rely on.
Start Small — But Start Properly 🌱
You don’t need to fix everything at once.
The businesses that see the biggest impact usually start with one area:
🔷 Security
🔷 Microsoft 365 setup
🔷 Day-to-day support
🔷 Cloud access
Then they build from there.
Small improvements made early in the year compound quickly — saving time, reducing frustration, and giving your team the headspace to do their best work.
And perhaps most importantly:they stop coping — and start moving forward.
People Also Ask
What should businesses focus on for IT at the start of the year?
Review security, backups, access, and how well your tools support day-to-day work. January is ideal for fixing foundations before growth or change.
Why is proactive IT support important?
Proactive IT prevents issues before they cause disruption, reduces downtime, and gives teams confidence that systems are being looked after.
Are most businesses underusing Microsoft 365?
Yes. Many businesses only use it for email and documents, missing out on collaboration, automation, and security features already included.
How can IT reduce staff workload?
By automating repetitive tasks, improving system setup, and removing friction that slows teams down every day.
