5 New Year’s Tech Resolutions for 2022

The new year is here, along with all the resolutions and big decisions that come with it. And technology plays a role in many of them. Maybe you're focusing on a new health or wellness app. Maybe you're trying to manage your screen time better. Maybe you're finally getting your email inbox organized (seriously, this is the year).

Technology is intertwined with myriad other concerns that go beyond personal improvement. A more organized and efficient workplace can help you hit the ground running this week, when inspiration and motivation are at their peak. Improved data protection can keep your company's day-to-day operations running in January - and all year long. And individual knowledge of the threats that pop up in everyday places can help your organization build a true cybersecurity culture.

What better time to evaluate those tech resolutions than the first week of the new year?

Tech New Year's #1 Resolution: Protect Your Data. True cybersecurity requires multiple layers of protection and different approaches to different types of threats. But it starts with comprehensive data protection—in the office, at home, on every device used by your business, and even as information travels across networks and to and from the cloud. This critical attention to data security can pay off in myriad scenarios: before the arrival of a major hurricane, during a power outage caused by a natural disaster, or after a ransomware attack.

New Year's Tech Resolution #2: Consider necessary infrastructure updates. Whether you're acting now or laying out a plan to meet equipment needs for 2022, it's important to take just one step. Pay particular attention to any devices running outdated operating systems (like Windows 7) or legacy applications. Aging servers should not be neglected either, as downtime of such mission-critical machines can impact business operations. Outdated mobile devices are also easy targets for hackers. Even Wi-Fi routers and printers deserve attention.

Tech New Year's Resolution #3: Give your inbox some love. Maybe subscribe to the simple principle of Inbox Zero. You might want to use a sophisticated flag-and-filter system. Or maybe you're just dealing with the chaos of a crowded inbox and taking care of things when you can. No matter what, when you have an email strategy that works for you, make it easy to stick with it. The first week of the new year is the best time to try to make it second nature.

Tech New Year's Resolution #4: Beware of scams coming in via email, SMS, and phone. Yes, these are spreading like never before – fake emails about shipping notifications, SMS advertising free gift cards, and phone calls to extend your car warranty. Hackers flood such channels with fraud attempts for a reason: it only takes one person to fall for it to make it financially beneficial. Do your part and be aware of any communication that looks suspicious or asks you to take immediate action. Don't click unfamiliar links or open unexpected attachments in emails. And don't fall for offers that seem too good to be true.

Tech New Year's Resolution #5: Look at the big picture of cybersecurity every day. This resolution is last on the list—but only because it needs to be expanded to include every day, week, and month of the year. As you make strategic decisions about technology for your business, make sure they align with a comprehensive approach to security. If you're considering everyday tactics like patch management and threat monitoring, make sure they follow the same comprehensive approach. When these considerations inform every business decision, your organization's culture begins to change. Combine that with multiple layers of cybersecurity and a trusted IT partner who can help you execute the plan, and you're on your way to real business success.

Would you like to use the inspiration and motivation of a new year to help your business thrive all year long? Contact CMIT Solutions today. We take cybersecurity seriously every day, protecting your data and empowering your people to work smarter than ever. We wish you and your company every success in 2022.

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