January feels like a reset. Everyone’s fresh off the holidays, systems are being cleaned up, and new staff are coming on board. But behind the scenes, Q1 is one of the riskiest times of the year for cyber incidents—especially for small and mid-sized businesses here in Albuquerque.

We see the same patterns every year. None of these mistakes happen because a business doesn’t care about security. They happen because people are trying to get back into a rhythm, and small things slip through the cracks.

Here are the five issues that cause the most trouble—and the straightforward ways to fix them. 

1. Old Accounts Don’t Get Fully Deactivated

After year-end turnover, it’s common to find accounts that were supposed to be closed still active weeks later. Sometimes they’re email accounts, sometimes cloud apps, sometimes shared access that quietly slips under the radar.

From a cybersecurity standpoint, this is a huge gap.
From a compliance standpoint, it’s even bigger.

👉 For regulated industries, proper access control is required. Learn more on our Compliance & Risk Management page.

How to avoid this mistake:

• Disable old accounts the same day someone leaves
• Reset shared credentials company-wide
• Review who has privileged (admin) access
• Audit file-sharing links and remove anything outdated

Many breaches start with a neglected account someone forgot existed. This is one of the simplest places to tighten things up.

2. Patching and Updates Fall Behind After the Holidays

December is busy. People are in and out, rushing to meet deadlines, and updates get delayed “until January.” By the time Q1 hits, devices may be weeks—or months—behind. 

Hackers love that window.

If your team is dealing with outdated or slow equipment, this is an easy place to get support.
👉 Our Managed IT Services help ensure patches and security updates happen on schedule so this doesn’t become a lingering risk. This is straightforward work, but consistency is everything.

How to avoid this mistake:

• Approve pending updates early in January
• Reboot devices that haven’t restarted recently
• Turn on automatic updates where possible
• Make patching part of your weekly or monthly workflow

Why this matters for your IT budget
Many businesses don’t realize how much outdated systems cost them over the course of a year—lost productivity, emergency fixes, and downtime add up fast.

👉 If you’re mapping out your 2026 IT budget, here’s a practical guide to help you understand where these expenses tend to appear: How to Build a 2026 IT Budget 

3. Weak or Recycled Passwords During New-Hire Setup

New employees are great for business—less great if their new accounts are created with simple, temporary, or duplicate passwords. We see this every year in Q1, especially when onboarding ramps up.

It’s understandable. Everyone is trying to get access quickly. But weak passwords remain one of the easiest ways for attackers to get in.

How to avoid this mistake:

• Require strong passwords for every account
• Turn on MFA across the board (no exceptions)
• Use a secure password manager
• Train new hires on phishing awareness during week one

👉 See best practices on our Cybersecurity Services page.

This doesn’t need to be complicated—just consistent.

4. Cloud Access Isn’t Reviewed After a Busy Season

The cloud is great for flexibility, but it also creates a tangle of accounts, permissions, and shared links that build up over time.

If you haven’t looked at who has access to what since last summer, there’s a good chance someone can still reach data they shouldn’t.

How to avoid this mistake:

• Audit access in Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, and major apps
• Remove old, shared links
• Tighten admin permissions
• Clean up unused cloud tools

Cloud overspending is also common at the start of the year.
👉 To see where costs creep in, take a look at our Cloud Cost Audit guide.

This kind of cleanup saves money and reduces risk—two wins at once.

5. No Dark Web Monitoring After Seasonal Turnover

Credential exposure usually spikes around the holidays due to phishing attempts, higher email volume, and temporary access for seasonal workers. By January, a surprising number of passwords have made their way to the dark web.

You wouldn’t know unless you’re monitoring for it.

How to avoid this mistake:

• Run a dark web scan after any period of staff change
• Reset passwords every six months
• Reinforce phishing training regularly
• Require MFA for all cloud and email accounts

👉 You can check your exposure with our Free Dark Web Scan.

When stolen credentials are discovered early, businesses avoid a lot of trouble later in the year.

What Albuquerque Businesses Can Do Right Now

The truth is, most cybersecurity problems don’t come from sophisticated attacks—they come from small oversights that pile up during busy seasons.

If you want help tightening things up for the new year, we’re happy to take a look. We work with organizations across Albuquerque that deal with aging buildings, Wi-Fi dead zones, changing staff, and all the challenges that come with running a small business today.

And if you ever want to talk through your security questions or concerns, just call. We’re here to help you stay ahead of the problems—not recover from them.