As the holiday season rolls in and teams prepare to take well-deserved time off, business operations start to slow down. However, your technology does not take a break. Servers are still running, phone systems are still routing calls, software is still managing information, and your network is still the backbone of your daily workflows.
This time of year is a perfect opportunity to evaluate which parts of your IT environment are working well and which ones might cause trouble heading into the new year. Think of it as your business's "Naughty or Nice" list for technology. Anything that is outdated, unsupported, frequently breaking, or poorly protected belongs on the Naughty side. The devices and systems that are secure, updated, and performing efficiently go on the Nice list.
A little proactive planning now can help you avoid frustration, downtime, surprise expenses, and emergency fixes in 2026.
Why This End-of-Year Review Matters
Many businesses wait until something breaks to address infrastructure issues. That is a costly approach. Emergency replacements often come with higher prices, last-minute labor costs, and operational headaches. Planning ahead gives your business more control over timing and budget.
Conducting a quick holiday audit allows you to:
- Reduce Risk of downtime, system failure, and cybersecurity vulnerabilities
- Create Clear Budgeting Plans for hardware and software upgrades in 2026
- Improve Performance across your network, phone systems, cloud systems, and endpoints
- Stay compliant with industry or customer data protection expectations
- Ensure business continuity even when your team is out enjoying holiday time
A simple checklist review today can save you a costly 3 a.m. emergency call tomorrow.
Who Should Conduct the Review?
This review should be completed by either:
- Your in-house IT manager
- Your managed IT services provider
- Or a hybrid team working together
TotalBC works closely with many SMBs in the Carolinas to complete this exact type of assessment. It is fast, non-disruptive, and provides clarity business leaders love.
The "Nice" List: What's Working and Should Stay
Before digging into issues, take note of what is performing well. This helps you understand what to preserve and continue supporting in 2026.
Nice list items usually include:
- Modern cloud platforms and hosted VoIP phone systems
- Devices under warranty and still receiving security patches
- Recently upgraded Wi-Fi and network hardware
- Software platforms with active support and consistent updates
- Backup and recovery systems tested within the last 60-90 days
These are the systems that are prepared to support your business into the new year without major risk.
The "Naughty" List: What Needs Attention Before 2026
Here is where many businesses are surprised. Some systems appear to work just fine on the surface but are actually exposing the company to risk due to age, lack of support, or weakened security.
Common "naughty list" items include:
- Aging Servers: Servers older than five years often begin to show performance issues. Even if they still run, the hardware failure risk increases significantly. Once warranties expire, repairs can become expensive or impossible.
- Unsupported Operating Systems: If any system is running software that no longer receives security patches (like older versions of Windows Server or Windows 10 endpoints), it is vulnerable to cyberattack.
- Legacy or On-Premise Phone Systems: Traditional phone systems are increasingly costly to maintain and do not offer the mobility that modern teams need. Hosted VoIP and Unified Communications solutions reduce maintenance and improve productivity.
- Out-of-Warranty Hardware: Switches, routers, and firewalls that are no longer covered under warranty pose both security and reliability risks. Network hardware is a backbone component. When it fails, everything stops.
- Unmonitored Backups: A backup system is only helpful if it works. If your backups have not been tested recently, the holidays are the worst time to find out something is misconfigured.
- Old Laptops and Workstations: Computers that take five minutes to start up or freeze constantly are costing your team time and morale. Replacement planning avoids costly bulk purchases all at once.
Your Year-End Technology Action Plan
- Identify what is outdated or unsupported
- Prioritize items based on risk and impact
- Assign a replacement or remediation timeline
- Create a realistic, phased 2026 IT budget
- Work with IT experts who can guide the implementation smoothly
This ensures that upgrades are planned instead of rushed.
Ready to Start the New Year Strong? TotalBC Can Help.
TotalBC specializes in keeping businesses running smoothly through strategic, reliable IT management. Our team helps companies in the Carolinas audit their technology environments, replace outdated equipment, secure their networks, and plan smart, cost-controlled upgrades.
If you want your business to start January prepared, not scrambling, we are here to help.
Schedule your year-end IT audit today. Visit www.totalbc.com to learn more.
Let's make sure your technology enters 2026 on the Nice List.
