Happy New Year! It’s officially 2026, and while the start of a new year is the perfect time to set new routines and personal resolutions, it’s also one of the best times for small business owners to take a serious look at their IT infrastructure. Technology plays a critical role in daily operations, security, and productivity, and starting the year with a clear IT upgrade plan can save time, money, and stress down the road.
With the continued rise in phishing scams, ransomware, cyberattacks, and the rapid adoption of AI-driven tools (both good and bad), now is an ideal time to review your small business technology stack. Proactively upgrading key systems can help protect your data, your employees, and your customers while positioning your business for growth in an increasingly digital world.
1. Firewall and Network Security
If you’re still using the default router provided by your ISP—or a so-called “business router” picked up from Best Buy for $80 nearly a decade ago—it’s time for an upgrade. Older routers often stop receiving security updates, leaving your network vulnerable to modern threats. Today’s cyberattacks are far more sophisticated than they were even five years ago, and outdated hardware simply can’t keep up.
Upgrading to a modern firewall or business-grade router significantly improves your overall network security, but it also delivers noticeable performance benefits. Wi-Fi standards evolve quickly. Not long ago, Wi-Fi 6 was the gold standard; now Wi-Fi 7 is entering the mainstream. While many devices don’t yet support Wi-Fi 7, upgrading your network now helps future-proof your business as you refresh laptops, phones, and other equipment over time.
Vendors like Ubiquiti, Cisco, and SonicWall offer reliable, scalable firewall and network security solutions that are well-suited for small and growing businesses.
2. Workstations and Operating Systems
Your employees’ computers are another critical area to review. If any of your workstations are still running unsupported operating systems—such as Windows 10—it’s time to plan an upgrade. Windows 10 reached end of life late last year, and Microsoft now recommends Windows 11 for supported hardware.
While Windows 11 isn’t perfect, it offers meaningful security improvements over Windows 10 and should be the standard in a modern business environment. You’d be surprised how many companies continue to operate on outdated systems. I’ve personally seen businesses generating millions in revenue still running operating systems as old as Windows 98 in production. Not only is that incredibly insecure, but it also makes maintenance and repairs far more difficult as driver and software support disappears.
Upgrading your workstations improves security, compatibility, and performance—and it reduces downtime when something inevitably needs to be fixed.
3. Power Distribution and Surge Protection
This is an often-overlooked area, and I’ll admit I only recently learned just how important it is. Surge protectors don’t last forever. Each small power surge degrades the internal components a little bit more, even if everything still appears to be working fine.
Most manufacturers recommend replacing surge protectors every three to five years, yet many of us (myself included) keep using the same ones indefinitely. It’s an inexpensive upgrade that can make a big difference, especially during winter months when power fluctuations and storms are more common. Just because a surge protector still powers your equipment doesn’t mean it’s actually protecting it.
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These are practical, high-impact IT upgrades that almost every small business should consider in 2026. If you’re interested in having us manage or improve your IT environment, feel free to reach out at **contact@starman.tech**. We’d be more than happy to discuss your business goals and technology needs.
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