It’s Dry January — But for Your Construction Tech Stack
Across Salt Lake City, folks are kicking off the new year by swearing off sugar, booze, or social media. But if you're leading IT or operations for a construction firm, there are some digital habits that could use the same treatment.
We’re talking about outdated, duct-taped IT practices that slow down job sites, expose sensitive data, and create chaos when systems inevitably break.
At Qual IT, we work with Salt Lake construction companies every day—and we’ve seen how these issues become "normal." Until something breaks. Or gets breached. Or delays a bid.
So here they are: the six habits Salt Lake construction leaders need to leave behind in 2026, and what to do instead.
- Clicking “Remind Me Later” on Device and Software Updates
That update alert on the field foreman’s tablet? Or the one your BIM team keeps ignoring? Every time you hit "Later," you leave the door open to a known security flaw.
Outdated software is one of the biggest risks in construction IT—especially with ransomware targeting local builders and subcontractors across the Wasatch Front.
Do This Instead:
Let Qual IT automate and schedule your updates after hours or during site downtime. Your Procore workflows won’t get interrupted, and your endpoints stay secure.
- Reusing the Same Password Across Tools
Yes, we know everyone thinks their password is clever because it ends in an exclamation point.
But if you’re using the same login for Autodesk, project documents, and even email? One breach can take down your entire operation.
In Salt Lake, we’ve seen real-world credential stuffing attacks that lock teams out of everything—even while crews are still on the job site.
Do This Instead:
Roll out a team-wide password manager like Bitwarden. Let your PMs, superintendents, and admins use strong, unique passwords they don’t have to memorize.
- Sharing Credentials Over Text or Email
"Can you text me the login for the site cam dashboard?"
"Just emailed you the Procore admin password."
Every time credentials get passed around like this, they live forever in inboxes, devices, and screenshots. And once shared, there's no way to track who used them—or where they might leak.
Do This Instead:
Use secure credential sharing through your password manager. You stay in control of access, and revoke it instantly when roles change or someone leaves.
- Giving Admin Access to Everyone
This one hits close to home for many Salt Lake construction firms.
You gave a junior PM admin rights because they needed to install Bluebeam.
Now they have the keys to the kingdom—and if their account gets compromised, every network drive, server, and estimate file is exposed.
Do This Instead:
Apply the principle of least privilege. We help Salt Lake firms build group-based permissions so only the right people access the right tools—and only when they need them.
- Living With Workarounds That Were Never Meant to Last
"We just copy the invoice totals from the old job costing system into Excel. It's fine."
That workaround is three years old. It breaks during audits. And no one knows what happens if the one guy who understands it takes PTO.
Construction firms in Salt Lake waste thousands of hours a year dealing with temporary tech fixes that became permanent.
Do This Instead:
Qual IT can map your workarounds, prioritize them, and implement clean solutions using the right construction software—without blowing up your workflows.
- Running Everything Off a Spreadsheet
We get it. That Excel file has 12 tabs, 400 formulas, and it's worked for years.
But it's also only on one person’s desktop. It breaks easily. It has no backups. And if that person quits? You’re toast.
Do This Instead:
If that spreadsheet is running payroll, inventory, bid tracking, or scheduling—move it into a secure, cloud-based tool. We help Salt Lake construction companies migrate these files into proper software that grows with you.
Why These Habits Stick (And How to Break Them)
You’re not lazy. These habits stick around because:
- The damage doesn’t show up until it's too late.
- The "right" solution sounds like a disruption.
- Other contractors do it the same way, so it feels normal.
That’s where Qual IT comes in.
We specialize in managed IT services for Salt Lake construction companies. We don’t just point out flaws—we redesign your systems so the right way is automatic.
- Updates happen silently.
- Passwords are secure by default.
- Admin privileges are locked down.
- Spreadsheets become platforms.
Time to Drop the Tech Habits That Hold You Back
No shame. Just solutions.
If you're ready to stop duct-taping your IT together, let’s talk.
Book Your Free Network Assessment
15 minutes. No jargon. No pressure. Just a clear look at how IT can stop slowing your projects down.
Click here to book your free network assessment
