The holiday season is a time of joy for many, including scammers and hackers, because it’s a peak period for cybercriminal activity. With employees taking time off or working remotely outside the office’s defenses, attackers seize the opportunity to exploit security gaps.
You and your team deserve happy holidays, but you must take steps to ensure your operations and data stay safe while your attention is split.
Why is stronger cybersecurity vital during the holidays?
The holidays create the perfect conditions for attackers to strike. Fewer employees are around to spot suspicious activity, IT teams may be running on limited staff, and remote work means more devices connected to unfamiliar and insecure networks. This environment makes it easier to launch phishing attacks, install ransomware, and steal login credentials.
Additionally, cybercriminals know that social engineering attacks are far more likely to succeed during the holidays. Fake shipping notifications, travel confirmations, or messages from colleagues can slip into crowded inboxes and are more convincing to distracted vacationers.
5 Tips to keep your business secure while on holiday
To maintain strong cybersecurity during the holiday season, take these extra precautions before heading off on holiday.
Update and patch all software before breaking for the holidays
Unpatched software remains one of the most common entry points for cyberattacks. Hackers often look for unpatched systems during holidays, knowing businesses may not update security or detect breaches until everyone returns.
Before your team signs off for the season:
- Update all operating systems, applications, and endpoints
- Check for available firmware patches for servers, printers, and other connected hardware
- If your patching is automated, review patch management schedules to avoid disruption
Change passwords before leaving
The longer a password stays the same, the greater the risk of compromise, especially during high-threat periods like the holidays. Encourage employees to reset their passwords before going on holiday in accordance with your password policy (which should be strict).
Strong, unique passwords combined with password management tools significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access while your staff is away and no one is looking.
Implement MFA and MDM for remote workers
Remote and hybrid workers depend on cloud platforms and personal devices during the holidays, which are likely not as secure as office workstations.
Multifactor authentication (MFA) ensures that even if a password is compromised, attackers still need a second factor (app verification, physical token, etc.) to gain access. MFA should be required for all logins, especially for email, VPN access, and cloud applications.
Mobile device management (MDM) adds an extra layer of control by enabling your IT team to:
- Fully encrypt devices
- Enforce security policies remotely
- Track lost or stolen devices
- Remotely wipe the data from compromised devices
Together, MFA and MDM dramatically reduce the risk of unauthorized access, even if someone accidentally connects to an insecure public network or a work device is stolen on holiday.
Hold security training for hybrid and dispersed employees
Cyber awareness dips when people are preparing for time off or working from different locations. Furthermore, remote workers need specialized training to mitigate threats unique to hybrid environments. Even a brief session can significantly reduce the rate of data breaches stemming from human errors.
Implement data backups in case the worst happens
If an attack occurs while your team is on holiday, you need a reliable way to restore operations quickly. Many cyberattacks focus heavily on data corruption, deletion, and ransomware encryption, so backups are one of your most valuable tools.
Before the holiday season:
- Make sure your backups are up to date
- Test your restore process to ensure it works
- Confirm backups are stored securely, off-site or in the cloud
- Incorporate both daily and real-time backup methods if applicable
This way, even if an attack succeeds while your team is away, you can restore everything quickly and resume operations as if nothing happened.
Need professional assistance to ensure your holidays aren’t ruined by a cyberattack? Contact XBASE, and our cybersecurity consultants will help you shore up your defenses so you can enjoy your vacation with peace of mind.