The office might be closed, but cyber threats don’t take holidays. Here’s how to protect your business whilst everyone’s enjoying their mince pies.
Why the Christmas period is risky
Criminals know that offices run on skeleton staff over Christmas. They know response times are slower. They know people are distracted. It’s the perfect time to strike.
The attacks aren’t more sophisticated during the holidays – they’re just timed better.
Before you lock the doors
Update everything Run all outstanding updates before you close. Windows updates, software patches, antivirus definitions – get them done. Don’t leave systems vulnerable for two weeks.
Review user access Disable accounts for temporary staff whose contracts have ended. Remove access for anyone who’s left. Check that admin rights are limited to people who actually need them.
Back up your data Run a full backup and verify it works. Store a copy offsite or in the cloud. If something goes wrong whilst you’re away, you’ll want a clean restore point from before the break.
Check your firewall settings Make sure your firewall is properly configured. If you’re closing completely, consider restricting remote access to essential staff only.
Set clear rules for remote access
If people need to work over the break, set boundaries:
- Only access company systems through approved methods (VPN, not public Wi-Fi)
- Don’t download company data to personal devices
- Report anything suspicious immediately, even on Christmas Day
- Use multi-factor authentication for everything
Monitor what you can
You don’t need someone watching screens 24/7, but you should have:
- Automated alerts for suspicious activity
- Someone checking emails periodically for urgent security notifications
- A clear escalation process if something does go wrong
Most modern security tools can send alerts to your phone. Set them up before you leave.
The return to work checklist
When you reopen in January:
- Check for any security alerts or unusual activity
- Review system logs for the period you were closed
- Run a full antivirus scan on all systems
- Check that backups ran as scheduled
- Verify that no unauthorised changes were made to user accounts
What to do if something goes wrong
Have a plan. Write down:
- Who to contact (and their actual mobile numbers)
- How to access systems remotely if needed
- Your IT support contact details
- Steps to isolate affected systems
Share this with at least two people who’ll be available over the break.
The simple truth
Most Christmas security incidents happen because of poor preparation, not sophisticated attacks. Criminals exploit the gap in your defences whilst you’re away.
Spending an hour securing your systems before you close could save you days of recovery work in January. It’s not exciting work, but it matters.
Let someone else handle the checklist
If you’d rather not worry about security over Christmas, that’s what we’re here for. With managed IT services, we handle the updates, monitoring, and response – whether your office is open or closed. You focus on your business. We’ll focus on keeping it secure.
Book a call with Nick:
