Don’t Let Cyber Grinches Steal Your Holiday Season

Picture this: It’s December 23rd, your core team is on vacation, and suddenly your systems grind to a halt. Not exactly the holiday gift you were hoping for, right? Over half of retailers report increased cyber risks during the holiday shopping season.

So, sit back, sip your coffee, and let me share how to protect your business this festive season.

Here’s your quick-read brief:

  • Reduced holiday staffing creates security gaps
  • Online transactions spike, attracting more cyber threats
  • 78%* of seasonal employees lack proper security training
  • Sophisticated attacks target distracted workers

Why Hackers Love the Holidays

First, let’s talk about what’s lurking in the cyber shadows this holiday season. Consider the scenario: fewer eyes on your systems, more online transactions, and seasonal workers who probably need to learn your security protocols (and quickly). It’s a once-a-year combo that predatory cybercriminals can’t resist.

During the holidays, we’re seeing more sophisticated cyber attacks timed specifically to strike when businesses are running on minimal human resources, knowing that reduced personnel can slow down threat detection and response. Even more concerning is the surge in online transactions this season. It’s an opportunity for cybercriminals to exploit security vulnerabilities through automated attacks, phishing scams, and fraudulent websites that target your business and its customers.

But here’s what really catches my attention: 78%* of seasonal employees don’t receive social engineering training, and 56%* lack even basic internet safety guidance. In a season where temporary staff handle sensitive customer data and access your systems, that’s like leaving your shop front door wide open after hours.

It’s a recipe for a cyber-risk scenario that should concern every business owner… but there is hope (t’is the season for it after all). Read on as I share with you how to avoid leaving mulled wine and mince pies on your (digital) doorstep to entice the cyber Grinch in unintentionally.

How To Protect Your Business This Holiday Season

Let’s get practical about protecting your business over the holiday season. Here’s what you can do:

Before the rush:

  • Run a thorough security check of all your systems
  • Update access controls and know who has the keys to what systems
  • Create an emergency response plan that works with reduced staff
  • Train EVERY employee, including seasonal hires, on security basics
  • If you can, test your backup systems and verify recovery procedures. Run a mock restoration drill to make sure you can recover system critical data if/when you need to.

During the season:

  • Keep 24/7 monitoring in place (yes, even on Christmas Eve)
  • Lock down privileged accounts when key staff are away
  • Watch for unusual login attempts or system access
  • Back up your data regularly: Think of this as your business insurance policy if things do go awry at some point

Speaking of backups: don’t just set and forget about them. Every week, pick a small chunk of backed-up data and try to restore it. This practice check could save your business if ransomware strikes during peak season. And when you’re running those after-hours backups, make sure someone verifies that they were completed successfully. I’ve seen too many businesses discover their routine backups routinely failed and be left with nothing when they’ve needed them.

Remember, cybercriminals don’t take holidays. In fact, they’re counting on you to lower your guard. While you’re busy coping with inflated users and sales (and spreading holiday cheer too), don’t be fooled by urgent requests from would-be team members or clients needing higher-than-usual privileges or access they don’t normally need.

With the right prep, you can keep your business safe without turning into a security Scrooge.

Where Can I Start with Holiday Cybersecurity?

Start by checking your current security measures against this season’s threats we’ve covered above.

Ask yourself:

  • Do you have clear protocols for when key security staff are away?
  • Are your seasonal employees trained in at least basic security practices?
  • Is your incident response plan ready for holiday scenarios?
  • Do you have 24/7 monitoring in place?

If you answered “no” to any of these questions, we should talk—especially if you’re in retail or hospitality, as these sectors are heavily targeted during holiday seasons. At Sagacent Technologies, we’re here to help you build and maintain robust security measures that integrate with your existing systems.

Finally, if you do spot something suspicious during the holidays, don’t panic. Switch into response mode: isolate affected systems, notify your security team (or give us a call), and pull out your incident response plan. Speed matters. But rushing into the wrong action can make things worse. Dealing with incidents is like wrapping presents: it’s better to do it methodically than to rush and make a mess. Having a plan and knowing when to call in help makes all the difference between a minor hiccup and a potential holiday catastrophe.

Wrap Up Holiday Security

Want to ensure your business stays secure this holiday season? Drop Sagacent a line to discuss your security needs. No sales pitch: just straight talk about protecting what matters. 

Cybersecurity Glossary:

  • Social engineering: Psychological manipulation techniques used to trick people into revealing sensitive information
  • Privileged accounts: User accounts with advanced system permissions and access rights
  • Emergency response plan: A documented set of procedures to detect, respond to, and limit the consequences of a cyber attack
  • System Monitoring: Continuous observation of network traffic and system behavior to detect security threats

Extra reading, some cited in the text: