Protect Your Business Before Christmas Downtime
The week before Christmas is one of the most dangerous times of the year for cyberattacks. Offices slow down, employees are distracted, and IT teams are stretched thin — creating the perfect opportunity for hackers.
Cybercriminals know many businesses operate with reduced staff during the holidays, which is why ransomware, phishing attacks, and account takeovers spike in late December, as we mentioned in our previous post.
Why Cyberattacks Increase During the Holidays
- Reduced IT monitoring and staffing.
- Employees working remotely or traveling.
- Delayed patching and system updates.
- Holiday-themed phishing emails.
Pre-Christmas Cybersecurity Checklist
1. Secure Microsoft 365 Accounts
- Enable multifactor authentication (MFA).
- Review admin privileges.
- Check conditional access policies.
2. Update & Patch All Systems
Unpatched systems are one of the most common entry points for attackers. Make sure Windows, Microsoft 365, firewalls, and endpoint protection are fully updated.
3. Verify Backup & Disaster Recovery
- Test backups.
- Ensure offsite or cloud backups are working.
- Confirm restore procedures.
4. Watch for Holiday Phishing Scams
Fake shipping notices, gift cards, and urgent ‘holiday invoices’ are common phishing tactics in December.
5. Increase Monitoring
Even if your office is quiet, your security tools should not be. 24/7 monitoring is critical.
How Accellis Can Help Your Business this Holiday Season
From managed services to cybersecurity and everything in between, our team helps businesses stay protected — even when staff is out of the office. So don’t let a cyber incident ruin your holiday. Contact us today to ensure your systems stay secure while your team enjoys some much-needed time off!
