The holidays are meant for relaxing, not worrying about cybercriminals. But here’s the reality: when your office slows down, scammers speed up. With fewer eyes on systems and employees distracted by festivities, businesses become prime targets for fraud and cyberattacks. In fact, attacks often spike during holiday periods because hackers know you’re not watching.
So, what should you look out for, and how can you keep your business safe while everyone’s sipping eggnog?
The Sneaky Scams You Might See
- Fake CEO Emails like “Can you buy gift cards for the team?” Sounds innocent, right? It’s one of the most common holiday scams.
- Fraudsters send realistic invoices hoping you’ll pay without checking.
- Holiday-themed messages that say “Track your holiday delivery” or “Claim your bonus” emails often hide malware.
- Requests for donations to “holiday causes” that don’t exist.
Why Holidays Are Hacker Heaven
- IT teams are running on skeleton staff.
- Year-end payments and invoices create a rush.
- Employees are distracted and less vigilant.
- Vendors and partners also slow down, creating supply chain risks.
How to Stay Safe (and Stress-Free)
- Turn on MFA, use advanced email filtering, and remind staff to double-check sender details.
- Double check payments and allow two approvals for transfers, and confirm banking changes by phone.
- Make sure VPNs are strong and disable unused accounts before the break.
- Keep an eye on endpoints. Use tools that monitor for threats even when your team is offline.
- Allow a quick refresher on spotting phishing emails can save you big headaches.
Bluechip Vendors That Have Your Back
- Keeper Security – Keeps passwords safe and enforces MFA.
- N-able – Endpoint detection and response for real-time protection.
- Arcserve – Backup and disaster recovery to keep your data safe.
- usecure – Security awareness training and phishing simulations.
- Coro – All-in-one cybersecurity for SMBs.
- Lansweeper – Visibility into your IT assets so nothing slips through the cracks.
Bottom Line
Scammers love the holidays, but with the right tools and a little planning, you can keep your business safe and enjoy the season worry-free. Before you shut down, make sure your security checklist is ticked off and your team knows what to watch for.
Happy Holidays from the Bluechip Infotech New Zealand team!
