The holiday season changes the rhythm of almost every business. Employees take time off, schedules get rearranged, and people are trying to finish projects before the end of the year. Some employees may be working remotely or traveling, while others are covering responsibilities they don't normally handle.
It's a busy time, and even good routines can get overlooked. That includes cybersecurity.
We don't think businesses need to turn the holidays into a month-long security lecture. But a few timely reminders can help employees make good decisions when their normal routines change.
Here are five worth sharing with your team.
- Slow Down When Something Feels Urgent
Most businesses have a lot happening toward the end of the year. Invoices need approval, projects need finishing, and people want answers before they leave for vacation. Scammers know that urgency can make people less likely to stop and ask questions.
An email might claim a payment needs to be processed immediately or that an account will be suspended unless someone acts right away. Sometimes a request really is urgent. But urgency alone isn't a reason to skip your normal process.
Encourage employees to take a moment before responding to unexpected requests involving money, passwords or sensitive information.
A quick pause can prevent a much bigger interruption.
- Verify the Unexpected "Quick Favor"
Imagine an employee receives an email that appears to come from the owner: "I'm heading into a meeting. Can you take care of this payment for me?"
The message sounds reasonable. The name looks familiar. And the employee wants to be helpful. But if the request is unusual, it deserves a second look.
This is especially important when someone asks for a wire transfer, changes to payment information, login credentials or confidential business records.
The simplest protection is often an established verification process. Call the person using a number you already know, or confirm the request through your normal company communication channel.
Employees shouldn't have to guess whether a message is legitimate. They should know how to check.
- Don't Let Convenience Replace Good Security Practices
Holiday travel and changing schedules sometimes mean employees work from places they wouldn't normally use. Maybe someone checks email from a hotel, works from home for a few days or needs to access company files while traveling.
That's not necessarily a problem, provided employees have the right tools and know the expectations.
Before the holiday rush, remind your team which devices and applications are approved for company work, how to access business systems securely, and what to do if they need help connecting remotely.
It's also worth reminding employees not to move company information into personal email accounts or unapproved applications just because it seems easier.
Good security practices should be practical enough that employees can follow them even when they're away from the office.
- Be Careful With Holiday Shopping and Delivery Messages
This time of year, inboxes fill up with shipping notifications, order confirmations, travel updates and holiday promotions. That makes it easier for a fake message to blend in with legitimate ones.
An employee might receive a notice about a delayed package or a problem with an online order. The message includes a link to fix the issue. Instead of clicking, it's safer to visit the retailer's or delivery company's website directly and check the order there. The same advice applies to unexpected travel confirmations, gift card requests and account alerts.
You don't need employees to become experts at identifying every fake email. You want them to develop the habit of verifying unexpected requests before taking action.
- Make Sure Employees Know Whom to Ask
One of the most useful security reminders is also one of the simplest: If something doesn't seem right, ask.
Employees should know whom to contact when they receive a suspicious message, encounter an unexpected login request or think they may have clicked something they shouldn't have. And they should feel comfortable speaking up quickly.
If someone makes a mistake, the priority should be getting the right people involved so the issue can be addressed. That's especially important during the holidays, when managers may be away and normal contacts aren't always available.
Take a few minutes to confirm that employees know how to reach the appropriate person even when the usual office routine changes.
Keep the Reminders Simple
You don't need to schedule hours of training before the holidays. A brief conversation at a staff meeting or a short email covering these five reminders may be enough to reinforce the habits your business already expects.
The important thing is to make sure employees understand the process, know where to get help and feel comfortable asking questions. Cybersecurity works best when people aren't expected to figure everything out on their own.
And that's true whether it's the middle of July or the week before Christmas.
Let's Have the Conversation
If you're wondering whether your business is prepared for changing holiday schedules, remote work or unexpected security questions, Literati IT can help.
We work with businesses throughout Morgantown, Fairmont, Clarksburg and North Central West Virginia to make technology and security practices easier to manage.
Call us at 304-296-8026 or visit www.literatiit.com to schedule a quick discovery call.
No pressure. No technical jargon. Just a practical conversation about keeping your business running smoothly through the holidays and beyond.
