Did you know that cyberattacks spike by over 30% during the holiday season, especially targeting small to mid-sized businesses while teams are offline? With staff out of office and phones going straight to voicemail, your business network may be more vulnerable than you think. That’s why we created a simple pre-holiday checklist to help you shut things down safely before heading home to enjoy the season.
Key Takeaways
- Holiday closures are a prime time for cyberattacks.
- A few smart checks can greatly reduce risk.
- Utah businesses should secure both digital and physical infrastructure.
- Having an on-call plan prevents panic if something goes wrong.
- 1Wire is here to support you before, during, and after the holidays.
What should I check before closing my business for the holidays?
We get this question a lot from Utah business owners, and for good reason. When the office is closed but your network stays on, it’s the perfect time for cybercriminals to try sneaking in. The good news is that a few quick, intentional checks can go a long way in protecting your team, your customers, and your data.
Need peace of mind before you close up shop? Schedule a 30-minute Holiday Lockdown Review with 1Wire. We’ll walk through these seven checks together and help you prepare without the jargon or stress.
7 Quick Security Checks for a Stress-Free Holiday Break
1. Firewall & Alerts
- Double-check that your firewall is being actively monitored.
- Update your alert escalation plan so the right people are notified over the break.
If something suspicious happens, you want your team to know immediately; proactive monitoring makes all the difference.
2. User Access & Remote Logins
- Remove old employee or temporary user accounts.
- Review VPN access and require multi-factor authentication.
Ensuring remote access is secure is especially critical as more companies embrace hybrid setups and need support in securing hybrid work environments.
3. Backups & Recovery
- Verify your most recent backup completed successfully.
- Confirm that you’ve got at least one offline or off-site backup.
If anything goes sideways, you need to recover fast. A solid backup strategy helps maintain uptime and resilience without missing a beat.
4. VoIP/Cloud Phones
- Check your holiday call routing and voicemail greetings.
- Make sure no sensitive info is left in messages or auto-attendants.
To protect against seasonal scams, be sure your VoIP system is secured and routing behaves exactly as expected over the holidays.
Also ensure your cloud phones are configured to minimize risk and miscommunication.
5. Internet & Uptime
- Know who’s alerted if your Internet connection goes down.
- Prioritize key services using Quality of Service (QoS), if applicable.
If your business depends on consistent access, these steps help you stay online and operational during peak holiday times.
6. Physical Network Gear
- Lock up network closets and secure any exposed wiring.
- Remove any “mystery” cables or temporary fixes.
Quick physical inspections help reduce accidental disconnections and potential tampering. Even well-run teams can overlook these details when things get busy.
7. Holiday Incident Plan
- Choose your holiday on-call contact.
- Create a basic “if X, then call Y” plan.
For example: “If you notice strange login attempts, notify IT using the emergency contact list.” With holiday season being the most dangerous time of the year for cybercrime, having an action plan can mean the difference between catching a problem early and discovering it too late.
Let’s Make Sure You’re Locked Down Tight
At 1Wire, we’re not just your phone or Internet provider; we’re your holiday safety net. From Salt Lake to St. George, we help Utah businesses of all sizes stay protected while you focus on what matters most: family, rest, and starting the new year strong.
Need peace of mind before you close up shop? Schedule a 30-minute Holiday Lockdown Review with 1Wire. We’ll walk through these seven checks together and help you prepare without the jargon or stress.
FAQs
What if we forget to check something before we close?
Don’t worry. Just reach out to your 1Wire team. We can run a remote check and give you the all-clear or help fix anything that needs attention.
How often should we update our holiday incident plan?
Ideally once a year, or any time your team or setup changes. It’s smart to review before every major holiday.
Can you help with remote support if something happens while we’re closed?
Absolutely. We’re local and available. Our support team can jump in quickly if you’ve got an issue.
Is this checklist just for big businesses?
Not at all. These steps are just as important for smaller teams and tight-knit local companies. Even small remote teams can be targeted during the holidays.
