Is Your Business Ready for Christmas?
The festive season is rapidly approaching, and many businesses will be preparing to wind down operations as staff take time to be with their families over the holiday season. But it is incredibly important that businesses remember that just because they are winding down, it does not mean that cyber criminals are.
In fact, quite the opposite, cyber attacks increase by 30% during public holidays, as cyber criminals understand that many businesses are short staffed and those that are working often let their guards down. Amidst the festive cheer, it's essential that businesses ensure their IT Infrastructure and Cyber Security measures are robust and remain monitored during the Christmas and New Year shutdown, are you ready?
Let us take a look at many of the key considerations that should be on your business Christmas/New Year shut down checklist to ensure a secure and smooth operation during this period.
Out of Office Emails
Have you ensured that your employees have scheduled out-of-office replies for email communications?
Whilst many of your employees may be taking time off between Christmas and New Year, not all businesses shut down throughout the holiday season. Ensure that these messages are brief, professional, and informative, providing alternative contacts for urgent matters and a return to office date.
Phone System Messages
Similar to your employee emails, updating your business phone system to reflect your opening hours during the holiday season is essential (or even leading up to closures). An updated voice message can guide or forward callers to an emergency contact or advise on the date of reopening or longer than usual wait times if your business is operating on reduced staffing levels. The last thing you want is to have customers/clients waiting on hold for a call that will never be answered.
IT Support and Remote Access for Critical Personnel
Whilst many businesses do shut down completely over the Christmas and New Year period, the same cannot be said for all. Some businesses will operate on reduced staffing levels, and many key workers will work remotely throughout that time. It is essential that your business prepares to have secure access to essential systems in place for those that require it. Ensure that VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) and other remote access systems are tested and are functioning and that employees who may be working remotely can easily access everything that they may need throughout the holiday season.
Finally, it is important that employees are aware of the process of raising IT Support requests throughout the holiday season, whether that be through your IT support provider (such as ourselves) or through an internal team. Don’t be stuck needing help! For TwentyFour customers we will be here to support you when you need us.
Cyber Security Solutions & Monitoring
The holiday season sees a surge in cyber attacks, increasing by about 30% during the Christmas/New Year period (as well as other public holidays), read a story of how one business experienced a cyber attack at 3am on Christmas morning. This is because many businesses must leave much of their critical infrastructure operating whilst they are not in the office so as remote workers can continue to work effectively, and that they can seamlessly return to business in the New Year. However, cyber criminals are aware that this is also the time were people let their guards down. Throughout this time, employees may not be alert to common cyber threats such as those via phishing attacks and more, it is important to consider that the human element of cyber security is often considered as being the weakest link. It's critical that businesses have the Cyber Security tools such as Email Security and Endpoint Detection and Response, which use Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to monitor for Unusual, Suspicious or Malicious activity and block them in their tracks. Paired with 24/7/365 monitoring through our own Cyber Security Operations Centre, you can ensure that even if a cyber attack is launched on your business at 3am on Christmas Day... you stay protected!
Software Updates and Maintenance
Before you shut down for the holiday season, ensure that all operating systems and software is updated to the latest versions, including any security patches that may be available, this ensures that any Zero Day threats that have been discovered are patched to mitigate security risks. Many businesses may also schedule necessary maintenance activities and IT projects throughout this time to prevent downtime and disruptions during normal business operations.
Awareness and Training
Cyber Security Awareness and Training is something that should continuously be shared throughout your business. However, throughout the holiday season, it is more important that employees do not let their guard down against these common cyber security threats. Remind staff of cyber security best practices, what to watch out for, and ensure that they are aware of the procedures to follow in case of an emergency.
Data Backup
Regular Backups and Backup Security are crucial to safeguard your business data. Ensure that your Backup Policies and systems are functioning correctly, and that all critical data is backed up before you shut down. This ensures that if the worst happens, such as a significant hardware failure, that you can recover your data.
Emergency Contact List
Emergency Contact Lists are not just essential within your business as part of a Business Continuity strategy they can also be essential for your customers, clients, and partners. Ensure that all Key Personnel and Businesses are aware of emergency contacts for IT Support, Telecoms, Alarms, CCTV and much more, to make sure you are responded to in a timely manner in the event of a critical incident.
How can we help your business this holiday season?
The Christmas and New Year period is a time for you to unwind and spend time with your family but ensuring that your business's critical IT infrastructure is secured, functioning optimally and that key workers can continue to work seamlessly will provide you with additional peace of mind during the break. By addressing the above considerations, you are well on your way to enjoying a hassle-free holiday season and TwentyFour are here to assist you throughout the downtime. If you want to ensure that your business is prepared for the holiday shut down and that you have the necessary support in place, please reach out to us today.