The cybersecurity checklist Before vacation, it's a key tool for companies to reduce risks while their teams enjoy the holiday period. Checking access, protecting information, verifying backups, and strengthening surveillance are some of the main measures to prevent incidents during a time when business activity slows down.
During the summer months, many organizations reduce their response capacity because some of their employees are out of the office. Cybercriminals can take advantage of this situation to try to access systems, steal information, or launch attacks that go unnoticed for longer.
For this reason, preparing security before the holidays shouldn't be a last-minute task, but rather just another part of your business protection strategy.
In this article you'll find a cybersecurity checklist before vacation with the main actions that any company should review before closing offices, reducing activity, or working with minimal teams.
Why is it important to get cybersecurity ready before going on vacation?
Vacation periods often turn into especially sensitive times from an IT security point of view.
Fewer employees around, schedule changes, and less supervision can create opportunities for attackers.
Some common situations are:
- Users who leave sessions open on shared computers.
- Fraudulent emails that take advantage of the absence of those in charge.
- Fraudulent emails that take advantage of the absence of those in charge.
- Targeted attacks against systems with less monitoring.
- Recovery problems due to lack of updated backups.
According to different industry studies, the human factor continues to be one of the main entry points for attacks, especially through techniques like phishing or social engineering.
That's why a preventive check-up before summer can prevent serious problems during a time when your ability to react might be lower.
Cybersecurity checklist before vacation: essential measures
Before starting the vacation period, it's recommended to do a complete check of the main elements that affect business security.
1. Review users, permissions, and access1. Review users, permissions, and access
One of the first tasks should be to check who has access to corporate resources.
During the year it’s common for permissions to accumulate that are no longer needed:
- Users who have changed departments.
- Accounts of employees who no longer work at the company.
- Excessive permissions on documents or apps.
- Temporary accesses that have not been removed.
Before vacation, it's a good idea to do a basic audit:
Check user accounts
Check:
- Active users.
- Inactive users.
- Administrative accounts.
- External accesses.
Accounts that aren't used should be disabled to reduce possible entry points.
Apply the principle of least privilege
Each user should only have the permissions necessary to do their job.
Reducing unnecessary permissions limits the impact in case of credential theft.
2. Check the backups
Backups are one of the most important measures in any cybersecurity strategy.
However, it's not enough to just have a configured backup. You need to make sure it works properly and that it allows you to recover the information.
Before vacation, it's recommended to check:
- Date of the last backup made.
- Status of the automatic tasks.
- Available capacity.
- Restoration tests.
- Protection against ransomware.
A copy that has never been tested might not be useful when it's really needed.
Microsoft 365 Backups
Many companies think their data in Microsoft 365 is completely protected just because it's in the cloud.
Although Microsoft guarantees service availability, the responsibility for certain data still lies with the organization.
For that reason, it's a good idea to review the protection of:
- Exchange Online.
- OneDrive.
- SharePoint Online.
- Microsoft Teams.
Having a specific backup solution for Microsoft 365 lets you recover deleted, damaged, or compromised information.
3. Strengthen protection against phishing
During the holidays, attempts at scams related to the following increase:
- Employee absences.
- Urgent payment requests.
- Bank account changes.
- Alleged messages from suppliers.
Before the vacation period, it's a good idea to remind employees:
- Don't click on suspicious links.
- Check financial requests.
- Check senders.
- Use multi-factor authentication.
Turn on and check multi-factor authentication (MFA)
Multi-factor authentication adds an extra layer of protection.
Even if a password is stolen, the attacker will need a second method of verification to get in.
It's especially important to turn it on for:
- Administrators.
- Users with access to sensitive information.
- Critical services.
4. Update systems and devices
Outdated systems can have known vulnerabilities that attackers use to get into organizations.
Before vacation, it's a good idea to check:
- Operating systems.
- Business applications.
- Antivirus.
- Firewalls.
- Portable equipment.
- Servers.
Keeping devices updated significantly reduces the attack surface.
5. Check the security of mobile devices and laptops
During vacation, many employees continue working from other places.
This implies new risks:
- Connections from public WiFi networks.
- Loss of devices.
- Access from unusual locations.
Good practices:
- Turn on automatic screen lock.
- Use device encryption.
- Avoid unprotected public networks.
- Keep the software up to date.
- Use a VPN when necessary.
6. Prepare a protocol for security incidents
Even if all preventive measures are taken, no company is completely free from suffering an incident.
That's why it's recommended to define beforehand:
- Who should be contacted in case of an attack.
- Which suppliers should get involved.
- Which systems are critical.
- How to report an incident.
During vacations, having a clear procedure can considerably reduce response time.
7. Train and raise awareness among employees
Technology is important, but people are still a key part of cybersecurity.
Before vacation, it's a good idea to send reminders about:
- Safe use of email.
- Threat identification.
- Password management.
- Device protection.
- Responsible use of corporate information.
A short awareness campaign can prevent a lot of incidents.
Quick cybersecurity checklist before closing for vacation
Before starting the vacation period, check:
- Users and permissions reviewed.
- Unnecessary accounts deleted.
- Verified backups.
- Tested restorations.
- MFA activated on critical users.
- Updated systems.
- Antivirus and endpoint protection working.
- Users informed about risks.
- Defined response protocol.
- Active monitoring during vacation.
Cybersecurity during vacation: prevention makes the difference
Cyberattacks don't stop during the summer.
In fact, periods with lower activity can be taken advantage of by cybercriminals to try to access business systems with less resistance.
Prepare one cybersecurity checklist before vacation it allows you to anticipate problems and make sure the company stays protected even when part of the team is out.
Prevention, training, and a proper protection strategy are the best allies for enjoying your vacation with peace of mind.
Protect your business before the holidays with ABD
At ABD Consulting and IT Solutions we help companies improve their technology security through cybersecurity services adapted to your needs.
Our team can help you with:
- Check the security status of your company.
- Protect your Microsoft 365 environments.
- Implement backup solutions.
- Improve protection against threats.
- Set up access and security policies.
- Train your employees in good practices.
Don't wait to experience an incident to check your organization's security.
Get in touch with ABD and get your business ready for a safer vacation.