Vacation season should be a time to relax and recharge. But, while employees are packing bags, setting out-of-office replies, and checking email from airports or hotels, cybercriminals are paying attention.
For small and mid-sized businesses, summer travel and vacation season can create the perfect opportunity for attackers. Schedules change, employees work from unfamiliar locations, devices connect to unsecured networks and fewer people may be available to catch suspicious activity quickly.
Cybercriminals know this, and they often use it to their advantage. Here are the top five common risks on how cybercriminals exploit your company's vacation season.
One of the most common risks during vacation season is phishing. Employees may receive emails that appear to be from airlines, hotels, delivery services, banks or even company leadership. These messages often create urgency, claiming there is a problem with a reservation, payment, password or account. When an employee is distracted, traveling, or trying to handle work quickly from a phone, they may be more likely to click a malicious link or enter their credentials on a fake login page.
Another major concern is business email compromise. When managers, executives, or finance team members are out of the office, attackers may impersonate them and send requests for wire transfers, gift card purchases, invoice payments, or sensitive information. A simple message like “I’m traveling and need this handled today” can pressure employees into acting before verifying the request.
Vacation season also increases the use of public Wi-Fi. Airports, hotels, coffee shops and conference centers may offer convenient internet access, but these networks are not always secure. Cybercriminals can use unsecured networks to intercept data, capture login credentials, or trick users into connecting to fake Wi-Fi networks that look legitimate.
Personal devices can add another layer of risk. Employees may use phones, tablets or laptops while traveling, sometimes sharing devices with family members or connecting to unknown chargers and accessories. If those devices are not properly updated, secured and monitored, they can become an entry point into company systems.
Even out-of-office (OOO) replies can provide useful information to attackers. A message that reveals an employee is away, who is covering for them, and when they will return can help cybercriminals time their attacks or impersonate internal contacts more convincingly.
The good news is that businesses can reduce these risks with the right preparation.
Before vacation season, companies should:
It is also important to have clear policies for remote access, payment approvals, and reporting suspicious activity. Employees should know who to contact if something seems off, even while they are traveling.
As a managed service provider, we help businesses prepare for these seasonal risks before they become costly incidents. The right IT partner can help keep your business protected — whether your team is in the office, on the road, or enjoying a well-earned vacation.
Schedule a discovery meeting today to discuss keeping your business protected — on vacation and throughout the year. Cybercriminals do not take the summer off. With the right safeguards in place, your business does not have to become their next easy target.