Summer travel season is here, finally! Whether your team is heading out for vacation, working remotely from the beach or home, attending conferences and continuing education or checking emails from the airport, one thing should be on every business owner’s checklist: device updates.
It may not sound exciting, but updating your devices (laptops, tablets, smartphones) as well as business applications before employees travel is one of the simplest and most effective ways to reduce cybersecurity risk. When devices leave the office, they are exposed to less secure networks, unfamiliar environments and more opportunities for theft, loss or attack.
Software updates often include important security patches. Cybercriminals look for known weaknesses in operating systems, browsers, apps and business tools. Once a vulnerability becomes public, attackers move quickly to take advantage of devices that have not been patched. If an employee travels with an outdated laptop or phone, they may unknowingly carry a security gap right into a hotel, airport, coffee shop or rental property network.
Updates also help protect against malware and phishing-related threats. Many updates improve how devices detect suspicious files, block unsafe websites, and prevent unauthorized access. When employees are working on the go, they may be more likely to click quickly, connect to public Wi-Fi, or respond to urgent-looking messages while distracted. Keeping devices current helps reduce the chances that one rushed decision becomes a larger business problem.
Performance is another reason updates matter. Travel already comes with enough headaches — delayed flights, spotty internet, dead batteries and last-minute schedule changes. The last thing your team needs is a device that freezes, crashes or refuses to open a critical application. Updates can improve stability, fix bugs, and keep business tools running smoothly when employees need them most.
Businesses should make sure all operating systems, antivirus tools, browsers, VPN software, and Microsoft 365 or cloud-based applications are current. It is also a good time to confirm that devices are encrypted, protected with strong passwords or biometrics, and set up with multi-factor authentication. Remote access tools should be tested before employees leave, not after they are already out of town and unable to connect.
For businesses with managed IT support, this process can be handled proactively. An MSP, such as Atlantic Technology Services, can monitor update status, apply patches, verify security settings and make sure devices are travel-ready before employees leave the office. This reduces the burden on staff and gives business leaders confidence that remote work will not come at the expense of security.
Summer travel should be a time for flexibility, productivity and a little well-earned rest — not IT issues. A few simple updates before employees hit the road can help protect company data, keep devices running properly, and lower the risk of cyber threats.
Before your team packs their bags, make sure their technology is ready to travel too. If you are unsure whether your business devices are fully updated and secure, now is the time to schedule an IT checkup.