The holidays are a time for celebration, time off, and year-end wrap-ups. For cybercriminals, it’s peak season. Every December, we see a major spike in phishing attacks, payment fraud, impersonation scams, and ransomware. Why? Because businesses are distracted, teams are traveling, and everyone is trying to close out the year as quickly as possible.
Here’s what every business needs to know to stay protected during this holiday season and to strengthen your cybersecurity before you step away for a well-earned break.
Why Cybercrime Surges in December
Cybercriminals love the holidays for three big reasons:
- Reduced Staff + Coverage Gaps
- Year-End Urgency
- Increase in Digital Transactions
Most Common Holiday Scams Targeting Businesses
Some cyberattacks spike specifically during November and December, and businesses should be especially alert for several seasonal threats. One of the most common is fake invoice scams, where attackers send convincing “final invoices” for year-end services hoping accounting teams pay them without a second look. Gift card scams also surge during the holidays, often involving emails that impersonate executives and pressure employees to urgently purchase gift cards. Companies also see an increase in vendor and shipping impersonation, with fake UPS, FedEx, or supplier messages requesting payment updates or account verification. Additionally, holiday-themed phishing emails (like “holiday schedule updates,” “bonus approvals,” and “Secret Santa reveals”) are crafted to entice quick clicks.
Cybercriminals also exploit the season of giving through charity and donation fraud, spoofing nonprofits and requesting end-of-year contributions. And finally, there is a rise in ransomware attacks targeting remote workers, as hackers take advantage of unsecured home networks and unpatched personal devices during the busy holiday period.
How to Protect Your Business Before the Holiday Break
Here’s what every business should do before the team heads out:
- Turn On (or Double-Check) MFA Everywhere
- Tighten Email Security
- Train Employees on Holiday Scams
- If it seems urgent, verify it.
- If it mentions money, double check it.
- If it feels off, ask IT.
- Lock Down Financial Approval Processes
- Ensure Backups Are Working (And Recoverable)
- Patch & Update All Systems
- Make Sure 24/7 Monitoring Is Active
Final Thoughts
The holidays should be stress-free, not a time for cybersecurity surprises. With the right protections in place, your business can stay safe, secure, and ready to roll smoothly into the new year.
If you’d like help reviewing your holiday cybersecurity posture – or need 24/7 monitoring, better email security, or employee training – we’re here to support you. Give us a call today to find out how.
