The holiday season is a time for celebration, travel, end-of-year projects, and employees rushing to wrap up the year before heading out for some well-deserved time off. Unfortunately, it’s also one of the busiest times of the year for cybercriminals. With offices lightly staffed, employees shopping online, and companies rushing to close out the year, threat actors take advantage of these distractions – and they do it well.
For businesses, this combination makes December one of the most vulnerable months for cyberattacks. From phishing scams disguised as package delivery updates to fraudulent invoices and credential-stealing malware, attackers know exactly how to blend into the noise of the season.
Why Cyber Threats Spike During the Holidays
Attackers follow patterns, and December provides the perfect storm:
- Reduced Staffing: Holiday PTO means fewer eyes watching networks and fewer responders available if anything goes wrong. The latest Ransomware Holiday Risk Report by Sempris found that in the U.S., 56% of reported ransomware attacks within the past 12 months occurred on a weekend or holiday. (Sempris)
- Increased Online Shopping & Personal Use: Employees browsing or shopping on work devices opens the door to malicious links, fake websites, and compromised browser extensions.
- Surge in Seasonal Messaging: Shipping notifications, charity drives, gift card requests, travel confirmations - attackers tailor scams to what people expect to see this time of year. A GeoEdge report found that Malvertising, where attackers use malicious ads, clickbait, and other deceptive tactics to trick users, is showing a 10% year-over-year surge. (GeoEdge)
- End-of-Year Financial Activity: Invoices, renewals, contracts, and wire transfers increase in Q4, making it easier for a fake one to slip through. Cybersecurity experts have observed a 70% increase in attempted ransomware attacks in November and December, compared to January and February. (American Banker)
How Companies Can Strengthen Their Defenses This Season
Staying secure during the holidays starts with a strong foundation – the right processes, the right employee habits, and the right technology to keep watch behind the scenes. Here’s what every organization should prioritize in December:
- Keep Employees Alert – Seasonal phishing attempts spike because people are busier, more distracted, and expecting more emails than usual. Keeping employees aware with regular reminders and timely training will ensure they are ready.
Our solution: Lightspeed Solutions provides regular cybersecurity training and simulated phishing to teach teams how to recognize and report suspicious activity before it becomes a problem.
- Strengthen Account Security – Weak or reused passwords continue to be a top entry point for attackers – especially when staff is out. By enforcing stronger password habits and requiring multi-factor authentication, your team will be locked up.
Our solution: We equip teams with enterprise-grade password management and secure authentication tools, so even the busiest employee stays protected.
- Ensure Devices Are Protected Against Modern Threats – Today's malware doesn’t act like old-school viruses – it adapts, spreads quickly, and often appears legitimate. Keeping endpoint protection up to date ensures that every device accessing company data meets security standards.
Our solution: Our next-generation antivirus and behavior-based threat detection identify and block suspicious activity in real time across all employee devices.
- Maintain Visibility with Continuous Monitoring – Attacks often happen when no one is watching - nights, weekends, and holidays. By monitoring your systems for unusual logins, device behavior, or unauthorized access, you can catch a threat before it gets too far.
Our solution: Lightspeed Solutions provides 24/7 remote monitoring and management, so potential issues are spotted (and often resolved) long before they impact business operations.
Stay Festive and Stay Secure
Cyber threats and hackers don’t take holiday breaks. But with the right protections in place, your team can, with peace of mind.
By preparing now, training employees, and ensuring your systems are monitored and secured, your business can enjoy a safe, productive, and peaceful end to the year. If you’d like to strengthen your organization’s cybersecurity before the new year, Lightspeed Solutions is here to support you every step of the way.
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