The Festive Season’s Cyber Security Challenges
As businesses wind down for the festive period, cyber criminals are gearing up for their busiest time of the year. For Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) and IT leads, the Christmas season is often far from relaxing. With reduced staffing, increased phishing attempts, and rising ransomware attacks, this period becomes a peak stress point for security teams. Burnout and mental health struggles are increasingly common among those responsible for protecting digital assets during the holiday season.
Digital Transformation: A Double-Edged Sword
Digital transformation has become an essential part of most businesses, driving efficiency and optimising work processes. However, the greater reliance on digital tools has exposed companies to a heightened risk of cyber threats. With almost every aspect of business being digitised, security demands on CISOs have intensified. According to Gartner*, 62% of cyber security leaders report working late nights or weekends, and 37% face unrealistic expectations, making the festive rush even more challenging.
Why Christmas is a High-Risk Period for Cyber Security
The holiday season presents a unique combination of factors that create an ideal environment for cyber criminals to exploit:
- Phishing Frenzy: Fake festive e-cards, delivery notifications, and charity appeals are used to lure employees into clicking malicious links. Despite widespread awareness, phishing remains the top attack vector for cyber criminals.
- Skeleton IT Teams: Reduced staffing levels during the holidays slow down response times, while the rise of remote work creates additional vulnerabilities.
- Unpatched Systems: Delayed updates due to holiday breaks leave businesses exposed to known exploits.
- Supply Chain Vulnerabilities: The festive rush can result in security gaps in business partnerships and transactions.
- Social Engineering: Cyber criminals exploit the goodwill and distractions of the holiday season, using urgent requests that appear to come from trusted sources.
“Cyber criminals are always on the lookout for opportunities,” explains Matt Jones, Chief Defensive Security Officer at PureCyber. They take advantage of the distractions, staff absences, and the festive goodwill that come with the holiday season.
Reducing Cyber Risks Over Christmas
PureCyber recommends several strategies to mitigate cyber risks during the holiday period:
- Training Staff: Regular awareness training keeps employees vigilant, particularly around phishing.
- Auditing Systems: Regularly review and address vulnerabilities, ensure backups are operational, and test incident response plans.
- Implementing MFA and Limiting Access: Strengthen access controls and limit critical system access to essential personnel only.
- Planning Incident Response: Define roles clearly and have backup contacts in place for rapid responses to incidents.
- Using Managed Security Services: A 24/7 monitoring service can detect and respond to threats in real-time, reducing pressure on in-house teams.
“These steps establish a strong defence, not only for the festive season but for the entire year,” says Jon Stock, Chief Information Risk Officer at PureCyber. Engaging your employees and implementing strong processes are key to reducing your risk.”
Your Trusted Partner
Understanding the challenges CISOs face is at the heart of PureCyber’s mission. With a 24/7 Security Operations Centre and expert-led solutions, PureCyber offers seamless integration with your team, providing comprehensive protection without adding to your workload.
With a constant focus on cyber security, businesses can rest assured that their digital environments are protected during the chaotic holiday season. PureCyber’s expert team works behind the scenes, ensuring that your processes and protections are designed to handle every challenge that may arise.
Don’t let cyber security concerns overshadow the festive season. Discover PureCyber’s simple 7-step checklist for a stress-free Christmas or contact them to learn how they can help you secure a safer, less demanding holiday season and beyond.
