The end of the year always puts extra pressure on companies. Finance teams are closing out the quarter, departments are rushing to finish projects, vendor payments are going out, budgets are being finalized, and people are taking time off. That combination creates noise and attackers know exactly how to blend into it. This is the time when fake vendor updates slip through, payment-change requests look believable, and access gets overlooked because everyone assumes someone else is watching.
You don’t need anything complicated to stay ahead of it. A few consistent habits and clear checkpoints can make a huge difference. Here are practical reminders worth sharing with your team as you head into the holiday and year-end rush.
1. Watch for Unusual Payment Requests
This is the time of year when companies finalize budgets, process last-minute invoices, and clear outstanding vendor payments. Attackers blend their messages into this activity.
When you receive a financial request, verify three things:
- Was this request expected?
- Is the banking information consistent with what’s already on file?
- Can we confirm the request through a known contact outside of email?
A two-minute call prevents the costliest type of fraud.
2. Review Access Before Everyone Heads Out
Before the holiday break, take a moment to look at who currently has access to your core systems email, cloud platforms, financial software, and shared drives.
Quick checks help:
- Remove accounts for former staff
- Limit administrative privileges
- Disable access that’s no longer needed
- Make sure MFA is enabled everywhere possible
Small adjustments now make holiday operations more predictable and reduce exposure.
3. Slow Down When Something Involves Urgency
Attackers rely on timing. They know people are trying to finish tasks before taking time off. Treat any “urgent” request especially those involving money, credentials, or new links as suspicious until verified. A message that asks for immediate action is usually designed to skip your normal process.
4. Be Cautious With Unexpected Vendor Communication
Year-end is a common time for:
- Contract renewals
- Service changes
- System updates
- New portals for year-end statements
Attackers imitate these patterns. If a vendor email doesn’t match their usual communication style, or if it directs you to a new login page, verify it independently. Visit the vendor’s site manually rather than clicking any link.
5. Keep an Eye on Systems While Staffing Is Low
Holiday schedules often leave fewer people monitoring alerts or unusual activity.
Before the break, confirm:
- Where your alerts go
- Who is responsible for checking them
- How incidents will be escalated
- Whether your MSP or IT provider has holiday coverage
You don’t need a full incident response plan just clarity on who responds when something looks off.
6. Remind Staff About Safe Remote Use
Many people work from hotels, airports, or family homes this time of year. That often means using unfamiliar networks.
A few reminders help:
- Update devices before traveling
- Avoid accessing sensitive systems over public Wi-Fi
- Use a VPN when connecting remotely
- Keep devices with you not in cars, hotel lobbies, or shared spaces
Nothing complicated just practical precautions.
7. Clean Up Old Shared Links and Unused Access
During the year, businesses accumulate temporary file links and shared folders that no one remembers to revoke.
Take a few minutes to:
- Remove public sharing links
- Unshare documents that are no longer needed
- Archive or restrict old project folders
It’s a small task that reduces unnecessary exposure.
8. Treat Seasonal Messaging With Extra Caution
Holiday-themed messages charity requests, digital cards, shipping updates, and “year-end rewards” are common tools for attackers. They rely on familiarity and goodwill.
If a message asks for:
- Gift cards
- Donations sent through unusual methods
- Sign-ins to view a “holiday message”
- Attachments you weren’t expecting
Pause and verify before opening or responding.
9. Make Holiday Prep Part of Your Annual Routine
Year-end security doesn’t have to be stressful. When basic habits access reviews, consistent verification, clear responsibilities are practiced throughout the year, the holidays become just another checkpoint instead of a pressure point.
Security grows stronger through small changes done consistently, not large projects added all at once.
Don’t wait for a breach to disrupt your year-end operations. Let our team help you secure your systems, streamline vendor payments, and keep your business running smoothly through the holidays and beyond. Contact us today to see how we can make IT simple and safe for your company.