Ahhh, summer. Warmer days. Longer nights. For most, this time of year means kicking back on beaches, drinking cocktails, and not worrying about what’s happening in the office. That includes in-house IT teams but doesn’t include the people they’re trying to combat. While they’re taking a much-needed break, hackers are working around the clock. Because they know your team is likely to be out of the office and away from their computers during peak vacation months. Let’s look at the stats:

According to a study by Barracuda, high-risk cyber threats increased from 1-in-80 detected alerts during the beginning of the year to 1-in-5 during the summer. The peak appeared during the 90-day period between June and September, right when offices are more likely to be unattended due to holidays and vacations.

So, what types of attacks should you be on the lookout for? Here’s the breakdown of the most common threats you could encounter during the summer hacking wave:

Pie Chart Showing the Frequency of Cyberattack Threat levels

The Breakdown

High-Risk Attacks

Accounting for a whopping 40% of cyber threats during Barracuda’s 90-day study, these breaches are high-risk and incredibly dangerous. The primary type of breach in this category is a successful login to a company’s Microsoft 365 environment from a foreign country. Since people are often traveling in the summer, logins from a different country are more likely to happen as your team might be checking their email while on vacation. Despite this, only 5% of these alerts were legitimate logins.

Medium-Risk Attacks

Accounting for 25% of attacks during the study, these attacks indicate that something, or someone, is attacking from a device connected to a protected network or is brute-forcing login attempts. For the latter, hackers automate email and password combinations until they crack yours using custom programs to try up to 100 billion possible passwords per second. While these numbers are mind-boggling, with AI those attempts are just going to get more efficient.

So What Should You Do?

You deserve to be protected 24/7/365, no matter who’s in the office and who’s on the beach. So, what can you do to make sure you stand against the coming wave of hacking attempts? Even if you do have an in-house IT team, there are still steps you can take:

Be Proactive

Now that you know what’s coming, you can prepare for it. Communicate with your team about the risks and come up with a plan to avoid them. Reviewing security training, coordinating time off to avoid vulnerability, backing up critical data, and updating multi-factor identification measures can all help avoid a breach. Additionally, if you or a member of your team are traveling, avoid connecting to unsecured Wi-Fi. For a more secure way to connect, it’s encouraged to instead set up a hotspot from your phone, and to make sure you’re using a VPN while on the road.

Encourage Secure Vacation Culture

If you’re on vacation, put the laptop down. If there’s an understanding between you and your team that you won’t try logging in to your work accounts during your travels, your team will automatically know any login to your account from a different location is not you. Not only will you be able to enjoy your time off, but you’ll be reducing risk significantly. However, we know that sometimes pausing your time off to work is unavoidable, so if the situation arises, make sure you communicate with your team and take necessary precautions.

Schedule a Network Evaluation

You’re only as strong as your weakest link, so it’s important to inspect the whole chain. A network evaluation gives you a look into your entire IT environment so that you have a complete picture of how things are working, where improvements can be made, and security vulnerabilities that may need immediate attention. In order for you to be worry-free on your vacation, make sure your company’s data environment doesn’t have unseen cracks hackers can slip through.

Partner with a Managed Service Provider (MSP)

Managed IT Services provide the security and support to meet your company’s unique IT needs all year long. Having a team of IT experts on call and monitoring your systems not only ensures the coming wave of summer hackers doesn’t wash you away but also gives you and your team time back to actually enjoy some time off.

Not sure how to find an MSP that’s right for you? Check out our article so you know what to look for, or contact us so we can help you find a solution that’s right for you.

FAQs

Hackers are more likely to target businesses during summer vacation months when IT teams and employees are out of the office. This includes a higher risk of successful logins from foreign countries, brute-force attacks, and other cyber threats that could compromise your company's data and systems.
Taking proactive steps such as communicating with your team about the risks, coordinating time off to avoid vulnerabilities, backing up critical data, and updating multi-factor authentication measures. Additionally, partnering with a reliable IT provider in Springfield, MO, like JMARK, can provide 24/7 monitoring and support to secure your systems.
By encouraging a culture where employees refrain from logging into work accounts during their vacations, you can significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized logins from different locations. This not only enhances cybersecurity but also allows your employees to truly disconnect and enjoy their time off, promoting better work-life balance.
A network evaluation by a trusted IT provider in Springfield, MO, can help identify potential vulnerabilities in your IT environment. This comprehensive assessment ensures that your systems are secure and functioning optimally, reducing the risk of cyber threats and data breaches.
Partnering with an MSP like JMARK ensures that you have a team of IT experts monitoring your systems and providing support around the clock, even when your in-house IT team is on vacation. This proactive approach helps mitigate the risk of cyber-attacks and gives you peace of mind while you and your employees take well-deserved time off.
When selecting an IT provider in Springfield, MO, look for one with a proven track record, industry certifications, and a deep understanding of your specific business needs. Factors like response time, scalability, and the ability to stay up-to-date with the latest cybersecurity threats are also crucial considerations.
By implementing proven cybersecurity measures and partnering with a reliable IT provider in Springfield, MO, you can minimize the risk of cyber threats and data breaches. This, in turn, reduces the potential for downtime, disruptions, and productivity losses, allowing your team to remain focused and efficient even during the busier summer months.
Cyber-attacks can have severe consequences for businesses, including data breaches, financial losses, reputational damage, and legal liabilities. By prioritizing cybersecurity and partnering with a trusted IT provider in Springfield, MO, you can reduce the risk of such incidents and protect your business from these potential consequences.
Implementing strict security protocols, such as multi-factor authentication and secure remote access solutions, can help protect your company's data when employees are traveling. Additionally, providing cybersecurity training and encouraging a secure vacation culture can further minimize the risk of data breaches.
Partnering with a local IT provider like JMARK offers several advantages. They have a deep understanding of the local business landscape and can provide personalized support tailored to your specific needs. Additionally, their proximity allows for faster response times and more efficient communication, ensuring that your IT concerns are addressed promptly and effectively.

Hackers Don't Take Vacations...

Hackers Don't Take Vacations...

The Breakdown

High-Risk Attacks

Medium-Risk Attacks

So What Should You Do?

Be Proactive

Encourage Secure Vacation Culture

Schedule a Network Evaluation

Partner with a Managed Service Provider (MSP)

FAQs

The Breakdown

High-Risk Attacks

Medium-Risk Attacks

So What Should You Do?

Be Proactive

Encourage Secure Vacation Culture

Schedule a Network Evaluation

Partner with a Managed Service Provider (MSP)

FAQs

What are the risks of not having proper cybersecurity measures in place during summer vacation months?

How can I ensure my business is protected from cybersecurity threats during summer vacation?

What are the advantages of encouraging a secure vacation culture for my employees?

Why is it important to schedule a network evaluation for my business?

How can partnering with a Managed Service Provider (MSP) benefit my business during summer vacation months?

What steps should I take to choose the right IT support provider for my business?

How can I ensure that my team remains productive and focused during the summer vacation months?

What are the potential consequences of a successful cyber-attack on my business?

How can I ensure that my company's data remains secure while employees are traveling for vacation?

What are the benefits of partnering with a local IT provider in Springfield, MO, like JMARK?