Preparing your IT for the Christmas Break: Four checks Lancashire businesses shouldn’t overlook

For many Lancashire businesses, the Christmas period brings quieter offices, reduced staffing levels and systems left running with minimal oversight.

It is also a time when IT issues and cyber incidents are more likely to occur. Extended shutdowns, delayed updates and limited monitoring can leave systems exposed, often going unnoticed until teams return in the new year.

A small amount of preparation before the festive break can help businesses avoid disruption and start January on a stronger footing.

1. Confirm backups are running and recoverable

Regular backups form the foundation of any effective IT and cyber resilience strategy but they are only useful if they are functioning correctly.

Before closing for Christmas, businesses should take time to:

• Confirm backups are running as scheduled
• Ensure all critical systems and data are included
• Test that files can be successfully restored if required
• Verifying backups ahead of time can significantly reduce the impact of unexpected incidents.

2. Address outstanding updates and security patches

Unpatched systems remain one of the most common entry points for cybercriminals.

During longer periods of inactivity, known vulnerabilities can remain exposed for days or weeks. Applying updates before the festive shutdown helps reduce this risk.

Key steps include:

• Installing pending operating system and software updates
• Applying security patches across business-critical systems
• Identifying any unsupported or end-of-life software
• Proactive patching reduces exposure to ransomware and other cyber threats.

3. Review user access and remote security measures

Changes to staffing arrangements over the Christmas period can create unintended security gaps.

Leavers, temporary access, shared inboxes and remote working arrangements should all be reviewed before offices close.

Businesses are advised to:

• Remove access for former or temporary users
• Review permissions on shared accounts
• Enable multi-factor authentication where available
• Even small access reviews can make a significant difference to overall security.

4. Establish a clear IT support and incident plan

When issues occur during the festive break, knowing who to contact and how incidents will be handled is critical.

Every business should have:

• A clearly defined IT support contact
• Up to date out-of-hours escalation details
• An agreed plan for responding to urgent issues
• Without clear arrangements in place, minor problems can escalate quickly.

Reducing risk during the festive period

Preparing IT systems ahead of the Christmas break does not require major changes or investment. By focusing on these four practical checks, businesses can reduce risk, protect key systems and return to work with greater confidence in the new year.

For Lancashire businesses, proactive IT preparation is an important part of maintaining operational resilience and safeguarding data during quieter periods.