The Christmas Eve IT checklist your business will thank you for

It’s Christmas Eve, the office is quieter, your team is heading off and your inbox is finally slowing down. But while everyone else is thinking about mince pies and last-minute shopping, cybercriminals don’t take a break.

The festive period is one of the peak times for cyber incidents, from ransomware attacks to accidental data loss. A little preparation now can protect your business while you enjoy the holidays.

1️. Watch out for “festive” phishing emails

Hackers love Christmas-themed emails:

• Fake delivery notifications
• Discount offers from popular stores
• Holiday charity scams
  Even on Christmas Eve, someone might click a link thinking it’s a last-minute gift.
  Tip: Remind staff to be cautious, even when they’re in holiday mode.

2️. Holiday system downtime

Leaving systems running without monitoring can be risky. Common issues include:

• Servers overheating from unused processes
• Scheduled jobs failing unnoticed
• Automatic updates causing unexpected reboots

Tip: Schedule a quick system health check and ensure critical alerts are sent to someone on call.

3️. Lockdown unused accounts

Temporary staff, shared logins or leftover contractor accounts can become weak points while everyone’s away.

• Remove unnecessary access
• Enable MFA on critical accounts
• Disable shared admin credentials temporarily

Even small housekeeping now can prevent January headaches.

4️. Prepare a holiday emergency kit

You might not expect issues but having a plan makes all the difference:

• Who to call if a server crashes
• Contact for urgent cybersecurity incidents
• Quick access to backup restores

Tip: Make a one-page guide for your team, short, clear and easy to follow.

Extra festive tip: test your backups with a fun twist

Turn testing backups into a mini holiday challenge for the IT team: “Restore one file, wrap one gift.” 
It keeps the task lighthearted while ensuring your systems are protected.

The gift of peace of mind

Christmas Eve is all about winding down and enjoying the moment. By taking these four extra steps, businesses can protect themselves, keep systems secure and switch off for the holidays without worry.

From all of us at J700 Group, have a safe, happy and hassle free Christmas.