13 October 2025

10 Weeks Until Christmas – Time to Lock In Your Cybersecurity Plans

​The countdown to Christmas has begun — just 10 weeks to go. For most organisations, this means preparing for a busy period filled with last-minute orders, reduced staff availability, and an influx of online transactions. Unfortunately, it also marks one of the most active times of the year for cybercriminals.
While your team is winding down or focused on delivering end-of-year results, cyber attackers are ramping up. They know businesses are distracted, key decision-makers are on leave, and IT resources are stretched thin. This perfect storm creates opportunities for phishing, invoice fraud, ransomware attacks, and supply chain breaches to slip through unnoticed.
That’s why now — not December — is the time to strengthen your cybersecurity posture.
Why Cyber Threats Spike Over the Holidays
During the festive season, threat actors exploit human behaviour as much as they exploit technology. Staff may click on fake courier notifications, process unusual payment requests without proper verification, or fall for convincing “end-of-year” phishing campaigns. Even automated systems and remote access points are more vulnerable when fewer eyes are monitoring alerts.
Small businesses are especially at risk, often assuming they’re “too small to be a target.” In reality, they’re targeted precisely because their defences are lighter — and the impact of an incident during a peak trading period can be devastating.
What You Can Do Now
With 10 weeks until the holidays, there’s still time to get ahead:

1. Review your incident response plan – Make sure it’s current, clear, and accessible. Test it with a quick tabletop exercise before staff start taking leave.
2. Update your backups – Confirm that backups are working, secure, and isolated from your main systems.
3. Check your access controls – Remove unnecessary privileges, especially for temporary or seasonal staff.
4. Raise awareness – A short, pre-holiday cybersecurity briefing can go a long way. Remind staff to stay vigilant against phishing and scams.
5. Secure your supply chain – Confirm that your key vendors and partners also have their defences in place.
6. Plan for monitoring – Ensure someone is accountable for checking alerts, even when the office is quiet.

A Simple Truth
Cybersecurity is about readiness — and readiness is about timing.
The festive season should be a time for celebration, not crisis management. Taking steps now will give your business peace of mind, protect your people and customers, and keep operations running smoothly through the busiest time of year.
Don’t wait for December to think about security.
By acting now, you can ensure that this Christmas, the only surprises you get are the ones wrapped under the tree.