Top Cybersecurity Strategies for SMBs During the Holiday Rush
The cash registers are ringing, the online carts are full — and somewhere, cybercriminals are gearing up for their busiest time of year.
For many small and medium-sized businesses, the festive season often brings more than just a surge in sales-it brings a surge in cyber threats. Hackers know that between the rush to fulfill orders, the influx of temporary staff, and the general holiday chaos, many businesses let their guard down.
And the numbers back it up: In 2024, 94% of SMBs experienced at least one cyberattack, and 78% said a single serious breach could put them out of business.
“Small businesses think they’re too small to be targets,” says Pete Cannata, Chief Operating Officer at Atlantic.Net, a global managed hosting and cloud services provider. “That’s exactly what makes them perfect victims. During the holidays, when they’re stretched thin and focused on sales, their guard drops – and that’s when attackers strike.”
Why Cybercriminals Love the Holiday Rush
From Black Friday to New Year’s, SMBs become the perfect targets for hackers trying to cash in on the seasonal frenzy. Temporary staff often do not have security training, employees are multitasking under pressure, and online transactions skyrocket, creating ideal conditions for cybercrime.
Unlike large enterprises with dedicated teams that handle security matters, small businesses can only spare meager resources for cybersecurity. That makes every digital touch, payment, every e-mail, or every log a potential vulnerability.
“The attackers know small businesses are running lean and fast during this period,” Cannata explains. “A business owner who’s processing 300 orders a day instead of 50 isn’t carefully examining every email for red flags. That’s when the fake invoice or malicious link slips through.”
Six Ways to Strengthen Your Cyber Defenses This Holiday Season
For Cannata, these six proactive measures are what make all the difference between a successful holiday season and a devastating data breach.
1. Train Every Employee — Including Temporary Staff
Your cybersecurity is only as strong as your least trained employee, so every employee should get a basic security briefing from day one.
“I’ve seen breaches happen because a temporary worker clicked on a fake shipping notification,” Cannata says. “Teach them how to spot phishing attempts, why they must never share passwords, and who to contact if something looks suspicious.”
2. Enable Multifactor Authentication (MFA) Everywhere
Passwords are not enough anymore. Multi-factor authentication blocks about 99% of automated attacks by requiring extra verification.
“MFA is a means of survival,” stresses Cannata. “Even if the hackers get the password, without that second layer, they cannot get into your systems.”
Enable MFA for e-mail, payment systems, cloud platforms, and social media-any account that matters.
3. Update and Patch Before the Rush
Outdated software is the open door for cybercriminals. The majority of attacks exploit known vulnerabilities in unpatched systems.
“Schedule your updates now, before the holiday rush hits,” Cannata said. “Update everything-from your payment systems and website plugins to your operating systems. Automated tools can find and exploit old software in seconds.
4. Segmentation of Your Payment Systems
Keep critical systems separate. If one is compromised, you don’t want the attackers to have access to everything.
“Separate your payment processing from your general business network,” Cannata says. “Customer payment data should be isolated. A compromised email account shouldn’t give hackers a path to your payment processor.”
5. Backup Your Data — and Test It
Ransomware attacks tend to spike during the holidays because businesses can’t afford downtime. Regular, tested backups can mean the difference between recovery and ruin.
“Backup your data daily,” Cannata advises. “Store it offline or in a secure cloud location — and test those backups. Too many businesses only find out their backups don’t work after it’s too late.”
6. Monitor Your Systems and Set Up Alerts
Proactive monitoring ensures that suspicious activity is caught much earlier — before a big breach occurs.
“Set alerts for unusual logins, large file transfers, or access from unexpected locations,” says Cannata. “Modern tools can detect anomalies like someone logging in from Romania when your whole team’s in Ohio.”
Previous blog: Why Web Accessibility Guidelines Matter — and How Talentus Global Helps Businesses Meet Them
Stay Vigilant — Hackers Are Counting on Your Distraction
The reality is that most successful cyberattacks are nothing more than the consequence of preventable mistakes, not some advanced form of hacking. “By taking a few straightforward steps now, you can dramatically reduce your risk,” Cannata concludes. “Train your people, apply basic protections like MFA, and stay alert. The businesses that get hit are usually the ones that assumed it wouldn’t happen to them.” This holiday season, cybercriminals are betting that you’ll be too busy to notice the warning signs. Don’t give them that advantage. A little preparation today can protect your business tomorrow.
Ready to strengthen your cybersecurity this holiday season?
At Talentus Global, our IT support services help businesses stay protected, resilient, and ready for anything — even during the busiest time of year.
Contact us today to safeguard your operations and ensure a secure, stress-free holiday season.
