Cybercriminals don’t take holiday breaks. They wait for yours.
December is the month when businesses are most vulnerable. Skeleton IT crews. Frozen security updates. Employees distracted by year end deadlines and vacation plans.
And for the first time, attackers are using AI to automate attacks at speeds that make traditional defenses nearly useless.
They’re prepared…Are you?
Why the Holidays Are Prime Attack Season
Reduced IT staffing
Skeleton crews mean slower response times (and attackers know exactly when to strike).
Delayed patching
Most businesses freeze system updates during peak periods. Known vulnerabilities sit unpatched for weeks (giving attackers a wide-open window).
Distracted employees
Everyone’s juggling year end deadlines and holiday plans. Phishing emails that would normally get flagged slip through (because people aren’t paying attention).
Increased third party access
Temporary workers. Contractors. Seasonal staff. More people accessing your systems means more potential entry points (and less visibility).
How AI Is Changing the Game
Attackers are using AI tools to write phishing emails that perfectly mimic your vendors and executives. To create fake invoices that look identical to legitimate ones. To automate credential testing at speeds impossible for humans.
For the first time ever, web traffic during the holiday period is majority automated. Bots are testing stolen passwords, scanning for vulnerabilities, and sending thousands of targeted phishing attempts (all while your security team is running on a skeleton crew).
The line between legitimate activity and attacks is blurring fast.
The Threats Hitting Businesses Right Now
Business email compromise is spiking. Attackers impersonate executives requesting urgent wire transfers or gift card purchases. Employees don’t question these requests during the holiday rush (they assume leadership needs last minute client gifts).
Ransomware groups are exploiting unpatched VPNs and remote access tools. No multi factor authentication? You’re a target.
Fake vendor invoices look identical to legitimate ones. Different bank account, but same branding. And then finance teams rushing to close books don’t catch the switch (until the money’s already gone).
Payroll and HR phishing hits when departments are swamped. Fake bonus notifications. W-2 requests. Year-end tax forms. All designed to steal credentials or financial information.
What to Do Right Now
1. Don’t freeze security updates
Patch critical vulnerabilities even during the holiday period (attackers aren’t taking time off).
2. Enable multi factor authentication everywhere
VPNs, email, admin accounts, and financial systems. This one step stops most attacks cold.
3. Train employees on holiday scams
From gift card requests from “executives,” to fake invoices, to urgent payment demands. Make sure your team knows what to watch for.
4. Monitor for unusual activity
Login attempts from strange locations, failed passwords, and off hours access (don’t ignore the alerts).
5. Have an incident response plan ready
Know who to call and what systems to lock down before you need it.
Holiday Cybersecurity Checklist
The Bottom Line
Cybercriminals target the exact moment when your defenses are weakest (reduced staff, distracted teams, and delayed updates).
The businesses that get breached aren’t the ones with sophisticated attackers. They’re the ones that assumed they could pause security for a few weeks.
Don’t be that business.
Is Your Business Ready for Holiday Threats?
GiaSpace helps small to mid-sized businesses maintain security during the holidays and monitor systems 24/7.
📞 Schedule your complimentary security assessment before the holiday rush hits.
Published: Dec 2, 2025
