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The holiday season is typically synonymous with joy, generosity, and connection. But for cybercriminals, it’s a prime opportunity to exploit vulnerabilities. Businesses and charities are particularly at risk during the holiday period, as reduced staffing, increased online transactions, and a surge in charitable giving create the perfect storm for cyber breaches. Understanding the risks and adopting a proactive approach can be the difference between a safe holiday season and a devastating breach. How can organisations safeguard their operations during this high-risk period? We’ll explore the challenges, and the steps needed to keep cyber threats at bay this festive season.
The Alarming Rise in Cyber Attacks Over the Holidays
Why the Sudden Increase?
Cyberattacks increase during public holidays, with a report from 2021 detailing a 30% increase on average. This year, Christmas-themed phishing attacks jumped a remarkable 327% globally during Black Friday week (November 25-29). Attackers are taking advantage of reduced staffing and heightened online activity, with phishing and ransomware being the most common threats, as reported by IBM. The UK retail sector experienced an 18% year-over-year increase in data breaches in 2024, with the average cost of a breach reaching £2.3 million. Additionally, charities remain a prime target, with one in five UK-based charities reporting a cyber breach during the holiday season.
The increase in cyberattacks over the holidays highlights the growing financial and operational risks that data breaches pose to both businesses and charities, particularly during critical periods. It also emphasises the importance of taking proactive measures to mitigate these threats.
- Seasonal Generosity: Charities see a spike in donations, making them attractive targets for phishing campaigns designed to mimic legitimate donation platforms.
- Reduced Vigilance: Many businesses and nonprofits operate with skeleton crews over the holidays, delaying detection and response to breaches. Over half (52%) of UK businesses admitted their SOC is only partially staffed on bank holidays and weekends.
- Increased E-Commerce: Retailers experience a surge in online transactions, providing fertile ground for cybercriminals to exploit vulnerabilities.
Future Steps
Staying Prepared and Proactive
To mitigate these risks, businesses and charities must adopt a proactive approach.
- Strengthen Security Protocols
- Ensure all software and systems are updated with the latest security patches.
- Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all user accounts.
- Educate Your Team
- Train staff and volunteers to recognise phishing attempts and suspicious activity.
- Provide holiday-specific cybersecurity reminders, emphasising vigilance during low-staff periods.
- Enhance Monitoring
- Employ 24/7 monitoring solutions to detect and respond to threats in real-time.
- Use tools that flag unusual login attempts or data transfer activities.
- Protect Payment Processes
- For charities, partner with secure, well-known payment processors.
- Retailers should ensure compliance with PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard).
- Have an Incident Response Plan
- Outline clear steps for containing and recovering from a cyber incident.
- Conduct regular drills to test your response strategy.
- Conduct a Cyber Security Assessment
- Consider bringing in a third-party team to assess status and exposure, and address the most urgent low-hanging fruit as quickly as possible.
- Run proactive simulations against your monitoring and alerting capability.
How VirtueUK Can Help
To help combat the growing cyber security threat, we offer a free phishing test that reveals which of your employees might fall victim to these attacks, the test also shows how your organisation ranks compared to others. Additionally, our phishing awareness training provides your team with the skills they need to recognise and avoid these tailored threats, making it a proactive choice to safeguard against threats.
Our ongoing cybersecurity resources and personalised cybersecurity solutions ensure your organisation stays one step ahead of evolving threats. By fostering a culture of vigilance and preparedness, we help you build a resilient defense system that protects not just your data but also your reputation.