Imagine you're midway through a five-hour drive to visit family for the holidays. Your daughter asks, "Can I use your laptop to play Roblox?" But it's your work laptop—the one storing sensitive client files and financial information crucial to your business. You're worn out from packing, there are still hours ahead, and keeping her entertained seems like the easiest choice. But is it really safe?
Holiday travel often exposes you to unique security risks that aren't part of your everyday routine. Fatigue, distractions, unfamiliar WiFi networks, and blending family time with quick work check-ins create vulnerabilities. Whether your trip is for business, leisure, or both, here's how to safeguard your data while keeping the holiday spirit alive.
Spend just 15 minutes before you leave to fortify your devices and set expectations:
Pro tip: If your children need screen time during travel, bring a tablet that's completely separate from your work accounts. Investing in an affordable device can save you from a costly data breach.
Upon arrival, everyone jumps onto the hotel WiFi—phones, tablets, laptops, and gaming gadgets. Your teenager streams Netflix, your partner checks email, and you review crucial documents.
But hotel networks are public and shared by many guests. Some may have malicious intent.
True story: A family connected to what appeared to be their hotel's WiFi, but it was a fraudulent hotspot set up nearby. Over two days, all their online activity—passwords, credit card details, emails—was intercepted.
Confirming the exact network name—always ask the front desk. Never guess.
Using a VPN for work-related connections—it encrypts your data and safeguards communications.
Opting for your phone's hotspot for sensitive transactions—banking, client information, confidential work.
Separating leisure and work network usage—kids can stream via hotel WiFi, but use your mobile hotspot for work tasks.
Your work laptop holds email, financials, client data, and critical business systems. Meanwhile, kids want YouTube, games, or chats.
Why it's risky: Kids may unintentionally download harmful files, click on pop-ups, share credentials, or leave accounts logged in. Though innocent, these actions can compromise your device security.
Politely decline sharing your work device—offer an alternative device instead and keep this rule firm.
Best practice: Carry a dedicated device for family use during travel, even an older tablet or laptop without work account access.
Watching Netflix on a hotel smart TV can be convenient, but leaving your account logged in can expose you to risks when other guests use the TV after checkout.
The fallout: Next users can access your Netflix, and if you reuse passwords elsewhere (hopefully not), your other accounts could be compromised.
Travel chaos can cause devices to go missing—left behind at restaurants, hotel rooms, rental cars, or airports. If your device disappears...
If a family member loses a device, apply the same steps promptly to reduce risks.
Connecting your phone to a rental car's Bluetooth for music or GPS may save contacts, call history, and message previews. When you return the vehicle, this personal data often remains accessible to the next driver.
You promised family time, yet you've checked emails obsessively, taken multiple quick calls, and spent hours on your laptop while others play.
This constant flip between work and leisure reduces your vigilance and makes security lapses more likely—you might click unsafe links or use unsecured networks out of habit.
To manage this effectively:
The best security advice: Take a genuine break. Your business will survive a few days offline, and you'll return sharper and more aware of threats.
Balancing work and family travel isn't always clear-cut. Sometimes your child needs your laptop, or an urgent email requires your attention mid-journey.
The objective is not perfection but intentional risk management:
The holidays should focus on creating lasting memories with loved ones—not scrambling to mitigate a cybersecurity incident or explaining data loss to clients.
A little foresight and a few straightforward rules can keep your business safe without sacrificing family fun. Everyone gets to enjoy the holiday, and your business stays protected. It's a win-win.
Need guidance on crafting effective travel security policies for your team and yourself? Click here or call us at 419-678-2083 to schedule a free 10-Minute Discovery Call. We'll help you develop practical, travel-friendly security strategies to safeguard your business seamlessly.
After all, the best holiday memory should never be "Remember when Dad's laptop got hacked?"