How to Avoid a Data Breach During the Holidays
How to Avoid a Data Breach During the Holidays – A secure shredding service ensures confidential paperwork never ends up in the wrong hands.
The holiday season brings with it so much excitement, retail shopping deals, and increased business activity overall. It also brings a spike in data breaches. From seasonal employees to higher transaction volumes and an overall uptick in cyber scams, here’s how to avoid a data breach in these final months of the year create the perfect storm for data exposure.
As we head into 2026, it is important to stay vigilant and adopt stronger, more proactive security measures to protect sensitive information. Here’s how you can safeguard your business during the holiday rush and why professional document shredding should be part of your year-end security strategy.
- Reduce Access for Seasonal & Temporary Staff
Many companies hire additional help during the holidays. In 2026, one of the biggest data-security risks continues to be over-permissioned accounts.
Tip:
Assign temporary employees limited permissions and disable accounts immediately after the season ends.
- Strengthen Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
Cyberattacks continue to rise heading into 2026, especially phishing and credential-theft schemes.
Tip:
Enable MFA company-wide for payroll systems, customer data access, and email accounts where sensitive documents are sent or stored.
- Beware of Holiday-Themed Scams
Scammers know people are busy and distracted. Phishing emails disguised as shipping notices, invoices, or vendor promotions are extremely common during the holidays.
Tip:
Always hover over links before clicking, verify sender addresses, and report suspicious email activity immediately.
- Secure Paper Documents and Outdated Files
While digital threats get most of the attention, physical documents still account for a significant portion of data breaches. In the rush of the season, it’s easy for sensitive papers to be misplaced, thrown away improperly, or left out in busy workspaces.
Tip:
Use locked bins, restrict storage areas, and schedule a shredding service before and after the holiday peak.
- Prepare for 2026 Compliance & Privacy Changes
With tighter privacy regulations coming in 2026, businesses must elevate their security practices now. This includes proper data destruction, updated retention policies, and documented disposal procedures.
Tip:
Ensure your business meets new state and federal guidelines by partnering with a certified shredding provider like Legal Shred.
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