Summer can be a hectic time for small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs). Whether your team is taking time off or you’re hiring seasonal workers to handle the extra workload, these changes can leave you open to cybersecurity risks if you’re not prepared.

Cybercriminals know that many businesses run with fewer people during the summer. New or temporary staff might not know your security rules, and your regular team could be on holiday. That’s why it’s important to tighten up your defences during this time.

Here’s a simple and practical cybersecurity checklist to help keep your business safe this summer whether you’re managing staff holidays, bringing in seasonal help, or both.

1. Secure Your Network

Start with the basics: make sure your Wi-Fi is protected with a strong password and uses the latest security settings (WPA3 is ideal). Check that all network equipment like routers, are running the latest software updates. For new or temporary staff, consider setting up a separate guest Wi-Fi with limited access to your main systems.

2. Keep Everything Updated

Before your IT lead or tech-savvy staff head off on holiday, double-check that all devices and systems are updated. This includes computers, phones, cloud tools, point-of-sale systems, and antivirus software. Turn on automatic updates where you can to keep things secure while key staff are away.

3. Review Who Has Access

Go through your list of users and permissions. Remove access for anyone who no longer works with you, and only give new or seasonal staff access to what they need. If possible, set up temporary logins or access that expires after a set time. This reduces the chance of someone accidentally (or intentionally) accessing sensitive data.

4. Use Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

Make sure important systems like finance tools, communication platforms, and customer databases have MFA turned on. This adds extra layers of protection and is especially useful when bringing in new or short-term employees.

5. Back Up Your Data (and Make Sure It Works)

Regular backups are a must all year round, but summer is a great time to check they’re working as expected. Make sure your backups are automatic, encrypted, and stored safely, either offsite or in the cloud. Just as important: test that you can restore data if you need to.

6. Give New Staff Cyber Training

Seasonal workers or short-term contractors might not know your usual security practices. Offer a short training or simple guide that covers the basics, like:

• How to spot phishing emails
• Creating strong passwords
• Safe browsing on work devices
• Who to call if something seems off

Even 30 minutes of training can stop a small mistake from becoming a big problem. (Need cyber awareness training? We’ve got you covered.)

7. Watch for Unusual Activity

With new people joining and others taking leave, there might be more movement than usual in your systems. Keep an eye on things like:

• Odd login times
• Multiple failed login attempts
• Large or unexpected file transfers
  

Spotting unusual behaviour early can help stop a breach before it causes damage.

8. Have a Plan for Staff on Holiday

When team members go on leave, make sure:

• Their devices are locked down or stored safely
• Someone else is clearly assigned to their key tasks
• Out-of-office messages don’t give away too much detail (like “I’m in Spain until July 20th”)

Planning ahead keeps things running smoothly and securely.

Bonus Tip: Run a Security Health Check

Summer is also a great time to schedule a quick security check-up. Consider running a:

• Vulnerability scan to spot weak spots in your systems
  
• Penetration test to see how easily a hacker could get in
  
• Security audit to review your overall policies and setup
  

These proactive steps can reveal hidden risks before they turn into real problems.

Final Thoughts

Cybersecurity doesn’t take a holiday, even if your team does. In fact, summer can be one of the riskiest times for businesses, with fewer eyes on the systems and new staff getting up to speed.

By following this checklist, your SME can stay secure, even during some of the busiest months of the year.