Let’s Keep Your Holiday Memorable (For the Right Reasons)
A Personal Travel Security Guide for Business Owners
Let’s set the scene: You’re about three hours into a long holiday drive to see family. The kids are restless. Your back is sore. And your daughter pipes up from the back seat, “Can I play Roblox on your laptop?”
You hesitate. Because that laptop — the one still in your bag — is your work laptop. The one with client files, financial records, and access to your entire business.
But you're tired. And honestly? If it'll buy you 30 minutes of peace, it’s tempting to say yes.
Here’s the thing: Holiday travel can quietly open the door to major security risks — especially when we’re outside of our normal routine. You're on unfamiliar networks, tired, distracted, trying to balance family and work. That’s when mistakes happen.
I’ve walked this road with a lot of clients. So let’s talk about how you can enjoy your time off and protect your practice from a data breach — without turning your holiday into a stress-fest.
⏱ Before You Leave: A Quick 15-Minute Checklist
Take just 15 minutes before you hit the road (or the skies) to set yourself up for success.
Start with your devices:
- ✅ Install security updates
- ✅ Back up files to the cloud
- ✅ Set auto screen-lock (2 minutes max)
- ✅ Turn on “Find My Device”
- ✅ Fully charge your power bank
- ✅ Pack your own charging cables & adapters
Have a quick family chat:
- 🚫 Set boundaries on which devices are for work only
- 👧🏽 Set up a family iPad or tablet for the kids
- 🧑💻 If absolutely necessary, create a separate user profile on your laptop for non-work use
Pro tip: An inexpensive travel tablet beats a costly data breach any day.
🏨 Hotel WiFi: Safer Ways To Stay Connected
Hotels are great at hospitality — but not always at cybersecurity. Their networks are shared by hundreds of people… and unfortunately, not everyone’s just there to check email.
I’ve seen families unknowingly connect to fake “hotel” WiFi — only to have their passwords, credit cards, and sensitive data stolen by someone sitting in the parking lot.
Here’s how to stay secure:
- 🔐 Ask the front desk for the exact WiFi name
- 🛡 Use a VPN if you need to log into work systems
- 📱 For banking, emails, or client data — use your phone’s hotspot
- 🎬 Let the kids stream away on hotel WiFi, but you stick with a secure connection for work
💻 “Can I Use Your Laptop?” – A Security Story Waiting To Happen
We love our kids. But let’s be real — they’re click-happy and curious, which makes them sweet… and a security risk on your work device.
Accidentally downloading malware, clicking pop-ups, saving passwords — it happens fast.
Here’s your safety plan:
- 🚫 Don’t share your work laptop — even just “for a few minutes”
- 💡 Bring a dedicated family device instead
- If you must share, then:
- Set up a limited-access account
- Supervise use
- Don’t allow downloads
- Clear browser history afterward
📺 Streaming on Hotel TVs: Don’t Leave Your Netflix Behind
Logging into your Netflix account on the hotel’s smart TV might seem harmless. But if you forget to log out when you leave? The next guest could be watching on your dime — or worse, testing your password on other sites.
Safer options:
- 🪄 Cast from your own device
- ⏰ Set a phone reminder to log out before checkout
- 📥 Download shows ahead of time and skip the login hassle
Never sign in to banking, email, or social media on a hotel TV. Ever.
😱 What To Do If a Device Goes Missing
It happens: A laptop left at TSA. A phone forgotten in the rental car. That sinking feeling in your stomach…
Here’s what to do within the first hour:
- Locate it via “Find My Device”
- Lock it remotely if you can’t get to it
- Change critical passwords from another device
- Call your IT provider or MSP (that’s us, if you need one!)
- Notify anyone whose data may be at risk
Before your trip, make sure your device is ready:
- Remote tracking enabled
- Strong passwords in place
- Encryption turned on
- Remote wipe available, just in case
🚗 The Rental Car Data Trap
Connecting your phone to a rental car is convenient… but risky. Most cars save your contacts, call logs, and navigation history.
Before you return the keys:
- ❌ Remove your phone from Bluetooth settings
- 🧹 Clear destinations from the GPS
- 🔌 Use an aux cord instead if possible
🧳 The “Working Vacation” Boundary Challenge
We’ve all said it: “I’ll just check email real quick.” Next thing you know, you’ve missed mini-golf and half the day’s gone.
The bigger issue? Multitasking during travel makes you more likely to click on something sketchy or connect to the wrong network. Distraction is the enemy of security.
If you have to work:
- ⏰ Set two designated check-in times per day
- 📱 Use your hotspot, not public WiFi
- 🏨 Do your work in the room — not the lobby or coffee shop
- 🧠 And when you're with family, be with them
Best practice? Unplug completely. Your business won’t fall apart — and you’ll come back more alert and better protected.
🎁 Make This Holiday Season One To Remember (In a Good Way)
Look, holiday travel is messy. Sometimes your kid will ask to use your laptop. Sometimes you'll have to check a work email from the hotel lobby. That’s life.
But if you're intentional — even just a little — you can protect your business without sacrificing family memories.
Remember:
- Prep your devices
- Know when to use a hotspot instead of WiFi
- Keep work and personal use separate
- Have a game plan if something goes sideways
- Be okay saying, “Not on this device.” And meaning it.
Need a hand getting your team ready for the holidays?
We can help you create a simple travel security checklist tailored to your business. No fearmongering. Just real, practical steps that make sense for real life.
👉 [Schedule your free holiday security consult]
Because no one wants to spend Christmas explaining a data breach. Let’s keep your holiday focused on laughter, leftovers, and the people you love most.
If you are interested in hiring us to manage your IT infrastructure, please reach out to us here.