The Business Owner’s Guide To Holiday Travel (That Won’t End In A Data Breach)

Imagine you're three hours into a five-hour holiday drive to visit family. Your daughter asks, "Can I use your work laptop to play Roblox?" The very laptop that holds sensitive client files, financial information, and full access to your business data. You're tired from packing, still have three hours ahead, and honestly, keeping her entertained feels like a relief. But is it really worth the risk?

Travel during the holidays opens up unique cybersecurity risks you don't face every day. You're fatigued, distracted, connecting to unfamiliar WiFi networks, and blending family time with quick work check-ins. Whether it's business, leisure, or a mix of both, here's how to safeguard your data without spoiling the festive spirit.

Pre-Trip Essentials: 15 Minutes to Secure Your Tech

Invest 15 minutes before you hit the road to make your devices travel-ready:

Device fundamentals:

• Update all software and security patches
  
• Back up critical files to a trusted cloud service
  
• Activate automatic screen lock (set to a maximum of two minutes)
  
• Enable "Find My Device" on every phone and laptop
  
• Fully charge your portable power bank
  
• Bring your own charging cables and adapters
  

Have the family conversation:

• Clarify which devices are allowed for kids and which are off-limits
  
• Provide a dedicated family tablet or secondary device for entertainment
  
• Create a separate user profile on your laptop if kids must use it
  

Pro tip: If your children need screen time en route, bring a tablet not linked to your work accounts; it's a small price to avoid a costly data breach.

Hotel WiFi: Avoid the Common Pitfalls

Upon checking into your hotel, everyone connects their devices to the WiFi—phones, tablets, laptops, gaming consoles. Your teen streaming Netflix, your spouse catching up on emails, and you prepping a work proposal.

Here lies the danger: public hotel networks are crowded with hundreds of guests, some with malicious intent.

Real case: A family unknowingly joined a fake hotel network set up in the parking area. For two days, every online activity—passwords, credit card details, emails—was intercepted.

Stay protected by:

Confirming the exact WiFi network name- Always ask the front desk rather than guessing.

Using a VPN for work access- Encrypt your connection when checking work emails or accessing company files.

Relying on your phone's hotspot for sensitive tasks- For banking, client data, or confidential work, use mobile data instead of hotel WiFi.

Separating work and leisure connections- Kids can stream cartoons on hotel WiFi, but work tasks should use your hotspot.

The "Can I Use Your Laptop?" Dilemma

Your work laptop contains everything—emails, bank info, client files, business systems. Kids want to watch videos, play games, or video chat with friends.

Why it's risky: Kids might unintentionally download malware, click on suspicious pop-ups, share passwords, or forget to log out—actions that pose significant security threats on a work device.

Solutions:

Strictly prohibit kids from using work devices- Consistently enforce "This is my work computer; please use [alternative device]."

If sharing is unavoidable:

• Set up a restricted, separate user account
  
• Supervise their usage
  
• Prevent any downloads
  
• Avoid saving any passwords
  
• Clear browser history after each use
  

Better approach: Bring a designated family device for trips—even an old tablet or laptop not linked to your work accounts.

Streaming on Hotel TVs: Don't Forget to Log Out

Family wants to watch Netflix on the hotel's smart TV. Someone logs into your account, but at checkout, logging out is forgotten.

Consequence: The next guest gains access to your Netflix—and if you reuse passwords (you don't, right?), they might try these on other accounts.

How to avoid this:

• Use your own device and cast content to the TV for safer streaming
  
• Set a phone reminder to log out before checkout if you do sign in on the TV
  
• Better still: Download shows onto your device before traveling to skip the TV entirely
  

Never log into these accounts on hotel TVs:

• Banking apps
  
• Work-related accounts
  
• Email
  
• Social media
  
• Any account that stores payment information
  

When a Device Goes Missing During Travel

Amid holiday chaos, devices can get left behind—in restaurants, hotel rooms, rental cars, or airport checkpoints. If your device goes missing…

Within the first hour:

1. Use "Find My Device" to locate it immediately
   
2. If recovery fails, lock it remotely without delay
   
3. Change passwords for key accounts from another device
   
4. Notify your IT or managed service provider to revoke company access
   
5. If sensitive data was on it, alert affected clients or partners
   

Devices should have these features enabled before you travel:

• Remote tracking
  
• Strong password protection
  
• Automatic encryption of data
  
• Remote wipe functionality
  

Family member lost their device? Follow the same steps: remotely lock it, change passwords, and track if possible.

The Rental Car Bluetooth Data Risk

Connecting your phone to a rental car's Bluetooth can save music and navigation shortcuts. But it often stores contacts, call logs, and even message previews accessible to future renters.

Quick 30-second fix before returning your rental:

• Remove your phone from the car's Bluetooth devices list
  
• Clear recent GPS destinations
  
• Or better yet, use an aux cable or avoid connecting altogether
  

Balancing Work and Vacation: Setting Healthy Boundaries

You promised quality family time but found yourself checking emails 47 times, answering calls, and working an hour while others golfed.

This constant switching drains your focus and security awareness, making you more prone to mistakes like clicking unsafe links or trusting unfamiliar networks.

Keep control with these guidelines:

• Schedule work email checks twice daily at set times
  
• Use your phone hotspot—not hotel WiFi—for work-related activities
  
• Work privately in your hotel room instead of public areas
  
• Be fully present during family moments without multitasking
  

Best of all? Actually take time off. Your business will survive the week, and you'll return refreshed and more alert to security risks.

Adopting a Security-First Mindset for Holiday Travel

Truth is, blending work and family time on holiday is tricky. Sometimes your kid needs to use your laptop; sometimes an urgent email demands attention during a drive.

The aim isn't perfection but informed caution:

• Prepare your devices thoroughly before departure
  
• Know which online activities carry higher risks (e.g., bank access on hotel WiFi) and which are safer (e.g., using your hotspot)
  
• Create clear separations between business data and family use
  
• Have a plan ready if security issues arise
  
• Learn to say "Not on this device" and enforce it firmly
  

Create Holiday Memories for All the Right Reasons

The holidays should be about cherishing time with loved ones—not managing a data breach or explaining to clients that their sensitive information was compromised.

With just a little preparation and simple rules, you can protect your business while ensuring your family enjoys the holiday. Everyone wins: secure business, happy family.

Need help establishing travel security best practices for your team and yourself? Click here or call us at (502) 473-9330 to schedule a free 15-Minute Discovery Call. We'll craft practical, effective security policies that keep your business safe without making travel a headache.

Because the best holiday memories shouldn't be, "Remember when Dad's laptop got hacked?"