Here’s How to Keep Your Business Safe (Without Being That Parent Who Says “No” to Everything)
Picture this.
You’re three hours into a holiday road trip. Your kid in the backseat pipes up:
“Can I play Roblox on your laptop?”
You hesitate. That’s your work laptop—client files, financials, e-mail access, everything. But you’re tired, the car ride is long, and honestly, if it buys you an hour of peace…
Look, I get it. But this is where holiday travel starts turning into a cybersecurity mess.
The truth is, travel shakes up your routine. You’re tired, distracted, and bouncing between family fun and work check-ins. That’s when the “small” stuff—like letting your kid hop on your laptop—can open a big ol’ door to risk.
So before you hit the road, here’s how to protect your business data (and still keep the holiday spirit intact).
✈️ Pre-Trip Tech Checklist (15 Minutes, I Promise)
Before you leave:
✅ Install all updates
✅ Back up important files to the cloud
✅ Turn on screen lock (2 minutes or less)
✅ Enable “Find My Device”
✅ Pack charging cables and a power bank
✅ Charge everything the night before
And for the family:
✅ Set clear rules: which devices kids can use (and which they can’t)
✅ Bring a separate tablet for entertainment
✅ If they have to use your laptop, create a guest account with limited access
💡 Pro tip: A $150 tablet is cheaper than recovering from a ransomware attack. Just saying.
🏨 The Hotel WiFi Trap
That free hotel WiFi? Yeah, it’s not as “friendly” as it looks.
Anyone can set up a fake network that looks like “Guest_WiFi” and start logging everything you do—from passwords to credit card info.
Here’s how to stay smart:
✔️ Always ask the front desk for the exact network name
✔️ Use your phone’s hotspot for anything sensitive (like banking or work stuff)
✔️ Use a VPN if you must connect to public WiFi
✔️ Let the kids use hotel WiFi for streaming. You? Use your hotspot for work.
🧒 “Can I Use Your Laptop?” (Again)
It’s not that you don’t trust your kid—it’s just that you don’t trust their pop-up clicking instincts.
On your work laptop, one accidental click = massive headache.
Here’s how to protect your sanity (and your systems):
🚫 Say no to using work devices for play
✅ Set up a guest login with no access to work files
🧼 Clear browsing history when they’re done
🔒 Never let them save passwords or download anything
Better yet? Bring a separate family laptop or tablet. Keep your work gear off-limits, period.
📺 Don’t Log Into Netflix on the Hotel TV
Sounds harmless, right? But if you log into your streaming accounts and forget to log out, the next guest has access to all of it.
Even worse? If you reuse passwords (you don’t, right?), someone could try them on your other accounts.
Keep it simple:
📱 Cast from your own device if the TV allows it
🔔 Set a reminder to log out before check-out
🎬 Download movies ahead of time so you don’t need the TV at all
🚫 NEVER log into:
-
Banking apps
-
Email
-
Social media
-
Any app with your credit card saved
😱 What If a Device Gets Lost?
It happens. Left behind at TSA. Slipped between hotel pillows. Forgot it in the rental car.
Here’s what to do immediately:
🧭 Use “Find My Device”
🔐 Lock it remotely if possible
🔄 Change key passwords from another device
📞 Contact your IT person or MSP
📢 If client data was on the device, notify affected parties
And before travel, make sure all your devices have:
✔️ Password protection
✔️ Remote tracking
✔️ Data encryption
✔️ Wipe-from-afar capabilities
🚗 Don’t Trust the Rental Car With Your Contacts
Plugged your phone into the rental car to play music? It probably saved your call logs, contacts, even text previews.
Before you return it:
🧹 Clear GPS history
🗑️ Remove your phone from the Bluetooth list
🔌 Use a regular AUX cable instead when possible
🧠 Don’t Let a “Quick Check-In” Ruin Family Time
You said this was going to be a vacation. But here you are, checking work email “real quick” between family meals.
Here’s the problem: Splitting focus like that leads to mistakes. You’re more likely to click on the wrong link, forget to log out, or connect to an unsafe network.
If you can’t fully unplug (and that’s okay), set some boundaries:
🕑 Only check e-mail at two scheduled times per day
📱 Use a hotspot—not public WiFi—for anything work-related
🧍♂️ Handle work stuff in private, not in front of the whole hotel lobby
🎁 Be present with your people when you’re with your people
The best cybersecurity move you can make? Actually take the time off.
🎯 What Holiday Travel Security Is Really About
You don’t need to aim for perfection. Life’s messy. Sometimes your kid will need your laptop, and sometimes you will need to jump into a work call from the car.
But you can:
✅ Think ahead
✅ Minimize risk
✅ Know what to do if something goes sideways
A little preparation = a lot of peace of mind. And that means a better holiday for everyone—your family, your clients, and your future self.
Need Help Getting Your Travel Tech Ready?
Whether it’s just you on the road or your whole team’s traveling for the holidays, we can help you put together practical, people-first security plans that actually work.
👉 Schedule your free security consultation here.
Because the only story you want to tell after the holidays is the one about that great time with family—not how your laptop got hacked in a hotel parking lot.