As the holiday season approaches, businesses prepare for Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and the year-end rush. While most staffers use this period for pre-planning and growth, it also brings a surge in cyber threats. A 2024 Semperis report indicated that cyberattacks increase by up to 30% during the holidays, with ransomware attempts potentially rising by 70% in November and December compared to other months. Cybercriminals exploit reduced staffing, distracted employees, and increased online activity to facilitate attacks.
At KT Connections, we empower businesses across Western South Dakota and Eastern Wyoming to navigate these challenges as their trusted Managed Service Provider (MSP). This month, we’re taking some time to highlight the most common holiday cybercrimes targeting businesses in 2025 and provide practical steps to protect your small business. Let’s ensure your holiday season is secure and successful together.
1. Phishing Emails and Smishing Baiting Your Employees
Phishing remains a top threat, now more powerful than ever, with AI-generated content making attacks more personalized and convincing. Cybercriminals send fake emails or texts (smishing) disguised as urgent package deliveries, exclusive deals, or charitable donation requests during the holidays to lure in unsuspecting victims. These often contain malicious links or attachments that can install malware on your system or steal valuable data.
Example: A busy employee receives an email claiming to be from a shipping provider like UPS, warning of a delayed holiday delivery for a key client order. The emails then link to a fake login page that harvests company credentials, potentially compromising your entire network.
Protection Tips:
• Train your team to verify emails by hovering over links without clicking and contacting the supposed sender directly.
• Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) on all accounts to add an extra layer of defense.
KT Connections offers Cybersecurity services, including email encryption and security awareness training, to help your staff spot and avoid these traps before they cause harm.
2. Ransomware Attacks Exploiting Skeleton Crews
Ransomware incidents spike during the holidays as attackers target understaffed businesses and exploit slow response times. In 2025, expect more “double extortion” tactics, where hackers encrypt data and threaten to leak stolen information unless a ransom is paid. This can lead to severe downtime, financial losses, and reputational damage.
Example: With key IT personnel on vacation, an online retailer falls victim to a ransomware attack via a vulnerable endpoint. The attackers demand payment just before a major sales event, forcing the company to pay the ransom or face operational shutdowns during a peak sales period.
Protection Tips:
• Prioritize regular data backups to secure, off-site locations like cloud storage, and develop and test restoration processes.
• Always keep software and hardware updated to patch known vulnerabilities.
Our Managed IT services at KT Connections provide 24/7 monitoring and endpoint protection, ensuring unusual activity is detected and addressed remotely, even when your team is enjoying the holidays.
3. Fake Websites and Online Shopping Scams
With e-commerce businesses booming, cybercriminals have started creating counterfeit websites mimicking legitimate retailers or suppliers to steal your payment details or business credentials. These sites often appear in search results or ads promoting holiday deals, preying on rushed purchasing decisions.
Example: A procurement manager sourcing last-minute inventory lands on a fake vendor site offering discounted supplies. Entering payment info results in stolen credit card data and potential supply chain disruptions if malware infiltrates your systems.
Protection Tips:
• Use secure payment methods and verify website legitimacy by checking for “https://” and padlock icons.
• Implement network-level restrictions to block access to suspicious domains.
As a Certified Microsoft Cloud Solution Provider, KT Connections can integrate advanced cloud security into your operations, including firewalls and vendor management to safeguard your transactions.
4. AI-Driven Scams Impersonating The Human Element
Supercharged by AI in 2025, social engineering attacks involve tricking employees into divulging sensitive information. The fast-paced environment of end-of-year operations makes small businesses especially susceptible. Scams include fake calls from “IT support” requesting access during busy periods or AI-generated voice cloning (deepfakes) impersonating clients requesting information.
Example: An employee receives an urgent call from what sounds like the CEO, requesting a wire transfer for a “holiday bonus fund.” Without verification, the transfer goes through, leading to significant financial loss.
Protection Tips:
• Foster a “verify first” culture through employee education and clear protocols for unusual requests.
• Use AI-based tools for anomaly detection in communications.
KT Connections’ Security Operations as a Service (SOC) offers remote monitoring of your systems, allowing our experts to identify and neutralize these threats in real time.
5. Hidden Risks in Supply Chain and Third-Party Vulnerabilities
Holiday rushes often mean relying more on external vendors, partners, and logistics providers. This reliance on external resources creates entry points for cyberattacks. Cybercriminals target these supply chains to infiltrate larger networks, with data exfiltration becoming more common (up 40% in large claims this year according to Allianz Commercial’s Cyber Security Resilience 2025 Report).
Example: A compromised shipping partner’s system exposes your customer data, leading to a breach notification and loss of trust just as holiday orders peak.
Protection Tips:
• Audit third-party vendors for cybersecurity compliance and include security clauses in contracts.
• Maintain an up-to-date inventory of hardware and software.
Our IT Consulting services at KT Connections help map out these risks, providing strategic advice to fortify your supply chain without disrupting business flow.
By staying ahead of these common threats, you can protect your business from the holiday cybercrime surge and focus on what matters most, serving your customers.
Secure Your Business This Holiday Season!
Don’t let cyber threats disrupt your holiday success. At KT Connections, we’re here to handle the tech so you can focus on your business. Whether you need 24/7 helpdesk support, managed firewalls, or a comprehensive cybersecurity assessment, our team of experts is ready to help. Contact us today to discuss how we can tailor our Managed IT and Cybersecurity solutions to your needs.