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

Imagine being three hours into a five-hour drive to visit family for the holidays when your daughter asks, "Can I use your work laptop to play Roblox?" This isn't just any laptop—it's packed with client files, financial data, and full access to your business. You're tired from packing and still have a long drive ahead. Letting her play might seem like an easy way to keep her entertained, but is it really worth the risk?

Holiday travel introduces unique security risks you don't face during your daily routine. You're often tired, distracted, connecting to unfamiliar networks, and blending family time with quick work checks. Whether traveling for business, leisure, or a mix of both, here's how to safeguard your data while keeping everyone happy.

Pre-Trip Security: The Essential 15-Minute Checklist

Dedicate 15 minutes before your trip to fortify your devices and peace of mind:

Device Essentials:

• Install all pending security updates promptly
  
• Back up crucial files securely to the cloud
  
• Set your device to auto-lock within two minutes of inactivity
  
• Activate "Find My Device" features on all phones and laptops
  
• Ensure your portable power bank is fully charged
  
• Pack personal charging cables and adapters to avoid sharing
  

Talking with Your Family:

• Clearly explain which devices are off-limits to kids
  
• Provide a dedicated family iPad or secondary tablet for entertainment
  
• Create a separate user account on your laptop for kids if necessary
  

Expert tip: If your kids need screen time during travel, bring along a tablet that isn't linked to your work accounts. Investing in an affordable $150 iPad is far safer than risking a data breach.

Hotel WiFi: Avoid Common Mistakes

After checking into your hotel, everyone quickly connects their devices to the WiFi—streaming, emailing, gaming—but hotel networks are public and vulnerable to cyber threats.

True story: A family connected to what they thought was the hotel WiFi, but it was a fake network set up nearby. For two days, every online action, from passwords to payments, was compromised.

How to Protect Yourself:

Confirm the exact network name by asking the front desk. Never guess or connect to unidentified networks.

Use a VPN for work to encrypt your connection when accessing emails or company files.

For sensitive tasks like banking or client data, use your phone's mobile hotspot instead of hotel WiFi.

Separate work from play: Let kids stream content on the hotel WiFi but reserve your work-related browsing for your phone's hotspot.

The Dilemma of Sharing Your Laptop

Your laptop holds critical business information, but kids want to watch videos or chat online.

Why it's a risk: Kids can unknowingly download malicious files, click unsafe links, share passwords, or leave accounts logged in. While innocent, these actions pose serious threats on work devices.

Recommended Approach:

Strictly avoid giving kids access to work devices. Have a dedicated device for their entertainment instead.

If sharing is unavoidable:

• Create a limited user profile with restricted permissions
  
• Closely monitor their activity
  
• Prevent downloading files or saving passwords
  
• Clear browsing history immediately after use
  

Better yet: Carry a family-specific device on trips to avoid any risks connected to work data.

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

When watching Netflix or other streaming services on a hotel smart TV, logging out is crucial before checkout.

If you forget: The next guest could access your personal accounts. If the same password is used elsewhere (hopefully not!), it could escalate security issues.

How to Prevent This:

• Use your device to cast content to the TV instead of logging in directly
  
• Set a reminder on your phone to log out before leaving
  
• Download shows to your devices prior to travel to avoid using hotel TVs
  

Avoid logging into these on hotel TVs:

• Banking apps
  
• Work-related accounts
  
• Email
  
• Social media
  
• Any app storing payment information
  

Lost Device? Act Fast!

Travel chaos means devices can easily be forgotten in restaurants, hotel rooms, rental cars, or airports. If your device goes missing, take immediate action:

Within the first hour:

1. Use "Find My Device" to try locating it
   
2. If unrecoverable, remotely lock it right away
   
3. Change passwords on critical accounts via another device
   
4. Inform IT or your managed service provider to revoke system access
   
5. Notify any affected parties if sensitive data was stored
   

Device safeguards to enable before traveling:

• Remote tracking enabled
  
• Strong passwords in place
  
• Automatic encryption activated
  
• Remote wipe capability ready
  

If a family member loses a device, apply the same steps promptly.

Beware the Rental Car Data Trap

Connecting your phone to rental car Bluetooth often syncs contacts, call history, and message previews. Returning the car without clearing this data puts your privacy at risk.

Quick 30-Second Cleanup Before Returning:

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

Managing the Work-Vacation Balance

You promised quality family time but find yourself checking email repeatedly and taking calls during activities. This divided focus leads to lapses in security awareness.

To maintain security and sanity:

• Schedule specific times to check work emails twice a day
  
• Use your phone's hotspot rather than public WiFi for work tasks
  
• Work from private spaces instead of public areas where screens are visible
  
• Be fully present during family moments without multitasking
  

Ultimately, taking a real break is your strongest defense. Your business can survive a week off, and you'll return more alert to potential threats.

Adopt a Smart Holiday Security Mindset

Balancing work and family during holiday travel isn't perfect. Sometimes your child genuinely needs your laptop; sometimes urgent work emails pile up. The goal is thoughtful risk management:

• Prepare your devices thoroughly before traveling
  
• Recognize high-risk activities (hotel WiFi banking) versus safer options (using your hotspot for emails)
  
• Build clear barriers between work data and family use when possible
  
• Have a contingency plan if problems arise
  
• Learn to say "No" to use of critical devices and stand firm
  

Make This Holiday One to Remember—for All the Right Reasons

Holidays are about cherishing moments with loved ones, not coping with data breaches or explaining client info leaks.

A little foresight and straightforward rules can protect your business without spoiling the getaway. Your family enjoys a happy holiday, your business remains secure, and everyone wins.

Need assistance establishing travel security protocols for your team and yourself? Click here or call us at 985-302-3083 to schedule A Quick Call. We'll guide you through creating practical policies that secure your business without making travel stressful.

Because the best holiday memory should never be, "Remember when Dad's laptop got hacked?"