As the holiday season approaches, U.S. companies and critical infrastructure providers are once again preparing to fend off potential cyberattacks. Threat groups often exploit moments when IT security teams are distracted or understaffed, such as weekends, nights, or during high-stakes corporate events, to maximize their leverage.

A Growing Trend of Holiday Cyberattacks

A recent report from Semperis highlights a troubling trend: nearly 9 out of 10 organizations targeted by ransomware in the past year were attacked during off-hours. Read the full Semperis report here. Additionally, almost two-thirds of these attacks occurred following major corporate events, such as restructuring, mergers, or initial public offerings, when companies’ defenses are more vulnerable.

Cybercriminals have demonstrated their strategic prowess by targeting organizations when they are least prepared. Examples include:

  • MOVEit ransomware attacks during Memorial Day 2023.
  • Kaseya ransomware attacks over the July 4 weekend in 2021.
  • JBS ransomware attack, also during Memorial Day 2021.
  • Staples ransomware attack during Cyber Week 2022, targeting holiday shopping periods.

The retail sector is particularly vulnerable, as it represents a lucrative target for hackers. According to CyberInt, U.S. retailers accounted for nearly half of global ransomware attacks in 2024, despite comprising just 28% of the global market share. These attacks not only threaten financial stability but also severely damage brand reputation and customer trust.

Why Are Cyberattacks More Prevalent During Holidays?

The holiday season presents an ideal environment for cybercriminals due to several factors:

  1. Reduced Staffing: IT security teams are often understaffed during holidays, leading to slower detection and response times.
  2. Hybrid Work Models: The shift to hybrid work has dissolved traditional network perimeters, making it easier for cybercriminals to exploit remote access points.
  3. Alert Fatigue: Security teams are already overwhelmed with compliance demands, critical vulnerabilities, and false alarms from incompatible tools.
  4. Targeted Tactics: Threat actors understand the operational rhythms of their targets, leveraging holidays to execute attacks when defenses are weakest.

Key Risks to Anticipate

The retail and critical infrastructure sectors face unique challenges during the holiday season:

  • Ransomware Campaigns: Cybercriminals use ransomware to lock down systems and demand payment, causing operational paralysis during critical periods like Black Friday.
  • Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) Attacks: These attacks flood websites with malicious traffic, taking them offline and disrupting customer access.
  • Operational Disruptions: For retailers, the loss of functionality during peak sales periods can result in significant financial and reputational damage.

How Businesses Can Prepare

To combat these threats, businesses must adopt proactive cybersecurity measures. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) recommends the following foundational steps: Visit CISA's official website for more resources.

  1. Employee Training: Teach employees to identify and avoid phishing attempts.
  2. Strong Password Policies: Require robust passwords to safeguard access points.
  3. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Enforce MFA to add an additional layer of security.
  4. Software Updates: Regularly update all business-critical software to the latest versions.

Incident Response Planning

Preparation is critical for mitigating the impact of cyberattacks. Explore incident response planning guides. Companies should:

  • Conduct regular incident response drills to ensure readiness in the event of a real attack.
  • Maintain 24/7 monitoring during high-risk periods.
  • Establish cross-functional collaboration between IT, security, and business units to enhance threat detection and response capabilities.

Looking Ahead

Cyberattacks during the holiday season are not a new phenomenon, but the stakes continue to rise. Organizations must balance maintaining work-life harmony for their security teams with the need for robust, around-the-clock vigilance. Investing in advanced threat detection tools, fostering a culture of cybersecurity awareness, and planning ahead can make all the difference.

As we celebrate with family and friends this Thanksgiving, let’s ensure our businesses are well-protected, allowing us to enjoy the holidays without interruption.