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

Imagine you're three hours into a long five-hour drive to see family for the holidays. Your daughter asks, "Can I play Roblox on your laptop?" Not just any laptop — your work laptop, loaded with confidential client files, financial records, and full access to your business. You're drained from packing, with half the trip still ahead, and honestly, letting her play sounds like a perfect way to keep peace. But is the risk worth it?

Holiday travel introduces unique cybersecurity challenges that don't typically arise in daily life. Fatigue, distractions, unfamiliar networks, and the blend of personal and work activities create security gaps. Whether you're traveling for business, leisure, or a mix of both, here's how to safeguard your data effectively without spoiling the festive spirit.

Before You Hit the Road: Quick 15-Minute Security Setup

Spend just 15 minutes prepping your devices to ensure a smooth, secure trip:

Essential Device Preparations:

• Install all available security updates promptly
  
• Back up critical files to a reliable cloud service
  
• Set your screen to automatically lock after no more than two minutes
  
• Activate "Find My Device" features on all phones and laptops
  
• Fully charge portable power banks for on-the-go use
  
• Bring your own charging cables and adapters to avoid last-minute hassles
  

Discussing Device Use with Your Family:

• Clarify which devices children may use and which remain off-limits
  
• Set up a dedicated family tablet or secondary device geared for entertainment
  
• Consider adding a restricted user profile on your laptop if kids must use it
  

Expert tip: If children need device time during travel, offer them a tablet not linked to any work accounts. Investing $150 in a new iPad can save you from a costly security breach later.

Hotel WiFi: Avoiding Network Pitfalls

Once your family arrives at the hotel, everyone eagerly connects their phones, tablets, laptops, and gaming consoles to the WiFi. While your teenager streams Netflix and your spouse checks email, you try to finalize important work documents.

The challenge: Hotel WiFi is a shared network among hundreds of guests, not all of whom have your best interests in mind.

True story: A family connected to what appeared to be the hotel's WiFi but was a fraudulent network created by someone in the parking lot. They unknowingly exposed passwords, credit card numbers, and emails for two days straight.

How to secure your connection:

Confirm the network name — Always ask the front desk for the official WiFi SSID instead of guessing.

Use a VPN when accessing work resources — VPNs encrypt your traffic, providing a critical security layer for emails and sensitive files.

Prioritize your phone's hotspot for sensitive tasks — For banking, client data, or other confidential activities, rely on your own cellular data instead of public WiFi.

Separate work and leisure network usage — Let your kids stream on hotel WiFi, but keep your work-related traffic on a more secure connection.

The Risks of Sharing Your Work Laptop

Your work laptop holds your email, business accounts, client files, and confidential data. Kids might want to watch YouTube, play games, or video chat, but handing over your device isn't without risks.

Why it matters: Children can accidentally download malware, click risky pop-ups, share passwords, or neglect to log out of accounts. While none of this is intentional, it exposes your business to unnecessary threats.

Safe alternatives:

Set firm boundaries: Politely but firmly tell your kids, "This is my work laptop, but you can use [dedicated device]." Consistency is key.

If you must share your work device:

• Create a separate, restricted user profile for child use
  
• Supervise their activities closely
  
• Prohibit downloads or installations
  
• Avoid saving any passwords or login credentials
  
• Clear browsing history immediately after use
  

Even better: Bring a dedicated family device specifically for travel, such as an older tablet or laptop without access to your work accounts.

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

Your family wants to enjoy Netflix on the hotel smart TV, so someone logs into the account. But after checkout, you forget to log out.

Why this matters: The next guest could access your streaming services—and if you've reused passwords (please don't), they might attempt to get into other accounts.

Smart fixes:

• Better yet, use your own device to cast content to the TV for safer streaming
  
• Set a phone reminder to log out of streaming accounts before you check out
  
• Download shows or movies on your devices before traveling to avoid using hotel TVs
  

Never log into these critical accounts on hotel TVs:

• Banking and financial apps
  
• Work-related accounts
  
• Email services
  
• Social media platforms
  
• Any services storing payment information
  

Steps to Take If a Device Goes Missing

Travel can be hectic and devices often get misplaced—in airports, restaurants, hotel rooms, or rental cars. If your device goes missing:

Within the first hour:

1. Use "Find My Device" to locate or lock it remotely
   
2. Change passwords for all critical accounts from another secured device
   
3. Alert your IT team or managed service provider to revoke company system access
   
4. Notify clients or partners promptly if sensitive business data was stored
   

Essential pre-trip device features:

• Enable remote tracking
  
• Set strong password protection
  
• Ensure data is automatically encrypted
  
• Have remote wipe capabilities configured
  

Lost device belonging to a family member? Follow the same protocol—lock it remotely and change passwords to protect everyone's information.

Avoiding Rental Car Data Risks

Connecting your phone via Bluetooth to a rental car might seem convenient for music or navigation, but these systems often retain your contacts, call history, and even message previews.

This data can remain on the car long after you return it, accessible to the next driver.

Simple 30-second checklist before returning the vehicle:

• Remove your phone from the car's Bluetooth pairing list
  
• Clear GPS recent destinations
  
• Or use an AUX cable or avoid connecting entirely for maximum safety
  

Balancing Work and Vacation Mode

You promised quality family time but have caught yourself checking email 47 times, fielding quick work calls, and working on your laptop while everyone else plays mini-golf.

This split focus not only strains relationships but also reduces your cybersecurity vigilance—leading to rushed decisions, risky clicks, or insecure network connections.

Practical advice: If unplugging fully isn't an option, set clear boundaries:

• Limit work email checks to two specific times per day
  
• Use your phone's hotspot instead of hotel WiFi for any work-related tasks
  
• Work from your hotel room rather than public areas where screens are exposed
  
• Be present during family time—no multitasking
  

Remember, taking actual time off will leave you more alert and less prone to security mistakes. Your business can survive a week's pause.

Adopting a Secure Holiday Travel Mindset

The truth is, mixing work and family during holiday travel will always be imperfect. Sometimes your child truly needs your laptop, or an urgent email demands your attention during a drive. Life is unpredictable.

The key is intentional risk management:

• Prepare and secure devices before departure
  
• Know which activities carry higher risks (banking on hotel WiFi) and which are safer (using your own hotspot)
  
• Maintain clear boundaries between work data and family use wherever possible
  
• Have a response plan ready if something goes wrong
  
• Be willing to say, "Not on this device," and stick to it
  

Ensure This Holiday Is Remembered for Joy, Not a Data Breach

The holidays are for cherishing moments with loved ones—not handling the fallout from compromised client information or a hacked business account.

A little foresight and straightforward rules make all the difference: Your family enjoys their holiday, your business remains protected, and peace of mind prevails.

Need expert support creating secure travel practices for your team and yourself? Click here or give us a call at (336) 443-0061 to book a free 15-Minute Discovery Call with us.We'll help you create practical policies that protect your business without making travel impossible.

Because the best holiday memories aren't about "Remember when Dad's laptop got hacked?"