Cybercriminals Love the Holidays. Here’s Why.

You are out of the office. The inbox is quiet. Maybe you are traveling, unplugging, or simply enjoying a slower pace during Christmas break.

Unfortunately, cybercriminals do not take time off.

The holiday season is one of the most active periods of the year for cyberattacks. Attackers know that many organizations run with smaller security teams during holidays, employees are more distracted, and response times are often slower. That combination creates opportunity, and cybercriminals are quick to take advantage of it.

Why the Holidays Create More Risk

Christmas and year end holidays are especially attractive to attackers because normal routines change. Security teams are often operating with limited staff, which means fewer eyes on alerts and delayed responses when something goes wrong. At the same time, employees are more likely to click on emails related to shipping notifications, gift cards, or urgent holiday messages. These seasonal themes make phishing attacks far more effective.

Ransomware groups are also strategic about timing. Launching attacks on weekends or holidays increases the likelihood that systems stay compromised longer before anyone notices. When an attack is finally discovered, organizations are often under pressure to act quickly with fewer resources available.

How Zero Trust Helps When No One Is Watching

This is where a Zero Trust security model becomes especially valuable.

Zero Trust is based on the idea that no user, device, or connection should be trusted automatically. Every request for access is verified continuously, regardless of whether it comes from inside or outside the network. Identity, device health, and behavior all play a role in deciding whether access is allowed.

Because Zero Trust does not rely on assumptions or perimeter defenses, it continues to protect systems even when your security team is not fully staffed. If an attacker gains access to stolen credentials, that alone is not enough. Additional checks are required, and suspicious behavior can trigger alerts or automated responses.

What Zero Trust Is Doing While You Are Away

When you are out of the office for the holidays, Zero Trust is still working quietly in the background. Users are limited to only the systems they truly need, which reduces the damage if an account is compromised. Networks are segmented so attackers cannot move freely from one system to another. Monitoring tools watch for unusual behavior and can respond in real time, even in the middle of the night on Christmas morning.

Instead of relying on someone being available to catch every alert, Zero Trust helps ensure that security controls are always active and consistently enforced.

The Takeaway

Cyber threats do not pause for the holidays, but your peace of mind should not have to suffer because of that.

A Zero Trust approach helps protect your business when teams are smaller, employees are distracted, and attackers are most active. It allows security to keep working even when people are away from their desks.

That way, you can enjoy your Christmas vacation knowing your organization is not left exposed until everyone returns to the office.