The Business Owner’s Guide to Holiday Travel (Without Ending in a Data Breach)
- Victor Parrish
- Dec 23, 2025
- 4 min read
The 10-Second Overview
Holiday travel creates security risks most business owners never face during normal routines. You’re tired, distracted, juggling family and work, and connecting to unfamiliar WiFi networks — all of which make data breaches more likely. This guide walks you through simple, practical steps to protect your business, your devices, and your family while traveling.
Before You Leave: The 15-Minute Security Prep
Take fifteen minutes before your trip to reduce risk dramatically.
Device Basics
Install all pending security updates
Back up important files to a secure cloud (Box, Microsoft Onedrive, Google Drive)
Turn on automatic screen lock (two minutes or less)
Enable device tracking (“Find My Device” on Apple or Android)
Charge your portable power bank
Pack your own charging cables and adapters
The Family Talk
Explain which devices are okay for kids to use
Bring a dedicated family tablet or secondary device
Create a separate, restricted user account if kids must use your laptop
Pro tip: A $150 tablet is cheaper than dealing with a breach of your work laptop.
Hotel WiFi: What Most Travelers Get Wrong
You arrive at the hotel. Everyone connects to WiFi instantly — phones, tablets, laptops, gaming devices.
Here’s the risk: Hotel WiFi is a shared network, and cybercriminals routinely create fake “hotel networks” to intercept traffic. This is called a WiFi spoofing attack.
Documentation: FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) warns about WiFi-based credential theft. https://www.zdnet.com/article/fbi-warns-against-using-free-wifi-networks-while-traveling/
How to Stay Safe
1. Confirm the network name. Ask the front desk for the exact SSID. Do not guess.
2. Use a VPN for work. A VPN encrypts your connection and protects business traffic. Consumer VPN resources: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-protect-your-privacy-online
3. Use your hotspot for sensitive work. Banking, client data, internal systems — use your mobile hotspot, not hotel WiFi.
4. Keep work and family activities separate. Kids streaming? Fine. You accessing sensitive data? Hotspot only.
The “Can I Use Your Laptop?” Problem
Kids aren’t malicious — they just click things. On a work device, even innocent mistakes (downloading a game, clicking a pop-up, auto-saving passwords) can create serious security issues.
Safer Options
Provide another device (tablet, old laptop, Chromebook)
Do not let kids use your work device unless there is no alternative
If absolutely necessary:
Create a restricted user account
Supervise usage
Block downloads
Clear browsing history afterward
Never save their passwords
Having a dedicated family travel device prevents most of these problems entirely.
Streaming on Hotel TVs: Don’t Leave Your Accounts Behind
Logging into Netflix or Disney+ on a hotel smart TV is convenient — but dangerous.If you forget to log out, the next guest has access to your account.
If you reuse passwords (many people do), they may also try that password elsewhere.
Safer Options
Cast from your phone or laptop
Download shows before you travel
If you must log in to the TV:
Log out manually before checkout
Set a phone reminder if needed
Never log into:
Banking
Work accounts
E-mail
Social media
Anything with saved payment information
If a Device Goes Missing
Holiday travel is chaotic. Devices get left behind at restaurants, hotels, rental cars, and TSA bins.
Act Fast — Within the First Hour
Use “Find My Device”
If you can't recover it immediately, lock it remotely
Change passwords from another device
Notify your IT provider or MSP to revoke business access
If sensitive data was exposed, notify affected parties
Your Devices Should Already Have:
Device tracking enabled
Strong passcode/biometric login
Automatic data encryption
Remote wipe enabled
If a family member’s device is lost, apply the same steps.
The Rental Car Data Trap
When you connect your phone to a rental car’s Bluetooth, your contacts, call logs, and sometimes message previews can remain stored for the next driver.
The 30-Second Fix
Delete your phone from the car’s Bluetooth menu
Clear GPS history and recent destinations
Better: Use Bluetooth sparingly or rely on your device instead.
The “Working Vacation” Boundary Problem
When you’re half-working and half-vacationing, you lose focus — and security awareness. You’re tired, rushed, multitasking, and more likely to make harmful mistakes.
Protect Yourself with Clear Boundaries
Check work email twice daily, not constantly
Use your mobile hotspot for work tasks
Avoid working in public spaces
Be fully present with your family when you’re “off”
The best security move? Actually, take time off. Research from the Harvard Business Review shows downtime improves cognitive performance and reduces risky decision-making. https://hbr.org/2023/07/h
The Holiday Travel Security Mindset
Perfection isn’t realistic. Awareness is.
Practical Security Principles
Prepare devices before you leave
Know which activities are risky (hotel WiFi for banking)
Separate work from family devices
Have a quick-response plan for lost devices
Use your hotspot for anything sensitive
Say “Not on this device” — and stick to it
You don’t need to be paranoid. You just need to be intentional.
Make This Holiday Memorable for the Right Reasons
Your holidays should be about family, not the aftermath of a data breach.
A little preparation protects your business, your clients, and your peace of mind.
👉 Want help setting up a travel security policy for your team? We can create practical, easy-to-follow guidelines for safer travel.
Schedule your free security consultation: https://www.wedoitusa.com/call
Because the only holiday story worth remembering is the good one — not “Remember when Dad’s laptop got hacked?”
FAQs
1. Is hotel WiFi safe for checking work email?
Not unless you're using a VPN. Hotel WiFi is shared and easily spoofed. Use your mobile hotspot for anything involving sensitive information.
2. What should I do if my work laptop is lost during holiday travel?
Immediately lock it remotely, change passwords, notify your MSP or IT department, and revoke access to business systems. If sensitive data was exposed, follow your incident-response policy.
3. Can my kids use my work laptop on vacation?
It’s strongly discouraged. Use a family tablet or create a restricted user account if absolutely necessary.
4. Is it safe to log into Netflix on a hotel TV?
Only if you remember to log out before checkout. Safer options include casting from your device or downloading shows in advance.
5. How do I protect my phone data when renting a car?
Delete your device from the car’s Bluetooth and clear GPS history before returning the vehicle.
About the Author
Victor Parrish has spent more than three decades helping business owners apply the right technology to improve security, efficiency, and day-to-day operations. As part of the team at We Do IT USA, he partners with small businesses to deliver straightforward, practical guidance on staying secure and productive in an ever-changing digital world.
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