Your Holiday IT Checklist for a Smooth Christmas Shutdown

The festive season is just around the corner, and for many businesses, that means winding down for a well-earned break. Before you switch off for the holidays, it’s important to make sure your IT systems are ready. A little preparation now can help you avoid unexpected issues and start the new year smoothly.

Here’s our updated checklist to keep your business IT secure and stress-free over the Christmas shutdown:

1. Back Up Everything (and Check It Twice!)

A surprising number of businesses think they have a backup… until the day they need it. Then they discover it hasn’t been running for months. The holiday break is not the time to find out the only copy of your data is months out of date and stored on one computer, which means if something happens to that machine, the data is gone.

If you’re using a proper backup system, it should quietly run in the background and save copies of your important files automatically, things like; client records, emails, documents, financial data, and anything your business can’t operate without. The whole point is that if something goes wrong (a hardware fault, a ransomware attack, or someone accidentally deleting a file), you can restore what you need and keep going.

If you have a Managed Services Agreement with us, or you’re using ThinkSafe your backups are already handled offsite and monitored for you. If not, now’s a good time to get a reliable backup solution in place before the holiday period begins.

Pro Tip: It’s always worth confirming everything is running as expected. A simple test gives peace of mind and ensures your data is recoverable if you ever need it.

If you don’t have reliable backup in place, we can get you setup before the break.

2. Protect Your Equipment from Power Surges and Outages

Summer power cuts happen, and they can damage critical equipment, anything your business relies on to function, from office computers to specialised devices. Invest in surge protectors or a UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) acts like a safety buffer. It protects your equipment from sudden power loss and gives it time to shut down properly, instead of crashing.

If your business is reducing hours or closing for a break, switch off any non-essential equipment. For anything that needs to stay online, a UPS is your best protection. (apart from label printers)

If you want to make sure everything’s protected, we can run a power-safety check and recommend the right setup.

3. Set Clear Out-of-Office Communications – Before You Dash Away

Make sure your clients and suppliers know when you’re closed over the holiday period. Set up your email autoreply with your shutdown dates, expected response times, and an alternative contact if urgent. If your business uses an IVR (Interactive Voice Response) system (where callers can press options like “1 for opening hours, or 2 to speak to accounts”) update it so it reflects your holiday hours. You can also redirect overflow calls to a mobile or a nominated team member for genuine emergencies.

Clear communication now means fewer confused people trying to reach you, and fewer surprises waiting for you when you return.

Not sure how to set this up? We can assist, so you’re not fielding avoidable questions over the break.

4. Make Sure Your Security Protection Is Up to Date

Security issues are harder to spot over the holidays, especially when devices sit unused for long stretches. Before you switch off for the break, make sure your computers are protected, not just “running something in the background,” but actively up to date and working as they should.

If you’re covered under a Managed Services Agreement, your security tools stay updated automatically. Your antivirus stays updated, scans run automatically, and you’re covered even if new threats appear while you’re away.

If you’re not on a managed service, it’s worth checking that your antivirus software is current, licensed, and running, as many standalone tools quietly expire or stop updating without warning. If you don’t have a reliable antivirus in place, now’s a good time to consider one of our recommended solutions so you’re not relying on basic built-in protection.

If you’d prefer monitored security rather than manual checks, we can set that up for you anytime.

5. Remind Your Team About Cybersecurity Policies - To Keep Grinches Away!

December is a busy time for online shopping, and an even busier time for cybercriminals. Phishing emails, fake courier alerts, and scam payment requests all spike over the holiday period, and many of them look convincing enough to fool even careful users.

If your team will be using work devices during the break (even just for quick personal tasks), remind them to be cautious with unexpected links, unusual attachments, and anything that asks them to log in or share payment details. A simple “hover before you click” habit to view the destination website, can prevent a lot of headaches.

If you want an extra layer of protection, our DNS filtering can block access to unsafe or malicious sites before anyone accidentally ends up somewhere they shouldn’t. It can also be used to limit access to certain website categories on work devices if that’s something your business prefers.

If you’d like help setting this up, or reinforcing your security policies before the break, we can guide you through the best options.

6. Consider Remote Monitoring and Support – Santa’s Helpers For Your IT

Our managed service clients already have 24/7 remote monitoring watching over their systems. If something fails, freezes, overloads, or shows unusual activity, we catch it early before it turns into a bigger issue.

For everyone else, the holiday season comes with two challenges: response times slow down across the board, and cybercriminals know businesses are stretched and distracted. Remote monitoring means problems get picked up instantly and we can step in before they impact your operations.

If you’d like to go into the break knowing someone’s keeping an eye on things, we can set it up for you, short-term or ongoing. Want that peace of mind this summer? Let’s talk about what remote monitoring could look like for your business.

7. Wrap Up Your Files Before You Wrap Gifts

The holiday season is often a quieter time, making it the perfect opportunity for some digital housekeeping. Clear out old files, archive anything worth keeping, and organise shared folders so everything is easy to find in the new year.
Think of it as a little “digital spring cleaning” to start January feeling fresh and organised.

8. Plan for Next Year’s IT Needs

The quiet holiday period is the perfect time to review your IT setup for the year ahead. Before the break, make a note of any frustrations or inefficiencies you have experienced, whether it is slow systems, tools your team struggles with, or processes that could work more smoothly.

Bringing these insights into January will help turn pain points into a clear, actionable plan for the year ahead. If you would like support with planning or holiday preparation, we are here to help.

Ready for a Worry-Free Break?

If you need assistance with any of these tips or would like to explore solutions such as ThinkSafe or advanced monitoring, our team is ready to help. Let us ensure your IT systems are in top shape so you can enjoy a stress-free holiday season.