Source: Dark Reading Author: Joan Goodchild URL: https://www.darkreading.com/cybersecurity-operations/managing-threats-when-security-on-vacation

ONE SENTENCE SUMMARY:

Organizations must enhance cybersecurity during staffing reductions around holidays to mitigate risks from patient and opportunistic attackers.

MAIN POINTS:

1. Attackers infiltrate chat systems to observe staff behavior before striking during reduced staffing periods.
2. Social engineering can exploit trust, leading to critical mistakes when teams are minimized.
3. Holidays create vulnerabilities due to fewer cybersecurity personnel available for monitoring and response.
4. Challenging operational gaps during holidays can delay patching and incident response times.
5. Organizations should prepare plans in advance to define roles and escalation paths for reduced staffing.
6. Employee training and verification measures are essential to prevent unauthorized actions during downtime.
7. Automated alerts and verifications can help mitigate human error and increase system security.
8. Implementing code freezes can minimize risks of accidental changes to critical systems.
9. A “follow-the-sun” model allows organizations to maintain coverage across time zones during holidays.
10. Maintaining communication and collaboration fosters a stronger defense against potential attacks.

TAKEAWAYS:

1. Prepare cybersecurity plans ahead of holidays to ensure effective coverage.
2. Verify requests from colleagues rigorously, especially during decreased activity periods.
3. Utilize technology and automation to enhance security monitoring and response.
4. Establish clear escalation paths for junior staff during critical staffing reductions.
5. Foster a culture of vigilance and collaboration to strengthen team responses against attacks.