Let’s be real: long weekends are supposed to be for rest. But if you’ve ever carried that gnawing feeling into a holiday— “What if something happens while I’m not watching?” —you’re not alone.
Hackers love holidays. They know your office is quiet, your IT staff is thin, and response times are slow. That’s why so many ransomware attacks land right before or during long weekends.
If you’re leading IT at a construction firm, you’re carrying more than your share of stress. You’re protecting blueprints, contracts, payroll, vendor data—information that could stop projects cold if it’s locked up or leaked. Add the reality that your field teams and subcontractors are still working off mobile devices and jobsite trailers, and the attack surface doesn’t take a day off just because it’s Labor Day.
Why Hackers Time Their Strikes for Holidays
Think about it:
- Fewer eyes on alerts.
- Slower response if something suspicious shows up.
- People distracted with family, travel, or barbecues—making them more likely to click on a malicious “urgent” email.
And attackers know it. They plan for it.
What You Can Do Before You Head Out
Here’s the part that gives you back a little peace of mind. A few small steps before you log off Friday can make the difference between a quiet holiday and a crisis call on Sunday.
- Backups you can trust. Double-check that your backups ran, and—this is key—that you can actually restore from them.
- MFA everywhere. If you haven’t already, push app-based multifactor authentication across the board. It’s your best guardrail against stolen logins.
- Set clear guardrails for finance. Hackers love to slip in fake “urgent wire transfer” requests before a holiday. Make sure any big money movement requires a second set of eyes.
- Remind your team. A quick note before the weekend goes a long way. Remind employees to turn off their computer, not to click on travel deals, payroll “updates,” or anything that feels off. Give them the number to call if they’re unsure.
The Bottom Line
You deserve to enjoy your holiday weekend without refreshing your phone every hour, wondering if a breach is happening back at the office.
Hackers might love long weekends, but that doesn’t mean you have to give them the upper hand. With a few smart moves now, you can head into Labor Day knowing you’ve done your part to keep your projects safe and your people protected.
👉 Want help running a quick “holiday readiness check” before the long weekend? Book a quick 10-minute call here: https://go.scheduleyou.in/tJdFBP
I’ll provide you a quick check list and walk you through the must-haves so you can close your laptop Friday with confidence.
Enjoy your Labor Day. You’ve earned it.
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Preston Borchelt, President/CEO
Turning tech talk into real-world relief for construction leaders
