A Small/Medium Business Owner’s Guide to Staying Secure on the Road
It’s the holidays. You’re packed up, halfway to grandma’s house in Minnesota, South Dakota, or somewhere along I-94 in North Dakota. Your 10-year-old in the backseat asks,
“Can I play Roblox on your laptop?”
You hesitate. It’s your work laptop—the one with your client data, payroll info, and QuickBooks access. And while keeping the kids entertained sounds great right now, you pause and wonder…
What’s the risk, really?
Turns out, a lot.
Whether you’re a small business owner in Fargo, a clinic manager in Bismarck, or running a construction crew out of Sioux Falls—traveling over the holidays introduces tech risks you don’t normally think about.
Let’s fix that.
Why Holiday Travel Is a Cybersecurity Minefield
When you’re traveling, you’re out of routine. You’re juggling family time, spotty WiFi, and the temptation to check in on work “just for a minute.” That’s when mistakes happen—like logging into client systems on public WiFi, or letting your kid watch YouTube on your business laptop.
The good news? With a few simple steps, you can protect your business without being that person glued to their laptop at the cabin.
Before You Hit the Road: 15-Minute Tech Checklist
Spend just 15 minutes prepping your gear, and you’ll save hours of headaches later.
Device Security
- Install all updates
- Back up important files to the cloud
- Turn on auto-lock (set it to 2 minutes)
- Enable “Find My Device” on phones and laptops
- Pack your own chargers and a power bank
Set Family Boundaries
- Decide which devices are for work only
- Set up a “travel tablet” for the kids
- Create a guest login if they must use your laptop
Pro Tip: A $150 iPad is cheaper than a $15,000 data breach.
The Hotel WiFi Trap
Whether you're in a Fargo hotel or a cabin in the Black Hills, hotel WiFi is not your friend.
Anyone on that network can potentially snoop—yes, even that “secure” one with the password taped to the front desk.
Stay Safe on the Road:
- Verify the WiFi name with the front desk—don’t guess
- Use a VPN if you need to check work email or files
- Use your phone's hotspot for anything sensitive (banking, payroll, client data)
- Keep work and play separate: Kids can stream cartoons on hotel WiFi; you stick to your hotspot
“Can I Use Your Laptop?” = Red Flag
Kids are curious. But letting them play games or browse YouTube on your work laptop? That’s risky.
They might click on pop-ups, download malware, or leave accounts logged in.
If Sharing Is Unavoidable:
- Create a guest login
- Disable admin permissions
- Don’t let them download anything
- Clear browsing history afterward
Still better: bring a dedicated family device that isn’t tied to your business accounts.
Watch Out for Smart TVs in Hotels
You log into Netflix on the hotel TV. Everyone watches Home Alone. You check out.
And forget to log out.
Now the next guest has access to your account—and if you reuse that password for email, banking, or work apps? Game over.
Safe Streaming Tips:
- Use your phone/tablet to stream and cast to the TV
- Set a reminder to log out before checkout
- Download shows in advance and skip the hotel TV altogether
Never log into:
- Banking apps
- Work accounts
- Any app with saved payment info
Lost Device? Don’t Panic—But Act Fast
Laptops and phones get left behind. Restaurants, rental cars, hotel lobbies—you name it. What matters is how quickly you respond.
If a Device Goes Missing:
- Use “Find My Device” to locate it
- Lock or wipe it remotely if needed
- Change critical passwords immediately
- Contact your IT provider (Hi! 👋 IMS is here)
- If client data was exposed, notify affected parties
Rental Cars Store Your Data—Here’s How to Wipe It
Pairing your phone to play music? That rental car just saved your contact list and call history.
Before you return it:
- Delete your phone from the car’s system
- Clear the GPS history
- Better yet, use an AUX cable or skip pairing entirely
The “Working Vacation” Dilemma
You promised your family you’d unplug. But now you’ve checked your email 47 times and taken three “quick calls.”
That’s not just a recipe for family tension—it’s also when security mistakes happen. You’re tired. You’re distracted. And you’re more likely to click on something risky or skip basic protections.
Set Boundaries That Actually Work:
- Only check work email at set times (twice a day)
- Use your mobile hotspot, not public WiFi
- Take work calls in private—not by the hotel pool
- When you're with family, be with them
You Don’t Need To Be Perfect—Just Prepared
We’re not saying you can never use hotel WiFi or let your kids near a screen. Life happens.
The goal is to reduce risk, not ruin your vacation.
Your Holiday Security Checklist:
- Prepare devices before you leave
- Know what activities are risky vs. low-risk
- Separate work and personal use
- Have a plan if something goes wrong
- Be ready to say: “Not on this device.”
Make This Holiday Season About Family—Not a Data Breach
Whether you’re running a law office in Brookings or a retail shop in Fargo, the last thing you want during the holidays is a security incident.
Information Management Systems (IMS) is here to help you stay protected—so you can actually enjoy your time away.
We’ll help you:
- Lock down business devices before you leave
- Create simple “work travel” policies for your team
- Set up VPNs, backups, and remote wipe tools
Book Your Free Holiday Security Consult
Don’t wait until after the damage is done.
👉 Schedule your free consult
📞 (701) 364-2718
📍 Serving small/medium businesses across North Dakota, Minnesota, and South Dakota
