It’s been a big year. Before you head off for beach days, barbies, and a well-earned break, there are a few simple things your team can do to keep the business safe and running smoothly.
These don’t require deep IT skills—just a little attention now so you’re not fielding panicked calls on Boxing Day.
Here’s a practical, human-friendly checklist you can action in the next week.
✅ Run Your Own Mini Restore Test
Backups only matter if you can get your data back. Pick one important file or folder—say a current invoice batch or a key policy document—and restore it yourself. If you’re in Microsoft 365, try OneDrive or SharePoint’s version history and confirm you can open the restored copy. If you use another backup tool, follow its restore steps. This quick exercise proves two things: you know where to go in a hurry, and your data isn’t just sitting in a black box. If this is something your IT services provider normally performs, contact them to discuss further and whether there is a process you can follow prior to reaching out to them over the break.
Tip: Note the steps and where you restored the file. Save that note in the same shared location so others can repeat it.
✅ Do a Remote Login Dress Rehearsal
If anyone might work during the break—approvals, payroll checks, urgent quotes—test the exact process at home, not on the office Wi-Fi. Sign in the way you’ll do it on the day (VPN, Microsoft 365, remote desktop, web portal). Make sure multifactor authentication pops up as expected, links and bookmarks are correct, and you can reach the app you need end-to-end. It’s much easier to fix a hiccup on a Tuesday morning now than on a public holiday.
Tip: Have a non-technical team member do the test and read the instructions. If they get through smoothly, the process is clear.
✅ Publish Holiday Hours and “How to Reach Us”
Customers won’t chase information if they can’t find it. Update your website banner, Google Business Profile, voicemail, phone system voice prompts and email signatures with closure dates, emergency contact details, and realistic response times. If you offer an urgent after-hours number or a “we’ll call you back within X hours” promise, say so. Consistency across all channels avoids confusion and reduces random calls to personal mobiles.
Tip: Put the closure dates on your social channels and pin the post. It sets expectations and looks professional.
✅ Set Clean, Helpful Out-of-Office Replies
Out-of-office messages aren’t just courtesy—they’re triage. Include the dates you’re away, a backup contact for urgent matters (name and email/phone), and any alternative options (e.g., “For accounts queries, email… For support, call…”). Do this for shared mailboxes as well as individual inboxes. Schedule start and end times so the message turns on automatically.
Tip: Keep the tone warm and concise. You can even add a link to FAQs or a payments page to divert routine requests.
✅ Sort Device Basics Before Travel
Tidy devices now so they’re reliable later. Run updates, reboot, check you’ve got a few gigabytes of free space, and make sure auto-lock is enabled with a PIN, fingerprint, or FaceID. Pack chargers and a small power bank. If you might need to hotspot, confirm your phone can share data and you know how to toggle it on.
Tip: Snap a photo of your device serial number and save it to a secure note. If a laptop goes missing, that info helps your IT provider act quickly.
✅ Easy Home-Office Wins
Video call choppy? Sit closer to the router or plug in via Ethernet if you have it. Keep the laptop on power for long meetings, use headphones to cut echo, and know where the mute and screen-share buttons are in your meeting app. These small adjustments make remote work calmer and more professional if something urgent pops up.
Tip: Pick a quiet spot and test a five-minute call with a colleague now. You’ll find and fix any gotchas immediately.
✅ Make a One-Page “Who to Call” List
Centralise the essentials: accounts/payroll, key suppliers, bank fraud line, internet/phone provider, and your IT support’s emergency contact. Put the doc in a shared location and print one copy for the office. In a pinch, nobody wants to dig through emails looking for the right number while a customer is waiting.
Tip: Add simple guidance like “text this number for urgent IT” or “for internet outages, call provider first, then notify IT.” Clarity reduces finger-pointing and speeds recovery.
Bringing It All Together
None of the above is rocket science, and that’s the point. You’re front-footing the busy-season risks that derail holidays: inaccessible files, unclear contacts, and preventable security slips. If you tick off even half of these, you’ll lower stress, protect customer trust, and save yourself from having to log in with beach sand on your fingers on Christmas Eve.
If you’d like a hand, Computer Logic can take care of the heavy lifting—backup checks, change freezes, monitoring, patching, and escalation plans—so your team can focus on the essentials. We also make life easier with user-friendly phone systems, hassle-free data backup solutions, secure remote access, and centralised password management. Together, we’re your strong safety net for a smooth and stress-free holiday period.
From the team at Computer Logic, we wish you a safe, relaxing break and a fabulous Christmas. May your backups be successful, your Wi-Fi stable, and your inbox mercifully quiet. 🎅
