Preparing your business IT for the Christmas shutdown

Taking time to review your IT arrangements before Christmas can help reduce the risk of disruption and make the return to work in January much smoother.

Backups are an important part of business continuity, but simply having a backup system in place isn’t enough. Before an extended closure, organisations should confirm that backups are running successfully and that appropriate monitoring arrangements are in place.

It’s also worth considering when the last recovery test was completed. A successful backup doesn’t automatically guarantee that information can be restored quickly or completely. If an important system failed over Christmas, could we recover the information we need?

Systems and applications should be kept up to date throughout the year. Before Christmas, review whether any important updates or maintenance activities need attention. Avoid introducing unnecessary last-minute changes immediately before an extended closure. Major updates or infrastructure changes should be planned, tested and implemented with appropriate support available. The objective is to enter the Christmas period with systems in a stable, secure condition.

Reducing unnecessary energy consumption is sensible when offices are closes, but switching off all IT equipment without checking its purpose can create problems. Some devices may be essential for network connectivity, security monitoring, remote access, backups or other critical services.

Before closing the office, identify:

• Which equipment can safely be switched off.
• Which systems must remain operational.
• Whether any equipment depends on other devices.
• Who is responsible for completing the shutdown.
• How systems will be restarted when employees return.

A documented shutdown procedure can help avoid confusion.

Some employees may continue working over Christmas, even when the office is closed. If remote access is required, organisations should confirm that appropriate security measures are in place.This may include multi-factor authentication, secure devices, access permissions and approved remote working arrangements. It’s also worth reviewing whether temporary access is required and ensuring unnecessary permissions are removed afterwards.

Monitoring systems can identify potential issues with infrastructure, security and critical applications, but alerts are only useful if someone is available to respond. If the employees who normally manage IT are taking annual leave, consider how important notifications will be handled.

• Who receives them?
• Who decides whether action is required?
• Who can provide technical support?

Clear responsibilities are particularly important during periods of reduced staffing.

No organisation can guarantee that an IT issue won’t occur during the Christmas break. That’s why contingency arrangements matter.

Before closing, make sure relevant people know:

• Who to contact if a critical system becomes unavailable.
• How an incident should be reported.
• Which services are business-critical.
• Whether any contractual support arrangements apply.
• Who is authorised to make decisions if urgent action is needed.

It’s also important to check the support arrangements available from your IT provider, including any changes to operating hours over the festive period.

Christmas IT planning shouldn’t end when the office closes, think about what needs to happen when employees return.

• Are systems likely to require updates?
• Will devices need reconnecting?
• Are there scheduled changes or maintenance activities to consider?

Planning ahead can help reduce the risk of a difficult first day back.

An extended Christmas closure doesn’t need to create unnecessary IT risks. With clear procedures, appropriate monitoring and an understanding of which systems are essential, organisations can approach the festive period with greater confidence. The key is to prepare before employees leave, rather than discovering problems when everyone returns.

At abtec, we help businesses manage and maintain the technology they rely on throughout the year. If you’re planning an extended closure and would like to review your IT arrangements, our team can help you identify what needs attention.

Contact abtec before the Christmas break.

Email: info@abtec.net
Telephone: 01942 209060
Website: www.abtec.net