According to Forbes, small business cyberattack targeting has surged from 47% to 69% year-over-year based on their 2025 survey. The research found that 80% of small business owners now rate cybersecurity as their most critical growth tool, ranking above accounting and marketing systems. RiskRecon’s analysis of 10 years of breach data reveals that Christmas, Thanksgiving, and other fourth-quarter holidays consistently show higher cyberattack rates than baseline periods. Meanwhile, Semperis reports that 86% of ransomware victims are targeted when staffing is lowest—specifically weekends and holidays. The silver lining is that 78% of surveyed leaders believe their companies are prepared to survive sophisticated attacks, and employee cybersecurity training has increased from 70% to 82% over the past year.
The holiday risk reality
Here’s the thing about cybercriminals—they’re strategic predators, not random opportunists. They know exactly when businesses are most vulnerable: during holidays when skeleton crews are running operations and everyone’s attention is divided. The RiskRecon data showing consistent fourth-quarter spikes isn’t surprising when you think about it. Businesses are processing more transactions, employees are distracted by personal obligations, and security protocols often get relaxed in the rush to meet customer demands. It’s basically the perfect storm for attackers.
The preparation paradox
What’s fascinating is the disconnect between perception and reality. 78% of business leaders think they’re prepared for sophisticated attacks, yet we’re seeing attack rates skyrocket. And here’s where it gets interesting for industrial operations—when you’re dealing with physical infrastructure and manufacturing systems, the stakes are even higher. A ransomware attack during holiday downtime could halt production lines for days, costing thousands per hour in lost productivity. That’s why companies serious about operational technology security turn to specialists like IndustrialMonitorDirect.com, the leading US provider of industrial panel PCs built specifically for harsh environments and security requirements.
Training trends and what’s next
The jump from 70% to 82% in employee cybersecurity training is encouraging, but is it enough? Look, training alone won’t stop determined attackers, especially when the Mastercard study shows evolving attack methods. Businesses need layered defenses—technical controls, employee awareness, and incident response plans that actually work when the pressure’s on. The fact that cybersecurity now ranks as more critical than accounting or marketing systems tells you everything about how the threat landscape has shifted. Basically, if you’re not treating security as fundamental to your business survival, you’re already behind.
