Black Friday and Cyber Monday bring in record sales, record web traffic, and, unfortunately, record levels of cybercrime. Austin and Central Texas businesses feel this pressure every year, especially those relying on online orders, email communication, or digital payments. But while most people think “holiday scams” are aimed at shoppers, the real danger for businesses is much more serious.
The number one threat to your company during Black Friday and Cyber Monday is credential theft. It is the most common doorway attackers use to access your systems, move money, impersonate staff, and disrupt your operations. And it is the attack vector that spikes more than any other during the holiday shopping season.
This article will show you why credential-based attacks are so dangerous, what’s at stake for your business, and how the right IT support partner can protect your organization before the holiday rush.
The Real Pain: Why Credential Theft Surges During Black Friday and Cyber Monday
The holiday shopping season creates the perfect storm. Your employees are moving fast. Vendors are processing more orders. Finance teams are responding to a flood of invoices and receipts. And your inbox fills with legitimate-looking emails from retailers, shipping companies, and payment services.
Attackers take advantage of this chaos.
Phishing links disguised as order confirmations trick employees into entering their Microsoft 365 credentials. Fake “password reset” warnings redirect them to look-alike login pages. Compromised accounts from other breaches get tested against your business systems using automated bots.
Once an attacker gets a password, everything changes.
They no longer need to break in.
They simply log in.
This makes credential theft the most profitable, most scalable, and most damaging holiday-season threat.
The Stakes: What Happens When an Attacker Steals a Business User’s Credentials
Most CEOs assume a stolen password is an inconvenience. But in reality, it can be an operational crisis.
Here’s what attackers can do once they access a business account:
1. Send fake invoices to your clients
The attacker pretends to be your accounting team and asks clients to “update banking details.” This is how real wire fraud begins.
2. Reset passwords on critical business systems
They lock you out before you even know what's happening.
3. Access internal documents and financial data
Anything stored in email, Teams, OneDrive, or Dropbox becomes visible.
4. Approve fraudulent purchases
When attackers access business credit accounts, charges add up fast.
5. Disrupt holiday operations
If your business depends on holiday revenue, downtime during Black Friday or Cyber Monday is expensive.
The average cost of a compromised account in 2024 was more than 6,000 dollars in direct losses and 40,000 dollars in follow-up damages, not including lost reputation.
For Austin businesses running lean teams or processing high volumes during the holidays, a single compromised account can create chaos.
CTTS: Your Local Guide Through Holiday Cyber Risks
CTTS supports businesses across Austin, Georgetown, Round Rock, Taylor, Buda, Bastrop, San Marcos, and the surrounding Central Texas growth corridor. After 22 years in this market, we’ve seen what works and what fails when Black Friday cyber activity ramps up.
Austin businesses choose CTTS because we take a simple approach.
No scare tactics. No complicated technical talk.
Just clear guidance, real protection, and a support team that answers when you call.
Here’s how CTTS helps protect your business before the holiday rush:
• Strengthen login security across your systems
We ensure MFA is properly configured, remove legacy authentication, and block modern attack patterns.
• Identify accounts that attackers commonly target
Executives, accounting teams, HR, and front-office staff get special lockdown policies.
• Deploy advanced email protection that stops holiday-season phishing
Mailprotector Shield blocks modern phishing tactics that slip past standard filters.
• Train your team on the exact scams circulating this season
This includes fake shipping notices, fake payment confirmations, and urgent “invoice updates.”
• Monitor your systems for suspicious login attempts
Attackers test passwords heavily during the holiday weekend. We shut that down.
With CTTS, you are not reacting after something goes wrong.
You’re protected before the week even starts.
Five CEO-Level Best Practices to Protect Your Business This Black Friday and Cyber Monday
These are non-technical steps any CEO can implement quickly.
1. Enforce multifactor authentication across every business application
Not optional. Not “we’ll get to it.”
MFA stops 99 percent of credential attacks.
2. Warn employees about fake shipping and payment messages
Attackers rely on employees rushing through their inbox.
A simple reminder can prevent a very expensive mistake.
3. Lock down high-risk accounts
If accounting, HR, or executives use weak security, attackers know it.
4. Disable outdated login methods
Legacy authentication is an open door during high-attack weeks.
5. Review your holiday cybersecurity posture with a trusted IT partner
A 30-minute review can prevent a six-figure incident.
Ready to secure your business before the holiday rush?
If you want a quick, plain-English review of your security before Black Friday and Cyber Monday, I’d be happy to walk you through it.
Schedule a free strategy session with CTTS.
FAQ
1. Are holiday scams really that much worse for businesses?
Yes. Phishing volume increases significantly during Black Friday and Cyber Monday, and attackers target employees who are moving quickly.
2. Is MFA enough to stop credential theft?
It dramatically reduces risk, but configuration matters. Attackers have developed ways to bypass weak MFA setups.
3. What industries are most targeted?
Retail, professional services, medical practices, nonprofits, and construction companies see the highest spike because they process invoices and online payments during the holiday season.
Contact CTTS today for IT support and managed services in Austin, TX. Let us handle your IT so you can focus on growing your business. Visit CTTSonline.com or call us at (512) 388-5559 to get started!