Why summer can create opportunities for cybercriminals and what business leaders should watch for.
By: Dan Roberst on July 20, 2026
Most business disruptions do not start with a dramatic warning.
There is no flashing red light.
No obvious sign something is wrong.
Instead, risk often develops quietly. A process gets overlooked. An employee gets distracted. A vendor relationship is never reviewed. A seemingly normal email receives a quick response.
By the time anyone realizes a problem exists, the damage may already be done.
Summer often creates ideal conditions for these situations. Employees take vacations. Responsibilities shift. Teams move quickly to keep work moving. Oversight becomes less consistent.
Cybercriminals understand this.
They know businesses are busy, distractions are common, and people are more likely to trust what appears familiar.
Here are three risks business leaders should pay close attention to during the summer months.
1. Fraudulent payment requests disguised as routine business
Many cyberattacks do not involve sophisticated hacking techniques.
Sometimes all it takes is one convincing email.
This type of attack, often called business email compromise (BEC), occurs when a cybercriminal impersonates a trusted vendor, supplier, executive, or business partner.
The request appears legitimate.
An invoice needs to be paid.
Banking information has changed.
A payment needs immediate approval.
Everything looks normal until money leaves the account.
These attacks become more successful during vacation season because normal approval processes are often disrupted. Requests may be routed to employees unfamiliar with standard procedures. Temporary decision makers may feel pressure to act quickly.
The solution is surprisingly simple.
Any financial request involving payment changes, wire transfers, or banking updates should be verified through a trusted phone number or separate communication channel. A brief conversation can prevent a costly mistake.
2. Employees are busy and cybercriminals know it
Most phishing attacks succeed because people are trying to be productive.
An employee receives what appears to be a password reset notification.
A text message looks like it came from a trusted colleague.
An email requests immediate action before a meeting starts.
In the moment, stopping to verify feels inconvenient.
Attackers count on this.
They understand urgency often overrides caution.
While security software plays an important role, the strongest defense is a workplace culture where employees feel comfortable slowing down and asking questions.
Encourage employees to pause when something feels unusual, such as:
- Unexpected login requests
- Unfamiliar links
- Urgent payment instructions
- Requests involving sensitive information
The goal is not suspicion.
The goal is thoughtful verification.
A few extra seconds can prevent a significant problem.
3. Vendor access creates risk most businesses never evaluate
Most businesses rely on outside vendors, software providers, consultants, and service partners.
Many of those relationships require access to systems, applications, or company data. Over time, it becomes difficult to track exactly who can access what.
A vendor account remains active after a project ends.
A software integration continues running years after implementation.
Credentials are shared across multiple systems.
None of these situations appear dangerous until a vendor experiences a security issue of their own. When that happens, your business may become exposed through connections you rarely think about.
Business leaders should periodically ask:
- Which vendors have access to our systems or data?
- What level of access do they have?
- Is that access still necessary?
- Who internally is responsible for managing those relationships?
Outsourcing a service does not outsource accountability.
Visibility matters.
Most Cybersecurity Risks Start Small
Many business owners imagine cyberattacks as highly sophisticated events targeting large organizations.
In reality, many successful attacks begin with ordinary situations.
A payment request.
A login prompt.
A forgotten vendor account.
A rushed decision.
The businesses most likely to avoid these problems are not necessarily the most technical.
They are the ones paying attention to the details, reviewing processes regularly, and maintaining clear accountability.
Confidence Comes From Preparation
Cybersecurity is not about living in fear of every possible threat.
It is about understanding where risk exists and taking practical steps to reduce it.
Businesses with strong security practices know who has access to critical systems.
They verify financial requests.
They review vendor relationships.
They create a culture where employees feel comfortable speaking up when something seems unusual.
Those habits help prevent small issues from becoming major disruptions.
At RTS, we help businesses throughout the Cedar Rapids/Iowa City Corridor gain clarity around cybersecurity risks before they become business problems. Our goal is simple: help business leaders understand where they stand, reduce uncertainty, and build confidence their technology is supporting the organization safely and effectively.
Not sure where your greatest risks exist today?
Let's have a conversation.
Call us at 319-364-3004 or visit https://www.rtsia.com/discoverycall/
