Year-End Cyber Hygiene: Essential Security Steps Before 2026
As the year comes to a close, December provides an ideal opportunity for organizations and professionals to pause, reassess, and strengthen their security posture. Cyber threats continue to evolve in sophistication and scale, and a proactive year-end review can help reduce risk, tighten defenses, and prepare teams for the challenges of 2026.
This guide highlights essential cyber hygiene practices that security teams, IT leaders, and InfoSec professionals should prioritize before stepping into a new year.
Why Year-End Cyber Hygiene Matters
The final months of the year often bring a perfect storm of risk: holiday schedules, increased phishing attacks, rushed last-minute projects, and reduced staffing. These seasonal pressures create vulnerabilities that attackers are eager to exploit.
A structured year-end security cleanup helps teams:
– Close gaps that accumulated throughout the year
– Validate that systems, tools, and controls remain aligned with business needs
– Strengthen readiness ahead of emerging 2026 threats
– Reduce operational risk before annual audits and reporting cycles
For COISSA members and the wider Central Ohio InfoSec community, now is the time to take small but impactful steps.
1. Review and Update User Access
Access rights often become outdated over the course of the year. Conduct a thorough review of:
– Dormant accounts
– Privileged access roles
– Departed employees or contractors
– Excessive permissions
Ensuring that users have only what they need reduces risk from insider threats, misconfigurations, and compromised credentials.
2. Patch, Update, and Inventory Your Apps
December ties directly to National App Day, making it a fitting time to:
– Remove unused or shadow IT apps
– Update outdated software
– Review mobile device permissions
– Validate app publishers and sources
– Audit third-party integrations
App hygiene is one of the most overlooked but impactful security practices. A clean, updated app environment closes vulnerabilities before they become incidents.
3. Strengthen MFA and Password Practices
Review MFA enrollment and ensure high-risk systems require strong authentication. Consider auditing:
– Password strength
– Password reuse
– Privileged system MFA coverage
– SMS-based MFA (and whether upgrades are needed)
A quick password and MFA audit can significantly reduce account takeover risk.
4. Back Up Critical Data and Validate Recovery Plans
A backup is only effective if it actually works. Before the new year:
– Confirm backup integrity
– Test recovery processes
– Review backup frequency and storage
– Identify gaps in business continuity plans
Resilience starts with preparation, and December is the perfect moment to ensure you’re ready.
5. Evaluate Vendor and Third-Party Risk
Holiday seasons heighten supply chain risk. Perform a year-end review of:
– Vendor SOC reports
– Application dependencies
– Risk scores or assessments
– Incident history and responsiveness
Small changes in vendor posture can create major downstream impacts.
6. Strengthen Employee Awareness Before Holiday Phishing Peaks
December is one of the highest-risk months for phishing, gift-card scams, invoice fraud, and impersonation attempts.
Consider:
– Sending a year-end awareness reminder
– Running a short phishing simulation
– Reinforcing reporting procedures
A vigilant workforce remains your strongest line of defense.
Looking Ahead to 2026
As 2026 approaches, organizations should prepare for:
– Increasing cloud-native threats
– Expanding AI-driven attacks
– New compliance and governance requirements
– Continued skill shortages
– Greater emphasis on identity and access management
COISSA remains committed to supporting the Central Ohio security community through training, education, collaboration, and professional development.
Remember
Year-end cyber hygiene isn’t just a checklist—it’s a powerful opportunity to reset, reinforce, and realign your security strategy. Taking these steps now helps protect your organization, improve resilience, and prepare your team for a strong start to 2026.
By prioritizing intentional cleanup today, InfoSec professionals can help shape a safer, stronger digital landscape for the new year.