You’re three hours into a five-hour road trip to southern Utah. Your daughter leans over and asks, “Can I play Roblox on your laptop?”
It’s your work laptop.
The one with client policy data, AMS access, and confidential underwriting notes. You're tired, behind on e-mails, and frankly, if a game keeps her happy for another hour, it feels like a win.
But here’s the problem: Holiday travel exposes insurance advisors to tech vulnerabilities you wouldn’t normally face. You're distracted, connected to strange WiFi networks, and bouncing between personal and professional use of your devices. That mix of family time and "just one quick login" is a recipe for IT security disaster.
If you’re an agency owner in Salt Lake City, this one’s for you. These are travel-tested, compliance-safe practices to protect your client data, your reputation, and your sanity.
Before You Leave: Your 15-Minute Pre-Trip Security Setup
You don’t need an IT department to stay protected. Just 15 minutes of smart prep:
On All Devices:
- Install latest security patches
- Back up all critical agency data to the cloud
- Turn on automatic screen locking (two-minute timeout max)
- Enable "Find My Device" features
- Fully charge your secure power bank
- Bring your own charging gear—no borrowing hotel lobby plugs
With The Family:
- Make clear which devices are off-limits (your work laptop is one of them)
- Set up a separate family tablet or Chromebook
- If sharing is unavoidable, create a guest user profile with no admin rights
Pro Tip: A dedicated tablet for the kids costs far less than recovering from a cyberattack or reporting a HIPAA violation.
Hotel WiFi: The Hidden Risk for Insurance Agencies
You check in. Everyone’s connected within five minutes—phones, laptops, streaming devices.
Here’s the issue: Hotel networks are open fields. Other guests can see your traffic. Some may even be running fake WiFi networks that look legit.
True Story:
A producer we know connected to a network called “Hotel_Guest” at a conference. It was actually a rogue access point set up in the parking lot. Every credential typed, every attachment opened—captured.
How To Protect Your Agency’s Data:
- Always verify the exact network name with the front desk
- Use a VPN anytime you check work e-mail, access your AMS, or open client files
- For sensitive actions like banking or client updates, use your phone’s mobile hotspot instead
Bottom Line: Client policy details don’t belong on open WiFi. Ever.
When the Kids Ask to Use Your Laptop
Insurance systems carry highly sensitive data: driver’s license scans, claims photos, bank account routing info, and more.
What Could Go Wrong:
- Kids click on ads and download junk
- They save passwords, forget to log out
- They accidentally visit unsafe sites
What To Do:
- Don’t share your work devices. Period.
- If you must: use a guest account, monitor usage, and wipe history when done
Better Move:
Bring a separate family device. Even an old laptop that doesn’t touch your AMS or CRM is safer than crossing the data streams.
Streaming on Hotel TVs: Don’t Forget to Log Out
It’s tempting to log into Netflix or Hulu on the hotel’s smart TV.
Problem:
You forget to log out. The next guest has full access.
Even worse? If you reused that password elsewhere (like your work e-mail—please say you didn’t), they may try it.
Safe Options:
- Stream from your phone and cast to the TV
- Set a calendar reminder to log out before checkout
- Avoid logging into any accounts tied to your business or billing info
If a Device Goes Missing
Phones get left on airplane seats. Laptops get forgotten in Ubers. It happens.
Within the First Hour:
- Use "Find My Device"
- Remotely lock the device
- Change all agency login credentials
- Notify your MSP (that’s us) to revoke access
- Report and begin documenting if client data was involved
What You Should’ve Already Done:
- Turned on remote tracking and encryption
- Enabled remote wipe
- Protected devices with strong passcodes
Rental Cars: Don’t Leave Your Data Behind
You sync your phone to the rental car for maps or calls. Most cars store:
- Contact names
- Recent calls
- Sometimes even texts
Before You Return The Car:
- Go to Bluetooth settings and remove your phone
- Clear the car’s recent navigation history
The “Working Vacation” Trap
You told your team you were unplugging. But here you are: fielding quote requests in the hotel lobby while your family swims without you.
What This Does:
- Leaves your data exposed in public
- Splits your attention—you’re more likely to miss phishing warnings
Set Smart Boundaries:
- Only check work twice a day, on a schedule
- Use mobile hotspot (not hotel WiFi) for agency tasks
- Work in private, not where screens are visible to strangers
Keep the Holidays Memorable (In the Right Way)
Your job as an insurance advisor is to manage risk. Holiday travel? It’s full of digital landmines.
Take 15 minutes to prep before you go. Keep work devices off-limits. Use secure networks. And set expectations with your family and your team.
Because you deserve a holiday that doesn’t end with a compliance audit.
Let Us Help You Travel Securely This Season
If your Salt Lake City insurance agency needs help creating a holiday security checklist or enforcing smart data policies on the road, we’ve got your back.
At Qual IT, we specialize in IT services, cybersecurity, and network support for insurance advisors who can’t afford downtime—not during the holidays, not ever.
Click here to book your free network assessment.
For more insights on IT support, managed services, and cybersecurity best practices, keep reading our blog.
