You're halfway to St. George. Your kid wants to play Minecraft on your work laptop.
It sounds innocent enough. You’re three hours into a family road trip, juggling caffeine and construction deadlines, when your kid asks, “Can I use your laptop?” The same laptop that holds your Procore files, jobsite data, client bids, and access to the entire company network.
Letting them watch a movie feels like the easiest decision in the world. But when you lead IT or operations for a Salt Lake City construction company, you know this decision can cost you big time.
The truth is, holiday travel creates unique risks. You’re out of routine, fatigued, and often mixing business with personal. Below are the essential tips Salt Lake-based construction leaders need to protect company systems, devices, and data when you're away from the jobsite.
15-Minute Pre-Trip IT Safety Checklist
Set aside 15 minutes before hitting the road to lock things down:
Device Security:
- Run all security patches and updates
- Back up field data and office docs to the cloud
- Enable screen lock (set it to 2 minutes max)
- Activate "Find My Device"
- Fully charge your battery packs and backup power sources
- Pack your own charging gear and adapters (jobsite charging bricks don’t count)
Family Game Plan:
- Set clear rules: which devices are for work and which are for entertainment
- Designate a family iPad or old laptop for the kids
- Create a limited-access user account if sharing a laptop is unavoidable
Pro Tip: A $150 tablet is a cheaper investment than having your jobsite plans held hostage in a ransomware attack. Don't risk it.
Hotel WiFi Isn’t Your Friend
Hotels are convenient, but their WiFi? A construction-grade nightmare. Hundreds of strangers, wide-open traffic, and zero visibility. And yes, hackers love to prey on jobsite foremen checking emails at the end of the day.
Real-World Example: One Salt Lake exec connected to "Hotel_GuestWiFi" – except it wasn’t. It was a decoy network set up in the parking lot. Everything from email to banking data got compromised.
How to Stay Safe:
- Verify before you connect – Always ask the front desk for the correct WiFi name
- Use a VPN – Especially if accessing project files, company servers, or anything behind the firewall
- Hotspot for high-security tasks – Bidding, jobsite reports, financial data? Use your mobile hotspot instead
- Separate work from play – Let the kids stream Bluey on hotel WiFi. You stick to your own network
When Your Kid Asks To "Borrow" Your Work Laptop
Your construction laptop likely holds sensitive documents: OSHA records, insurance certs, compliance files, and internal emails. That’s not something you want mixed with Roblox and TikTok.
Better Solution:
- Bring a secondary family device for entertainment
If You Absolutely Must Share:
- Create a guest user account
- Disable downloads and installations
- Supervise all use
- Never save passwords or auto-logins
- Clear the browser history after
Think of it like handing your kid the excavator keys. It might be fun for them, but it could bury you in problems.
Streaming From Hotel TVs: The Forgotten Log-Out
You log into Netflix on the hotel smart TV. The next morning, you're rushing to get to the airport and forget to log out. Now, some stranger has full access to your account—and maybe even your password if you reused it (not judging, just saying).
Fixes:
- Use your own device and cast to the TV
- If you must use the TV directly, set a phone reminder to log out
- Avoid logging into ANY app tied to work credentials or payment info
Lost Device? Here's What To Do First
We all lose things. But when a device with client data or jobsite access goes missing, every minute counts.
Within the first hour:
- Use "Find My Device"
- Lock it remotely
- Change key passwords (email, cloud storage, financial logins)
- Alert your IT team or MSP
- Notify impacted parties if sensitive info was exposed
Your Devices Should Already Have:
- Remote tracking enabled
- Strong password or biometric login
- Auto encryption turned on
- Remote wipe options set up
This isn’t about being paranoid. It’s about being prepared.
The Bluetooth Trap In Rental Cars
Construction leaders spend a lot of time in rentals. Plug in your phone to charge or stream music, and that vehicle might store your contact list, recent calls, or texts.
30-Second Fix Before Returning the Vehicle:
- Delete your device from the car’s settings
- Clear recent GPS destinations
Or skip the risk entirely and use an AUX cable.
Avoid the "Working Vacation" Meltdown
You said you were going to unplug, but now you’ve taken five work calls, reviewed three bids, and logged into the server while your family is at dinner.
The real risk: When you’re split between modes (family vs. work), your decision-making around IT security suffers. You’re more likely to cut corners and click on something you shouldn’t.
Better Boundaries:
- Set specific times for checking email (twice per day, max)
- Only handle sensitive info using your hotspot
- Avoid public lobbies or hotel business centers for work
- Be present with your family—it actually helps your brain reset
Final Thought: Protect Your Business, Enjoy Your Break
Look, we know Salt Lake construction never really sleeps. But this holiday season, be the leader who plans ahead. Your field teams deserve systems that are secure. Your clients expect their data to be protected. And your family? They just want your attention.
A little planning keeps your holidays peaceful and your business safe.
Click here to book your free Network Assessment
Let Qual IT help you secure your systems before the holidays so you can focus on what really matters. One simple conversation now can save you from a major IT disaster later.
