But here’s the catch: your cybersecurity probably didn’t book a seat on that flight.

Workcations may feel like a dream, but they come with a whole new set of cybersecurity risks that most people don’t see coming. From shady Wi-Fi to stolen devices, let’s break down the biggest threats—and how to stay safe while working remotely, even if you’re poolside.

The Cyber Threats You Didn’t Pack For

1. That Free Wi-Fi? It’s Not Your Friend

When you’re on a workcation, you’re likely hopping between hotels, airports, Airbnbs, and local cafés—and connecting to public Wi-Fi in all of them. Most of these networks are wide open for hackers to snoop on what you’re doing.

Even worse, some attackers set up “Evil Twin” hotspots that look just like the real thing (e.g., “Hotel_WiFi_Free”), tricking you into logging in. Once you do? Your passwords and sensitive company data could be up for grabs.

INTERPOL reports that nearly half of public Wi-Fi breaches come from these fake hotspots.

2. International Internet = International Problems

When you’re logging into work systems across borders, you’re also entering different digital territories—and not all countries treat your data the same way.

Some places have weaker cybersecurity laws, and your data might be at higher risk of being intercepted just because it passed through certain networks. A recent study found that cross-border data had 58% higher chances of interception compared to local connections.

3. Your Devices Might Be Too Chill

Here’s a fun (read: scary) stat—62% of workcationers use personal devices that lack strong security. Many of these laptops or phones aren’t updated, don’t have enterprise-level protection, or are shared with family (hello, malware risk).

And since you’re on the move, the chances of losing a device—or having someone steal or snoop on it—go way up. In fact, 1 in 5 workcation workers reported someone physically tampering with their device while it was left unattended.

4. Password Fatigue Is Real—and Dangerous

Travel messes with your schedule and energy. So it’s no surprise that people start using the same password for everything—or make them super short just to remember them.

The result? 43% of workcation-related data breaches involved weak or reused passwords. Add in jet lag and time zones, and you’re also more likely to fall for phishing attacks—especially ones that look like hotel confirmations or flight updates.

5. Even MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication) Has Its Flaws

MFA is great—until it’s not. Hackers are now using clever tricks to intercept those “verify this login” codes, especially when you’re using SMS-based methods overseas. Some attackers use adversary-in-the-middle tactics to steal your one-time codes in real-time.

Plus, if you’re in another country, sometimes those codes don’t even show up on time, or at all.

6. Shadow IT: The Sneaky Data Leak You Didn’t Notice

Let’s say your company app is acting up while you’re abroad. Instead of calling IT, you might just upload files to your personal Google Drive or send them via your private email. That’s called Shadow IT, and it makes corporate data security teams break into a cold sweat.

This kind of off-the-grid data storage increases breach risk by 63%, and it’s totally unintentional most of the time.

7. Shoulder Surfers & Screen Sneaks

You’re sipping espresso at a cute café and working on a big report. You don’t notice the person at the next table watching your screen, but it happens more often than you think. About 1 in 3 mobile workers have experienced visual eavesdropping, especially in crowded co-working spaces.

Remote Work Security Best Practices

So, now that we’ve totally stressed you out, here’s the good news: you can still take that dream workcation and keep your data safe. It just takes a few smart moves from both you and your employer.

How to Workcation Safely (and Still Enjoy It)

1. Go Beyond the VPN: Use Zero Trust

While VPNs offer a solid layer of protection by securing connections to internal networks, Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) takes security a step further by continuously verifying user identity, device posture, and context before granting access, ensuring tighter control and reduced risk.

Examples: Cloudflare Zero Trust, Microsoft Entra Private Access, Palo Alto Networks Prisma Access

2. Lock Down Devices Automatically

Companies should use Mobile Device Management (MDM) tools that enforce security settings based on where you are and what network you’re on.

Examples: Microsoft Intune, Google Endpoint Management, Cisco Meraki Systems Manager

3. Upgrade Your Login Game

Skip the SMS codes and move to biometric logins (like Face ID) or physical FIDO2 security keys. These are much harder to spoof, even for clever hackers.

FIDO2 Security Examples: TrustKey G-Series, Google Titan Security Key, YubiKey Series

4. Protect Your Screen in Public

Use privacy filters or screen blockers, and don’t leave your laptop unattended. If you can’t keep an eye on it, lock it or take it with you.

Examples: 3M, SightPro, Kensington

5. Get 24/7 Support

For companies with global teams, having a round-the-clock security response team is crucial. It ensures help is available even if someone’s halfway across the world.

6. Make Training Real

Forget boring slide decks—use simulated phishing attacks and real-world scenarios to train employees. These hands-on experiences help people spot threats 47% more accurately.

Final Thought: Work Hard. Travel Smarter!

Workcations are here to stay, and that’s a win for flexibility, work-life balance, and wanderlust. But while you’re planning your next remote adventure, don’t forget to plan for cybersecurity too!

Think of it like packing sunscreen; you might not notice it at first, but it can save you from a lot of pain later.

So go ahead, book that trip. Just make sure your data doesn’t go off on its own vacation.

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