The back-to-work season is a key moment for CIOs, IT managers, IT service providers and MSPs. September marks the return to business, the restart of projects and, sometimes, the discovery of malfunctions that went unnoticed over the summer. It is also a sensitive period, when cyberthreats such as ransomware, doxware, denial-of-service attacks or spyware can strike at a moment of vulnerability.
To avoid emergencies, secure your systems and ensure effective business continuity, it is essential to plan ahead methodically. This involves a complete technical audit, strengthening cybersecurity and updating the Disaster Recovery Plan (DRP).
IT back-to-work checklist 2026 - The essentials to check
Here is an operational checklist to structure your IT return proactively.
Information system audit
[ ] Check the status of servers, NAS, storage arrays and critical workstations
[ ] Review summer activity logs and security logs
[ ] Identify unhandled alerts or unreported incidents
[ ] Review backups: volumes, frequency, success rate
[ ] List anomalies, errors or suspended tasks
Security and access
[ ] Update or reset passwords for sensitive accounts
[ ] Delete obsolete or temporary accounts
[ ] Check that MFA (multi-factor authentication) is enabled
[ ] Apply system and application security patches
[ ] Reassess access rights in line with the Zero Trust policy
[ ] Check for malware: backdoors, man-in-the-middle, spyware
Backup and restore
[ ] Make sure all critical data is backed up
[ ] Check that backups are offsite, encrypted and isolated
[ ] Perform a full restore test to validate availability
[ ] Check data retention and access to history
[ ] Adapt the backup scope to new business needs
Disaster Recovery Plan (DRP)
[ ] Identify the applications and data vital to the business
[ ] Define recovery time objectives (RTO) and recovery point objectives (RPO)
[ ] Document restore procedures for each scenario
[ ] Run a DRP test simulating a failure or an attack
[ ] Update escalation contacts and the communication plan
[ ] Anticipate whaling fraud scenarios
Why is this approach essential today?
For several years now, cyberattacks have surged when business resumes in September. Companies are targeted at a time when activity is picking up again but vigilance is sometimes uneven. A human error, an account left active or a missing backup can open the door to threats such as:
- Ransomware, which encrypts your data and holds it hostage
- Doxware, which threatens public disclosure
- Man-in-the-middle attacks, which intercept your data flows
- Backdoors, which exploit a vulnerability left open
Faced with these risks, having tools is no longer enough: you need robust procedures, a clear view of the state of your information system and the ability to restore operations quickly.
KiwiBackup: your partner for a secure return to business
At KiwiBackup, we support IT professionals with their backup and business continuity strategy, with an approach based on trust, performance and simplicity.
Our strengths for your IT return:
- Cloud or On Premise backup, 100% hosted in France
- ISO 27001 and HDS certified, GDPR-compliant infrastructure
- Audit tools, reporting, centralized monitoring and automated alerts
- Multi-platform backup: Office 365, Google Workspace, etc.
- Source-side deduplication, smart compression and bandwidth savings
- Simple restore tests, available at any time
Our goal is to provide you with a reliable professional backup solution that fits into your resilience strategy without overloading your teams.
In short: get ahead, don't fall behind
The return to business is not just a restart: it is an opportunity. An opportunity to strengthen your security, eliminate weak points and build an infrastructure ready to withstand incidents.
With a clear checklist, an operational DRP and a trusted partner like KiwiBackup, you give yourself every chance of a well-managed IT return.