Every year around this time of year we hear the phrase – “Let’s pick it up after the summer” or “we’ll review the security set up when everyone is back from holidays”.

It’s understandable. Summer creates a natural lull. People are on leave, decision-makers are out of the office, and the temptation is to “hold off” until things get back to normal.

But here’s the problem: for many organisations, summer is when you most need a risk assessment — and putting it off could mean missing critical vulnerabilities that only show up during seasonal change.

Summer can bring a whole lot of security risk

While your operations might slow, your exposure to risk often increases. Here’s why:

• Skeleton staffing: Fewer people on site means less oversight, and more strain on those left behind.
• Holiday cover: Temporary workers may be unfamiliar with security procedures, reporting lines, or emergency protocols.
• Maintenance works: Summer is a common time for refurbishments, construction, or upgrades — introducing third-party access, additional fire risks, or unsecured entry points.
• More foot traffic: In public buildings or tourist-facing services, summer often sees higher visitor numbers — requiring tighter access control and staff vigilance.
• Relaxed routines: With fewer managers around, normal standards sometimes slip. The assumption is “it’ll be fine for now.”

These aren’t just hypotheticals. At Lexnis Risk, we regularly encounter clients who only discover the gaps in their security or compliance once an incident has already occurred – often triggered by summer-specific conditions.

A Security Risk Assessment is all about timing

Examples of Summer Risks we have identified

Over the years, our team has been called in to assess risk in a wide range of sectors — from councils and education providers to logistics, hospitality, and healthcare.

Some of the most common findings during summer risk reviews include:

• Unsecured access points left open by maintenance teams
• Lapsed CCTV monitoring or recording settings
• Fire doors wedged open for airflow or convenience
• Lack of clear induction for cover staff, especially in high-risk environments
• Overgrown vegetation or blocked exits near fire escape routes
• No updated evacuation plan when certain teams are away

Many of these aren’t issues during the rest of the year, but summer and the time of year when many people are thinking about holidays and a lot of offices are running on skeleton staff, it does change the context. That’s why timing matters.

How we work with clients over the Summer

At Lexnis Risk, we know summer isn’t always the easiest time to schedule in reviews – but we make it simple. Our risk assessment support is:

• Flexible and responsive – we work around your team’s availability
• Tailored to your site – we don’t use a one-size-fits-all checklist
• Real-world aware – we look at how your site is actually operating
• Focused on solutions – with clear, prioritised recommendations

We’ve helped clients use the summer to quietly and effectively prepare for the next quarter, identifying key changes, avoiding unnecessary spend, and building a safer, more resilient operation.

If you’re been putting of a review because you don’t think it’s the right time, well maybe this is exactly the right time for a risk assessment.

If you need help with a Summer risk assessment or a security review we are happy to help so please get in touch.