How Should Non-Profit Businesses Tackle Cyber Security

15 November 2024

Non-profits have huge data sets that are easy targets for cyber-attacks. While playing important societal roles, many of these organisations have tight budgets and lack cybersecurity knowledge. Those challenges require strategic steps towards data protection and public trust.

Understanding the Cybersecurity Risks for Non-Profits

Cyber threats threaten nonprofits - from data breaches to ransomware attacks. The UK government said a quarter of UK charities were attacked in 2019. Limitations like budget and lack of cybersecurity experience can exacerbate these risks and leave many organisations exposed.

Why Nonprofits are Targeted

• Valuable Data: Most nonprofits handle donor information, financial records and beneficiaries' personal details. Such information may prove valuable to cybercriminals pursuing financial gain or identity theft.
• Perceived Weak Defences: Attackers may consider non-profits easier targets because they have smaller budgets for managed cyber security services and IT infrastructure.
• Reliance on Volunteers: Most nonprofits rely on volunteers who have little cybersecurity training. This workforce creates holes that malicious actors exploit - unknowingly.

Key Strategies for Tackling Cyber Security

1. Establishing Robust Cybersecurity Foundations

• Firewalls and Network Security: Every nonprofit should start with the basics: fund raising. a robust firewall. Unauthorised access and suspicious activities can be blocked by a firewall supporting data loss prevention and intrusion detection/protection (IDS / IPS). Make sure the firewall allows secure VPN connections for remote work - common in non-profit operations.
• Email Security Solutions: It is one of the most common cyber-attacks on non-profits - Phishing. 81% of UK charities received fraudulent emails in a year. Buy email security solutions that block phishing and impersonation attacks. Those systems should also warn of suspicious emails, block domain spoofing and unwanted links that redirect to questionable sites.

Integrating IT Service Desk support helps identify and handle suspicious emails, reducing the risk of successful phishing attacks that are common in non-profit organisations due to their heavy reliance on email communications.

2. Cultivating a Strong Internal Security Culture

Employee and Volunteer Training: Awareness of cybersecurity must extend beyond IT departments. Voluntary and employee volunteers and employees must be trained to recognise threats like phishing emails or social engineering scams. Training programs that cover basic concepts for identifying and responding to cyber risks may make a difference.

Strong Password Policies: Use strong password protocols, including:

• Multi-factor authentication (MFA) for added protection
• Update passwords often

Staff and volunteers need training on cybersecurity. Using Computer monitoring and Management reinforces this training by continuously Monitoring activities and flagging unusual behaviours to support a proactive cybersecurity posture within the organisation.

3. Conducting Regular Cybersecurity Assessments

• Penetration Testing: Having someone professional do a penetration test simulates a real cyber-attack and reveals weaknesses that could be exploited. It enables non-profits to reinforce defences before a breach occurs.
• Compliance and Monitoring: Conformity with industry standards and government regulations such as GDPR for data privacy ensures that nonprofits meet security benchmarks. Regular monitoring and audits maintain these standards and keep cybersecurity measures current.

4. Leveraging Managed Cyber Security Services

For non-profits with tight internal resources, outsourcing IT Security can be a practical solution. Managed cyber security services provide protection from monitoring & threat detection to fast response. These services give non-profits industry leading expertise without the expense of hiring an in-house IT department.

Benefits of Managed Services:

• 24/7 Monitoring: Continuous threat monitoring detects and responds to incidents quickly minimising damage.
• Cost Efficiency: Outsourcing may be more affordable than full time staffing for nonprofits.
• Expert Guidance: And managed service providers stay on top of new cybersecurity threats and technologies to keep non-profits protected from new risks.

Cybersecurity Best Practices for Nonprofits

Implementing Layered Security

• Antivirus and Anti-Malware Tools: Get good antivirus software for all devices.
• Secure Backups: Back up data frequently to secure, offsite locations to prevent data loss in case of ransomware or other malicious attacks.
• Network Segmentation: Partition the network into segments to limit access to sensitive data so an attacker can not move laterally within the system.

Encouraging Cyber Hygiene

• Update software frequently for known vulnerabilities.
• Avoid public Wi-Fi for accessing organisational data without a VPN.
• Log out of shared computers when not in use and lock devices when not in use.

The Role of IT Support for Nonprofit Organisations

Nonprofits often have tight budgets and can find it difficult to invest in full-scale in-house IT support. Here IT support for nonprofit organisations is crucial. Outsourcing IT functions gives non-profits expertise that would otherwise be unavailable. Professional IT support can set up secure systems, maintain network integrity and recommend best practices.

Key Advantages:

• Scalable Solutions: IT support services scale up as needs increase.
• Dedicated Expertise: IT professionals understand non-profit challenges and can tailor solutions.

Wrapping Up

For non-profit organisations, protecting sensitive data is non-negotiable. Limited budgets and resources are real, but foundational cybersecurity measures, regular training, risk assessments and partnering with managed cyber security services can strengthen defences. We at Renaissance UK provide solutions to help non-profits improve their cybersecurity posture and operate confidently.