Preparing Your Nonprofit’s Cybersecurity To Protect You From Cybercrime

Is Your Nonprofit’s Cybersecurity Prepared To Protect You From Cybercrime?

Cybersecurity should be a primary concern for any organization – but especially nonprofits.

You can’t afford to be one of the many (in fact, 60% of nonprofits) that say they do not have or know of an organizational digital policy that would identify how their organization handles cybersecurity risk, equipment usage, and data privacy.

Doing so puts you at a real risk…

Why Is Cybersecurity An Important Part Of Your IT Services?

To put it simply? Because the threats are real.

Case in point: in the final weeks of 2019, a number of nonprofits in Greater Morristown were forced to pay out half a million dollars to cybercriminals. The Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms in Parsippany, the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey in Madison, and the Museum of Early Trades and Crafts, also in Madison, were all victims of a ransomware attack that targeted their shared IT company.

That’s why your cybersecurity, and that of your IT company, is so important. You need to be confident that your IT company can protect you, as well as themselves. If you’re at all unsure, then do your due diligence and inquire about their security standards and practices.

Ask how they are protected from ransomware – what makes them different from other IT companies that have been hacked? If your IT services organizations can’t protect your organization, or themselves, then you need to consider finding a different company that can.

Why Is Cybersecurity Difficult For Nonprofit Organizations?

Unfortunately, it comes down to available funding. When resources are stretched thin, many nonprofits will cut corners where they think they can. Often, that means opting for cheaper IT services organizations, which has an effect on cybersecurity.

That’s why up to 70% of nonprofits have never conducted a vulnerability assessment. And nearly the same number have no type of cybersecurity response plan in place.

Everyone is aware that a data breach is always a possibility. But when it comes to nonprofits, those at risk are the ones that actually donated their money to a worthy cause. The last thing you want to do is put them at risk. That's why you need to make sure you've invested in IT services that will keep your data (including the financial and personal information of your donors) secure.

You Need To Find The Right Cybersecurity Support

All of this is to say that you need to make sure you’re working with a company that delivers IT services organizations in a secure and cost-effective way. You need to get the best “bang for your buck”.

The On Time Tech team knows that nonprofit organizations like yours are working with limited resources, and we want to help. We’re proud to offer free security awareness training for all our nonprofit clients.

User awareness is a fundamental part of effective cybersecurity. It can protect your nonprofit from a range of threats. The fact is that a majority of cybersecurity services offered today include the best in vital technologies, from firewalls to anti-malware to data encryption and more. However, as important as this technology is, on its own, it simply isn't enough.

Much of cybersecurity is dependent on the user, and as such it's vital that you properly educate your employees and volunteers in safe conduct. The more your workforce knows about the security measures you have in place, the more confidently they can use the technology is a secure manner.

A comprehensive cybersecurity training program – like the service we offer our nonprofit clients -- will teach your staff how to handle a range of potential situations:

• How to identify and address suspicious emails, phishing attempts, social engineering tactics, and more.
• How to use business technology without exposing data and other assets to external threats by accident.
• How to respond when you suspect that an attack is occurring or has occurred.

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