Practical Steps to Protect Your Nonprofit from Cyber Threats

Imagine your nonprofit’s donor database is suddenly lost, sensitive information exposed, website taken down, all because of a single click or missed update. For nonprofits, cybersecurity isn’t just about protecting data; it’s about safeguarding the trust your supporters place in you and ensuring the you can continue your mission. Cyber threats, from phishing attacks to data breaches, increasingly target organizations of all sizes, putting nonprofits at unique risk.

This Cybersecurity Awareness Month, let’s dive into practical steps your team can take to strengthen security, prevent data loss, and build a strong and resilient digital presence. By addressing cybersecurity before an issue occurs, you’re protecting not only valuable information but also the heart of your mission.

Human Error

One of the most important aspects of cybersecurity isn’t the technology—it’s the people using it. Social engineering, also known as phishing, is one of the most common methods attackers use to access sensitive information. By tricking individuals into revealing passwords or clicking harmful links, hackers can gain access to systems without advanced technical skills.

Take this month to equip your team with the knowledge to recognize and handle these threats and train staff to identify phishing attempts and use two-factor authentication where possible to help minimize risk. Passwords should be stored using secure software, not on post-it notes or shared documents, and updated at least annually, if not more frequently. 

Backups

The best way to deal with data loss is to prevent it from happening. The second best way is to have up-to-date backups. They are a critical safety net for nonprofits, ensuring that your most important data — donor information, volunteer records, and website files — can be quickly restored if something goes wrong. Whether you’re hacked, accidentally delete data, or have an update go wrong, data loss can disrupt your focus on your important day-to-day work. Having a reliable, up-to-date backup system means you’re prepared to recover quickly. 

Access

Cyber Security Awareness Month is a great time to review the access you’ve granted across all your platforms and systems. People come and go from nonprofits, including former staff members, board members, and external consultants, and sometimes their access lingers. Keeping permissions current minimizes the risk of unauthorized access by ensuring that only active staff have access to sensitive data (and not your 2nd cousin who helped order decorations for your annual Fundraising event!)

Taking the time to check out who has access to what is also a great time to evaluate the effectiveness of your current tech stack. What are you paying for that you’re not using and what needs an upgrade? Taking stock of your current systems can help open up new opportunities for efficiency and advancement. If you need help optimizing your digital marketing to be a tool and not a chore, reach out today!

Security and Updates

A good antivirus like MalwareBytes and regularly updating your computer can help secure your personal machine, but what about your website? Plugin and platform updates are critical to ensure that your website remains fast, secure, and working to help further your mission. Get everything updated this month and then set a regular cadence to check in every month and see what’s available to update.

With more people working from home each day, it’s important to set barriers between work and personal life. Sometimes using a separate browser and password management system is enough, some organizations may even require a VPN or a separate machine. No matter what works for your organization, make sure that there are safeguards to protect sensitive organizational data when you accidentally click on a link for a too-good-to-be-true deal when online shopping in the evening.

Final Tips and Tricks

1. Implement Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) Across Accounts
   • Encourage MFA on all accounts where sensitive data is stored. MFA adds an additional layer of security by requiring not only a password but also a secondary verification method.
2. Use Secure Password Management
   • Encourage strong, unique passwords and avoid shared documents for storage.
3. Educate on Safe Wi-Fi Practices
   • If your team works remotely, educate them on the importance of secure Wi-Fi connections. Avoid using public Wi-Fi for sensitive tasks unless a VPN (Virtual Private Network) is enabled. 

Tapp is here to help!

Whether it’s strengthening your cybersecurity measures, training your team to recognize threats like phishing, or helping you implement essential security protocols, Tapp Network has the expertise to ensure your nonprofit is well-protected.

Explore how our cybersecurity solutions can safeguard your organization, in combination with any of our digital marketing and website services. Schedule a consultation and take the first step toward securing your mission and building a more resilient digital presence.