Cybersecurity for Nonprofits: Keeping Your Nonprofit Secure

Cybersecurity is a vital issue for any organization, but especially for nonprofits. Nonprofits often handle sensitive data such as donor information, volunteer records, financial transactions etc. They rely on online platforms and tools to communicate, collaborate, and fundraise. These factors make them attractive targets for cybercriminals who want to steal data, extort money, or disrupt operations.

We'll cover the main risks to be aware of, and go in-depth on each of these best practices:

1. Use Strong Passwords
2. Enable Two-Factor Authentication
3. Watch Out for Suspicious Emails
4. Use a Secure Fundraising Software
5. Educate Your Staff
6. Use a Password Manager

Here are the key takeaways you need to know about nonprofit cybersecurity:

• Nonprofits face various cybersecurity risks, such as data theft, ransomware, denial-of-service attacks, and website defacement. These risks can have serious consequences for their operations, reputation, funding, and beneficiaries.
• Nonprofits can protect themselves by following cybersecurity best practices, such as using strong passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, watching out for suspicious emails, using a secure fundraising software, implementing access management, and educating their staff.
• Password managers are a tool with one of the best cost-benefit ratios for nonprofits. They shore up security and save time. 

Common Cybersecurity Risks for Nonprofits

Nonprofits face many of the same cybersecurity risks as any other organization, but they may have fewer resources and expertise to deal with them. Some of the most common risks include:

• Data theft: Cybercriminals may try to access your data, either by hacking into your systems or by tricking you into giving them your credentials. They may use this data for identity theft, fraud, blackmail, or selling it on the dark web.
• Ransomware: Ransomware is a type of malware that encrypts your files and demands a ransom to unlock them. If you don’t pay, you may lose your data permanently. Ransomware can affect your computers, servers, cloud storage, or even your website.
• Denial-of-service attacks: A denial-of-service attack is when a cybercriminal floods your website or network with traffic or requests, making it slow or unavailable. This can affect your online presence, reputation, and ability to serve your beneficiaries.
• Website defacement: Website defacement is when a cybercriminal alters your website’s appearance or content, usually with malicious or offensive messages. This can damage your credibility and trust with your audience.

These risks are even more critical for nonprofits that must secure their internal data and that of donors and volunteers. If you suffer a data breach or a cyberattack, you may face legal liability, regulatory fines, reputational damage, loss of funding, and loss of trust. You may also jeopardize the safety and privacy of the people you serve.

That’s why it’s essential to take cybersecurity seriously and implement measures to prevent and mitigate these risks. Here are some best practices to follow.

Cybersecurity for Nonprofits: Best Practices to Follow

Cybersecurity may seem daunting or complex, but it doesn’t have to be. There are some simple and effective steps you can take to improve your security posture and reduce your exposure to cyberthreats. Here are some of them:

Creating Strong Passwords

Your passwords serve as the primary defense for your online accounts and devices. A strong password combines several important elements:

• Sufficient length (at least 12 characters)
• Complex character mix (uppercase, lowercase, numbers, symbols)
• Uniqueness across different accounts
• Resistance to common guessing attempts

Consider the contrast between weak and strong approaches. A vulnerable password might be something simple like "password123" or "nonprofit2023." These are easily guessable. A robust alternative would look more like "!4nPr0f!t$3cur!ty@2023" – difficult to crack through automated methods.

The Importance of Two-Factor Authentication

Two-factor authentication adds a crucial second layer of protection beyond your password. When enabled, accessing your account requires both something you know (your password) and something you possess (like your phone or security key).

This approach significantly enhances your security posture. Even if someone manages to obtain your password through a data breach or social engineering, they still cannot access your account without that second verification step. You should implement 2FA across all accounts that support it, particularly those containing sensitive information or financial capabilities.

Several 2FA methods exist, including:

• Text message codes
• Email verification
• Authenticator applications
• Physical security keys or tokens

Recognizing and Avoiding Email Threats

Email remains one of the primary vectors cybercriminals use to compromise organizations. Phishing attacks – deceptive emails designed to appear legitimate – can be remarkably sophisticated. These messages often mimic trusted entities through careful use of logos, familiar language, and seemingly authentic sender information.

What makes these attacks particularly effective is their psychological manipulation. They frequently create artificial urgency ("Your account will be locked unless you verify now") or curiosity ("See who viewed your profile") to prompt hasty action.

To protect yourself, develop a healthy skepticism toward unexpected messages. Before clicking links or opening attachments:

• Carefully examine the sender's complete email address
• Look for subtle spelling or grammatical errors
• Hover over links to preview their actual destination
• Consider whether the request seems unusual or pressured

When in doubt, verify through an alternative communication channel or report the message as potential spam.

If you do experience a security breach, refer to our comprehensive recovery guide.

Securing Your Fundraising Operations

Since fundraising represents a core nonprofit function, it necessarily involves handling sensitive donor information. This data requires robust protection against unauthorized access or misuse.

Select fundraising software with strong security features including:

Encryption transforms your data into an unreadable format that requires a special key to decode. Compliance ensures your systems meet relevant legal standards like GDPR or PCI DSS. Regular backup creation protects against data loss scenarios. Audit capabilities track who accesses your information and when.

Through thoughtful selection of secure fundraising tools, you both protect your donors' information and fulfill your legal and ethical responsibilities.

Controlling System Access

Access management determines who can reach specific data, applications, and services within your organization. Effective access control prevents unauthorized information access while reducing potential data leakage risks.

The principle of least privilege forms the foundation of good access management – users should only receive permissions necessary for their specific role. Additionally, you should:

• Regularly review and update access permissions
• Promptly revoke access when someone changes roles or leaves
• Implement single sign-on (SSO) where appropriate
• Use password management tools to securely store credentials

These practices create multiple layers of protection around your sensitive information.

Building a Security-Conscious Team

Human behavior ultimately determines your cybersecurity effectiveness. Your team members interact with your systems daily, making them either your strongest security asset or your most vulnerable point of failure.

Developing a security-minded culture requires ongoing education and reinforcement. Security awareness shouldn't be relegated to the IT department – it must become everyone's responsibility.

You can foster this culture through various approaches:

• Interactive training sessions
• Regular security newsletters
• Knowledge-testing quizzes
• Simulated phishing exercises

Tools like Wizer Training can help structure this educational process. Most importantly, provide clear, accessible policies on handling organizational data, devices, passwords, emails, and security incidents.

Use a Password Manager

As we mentioned earlier, passwords are essential for securing your online accounts and devices. However, managing passwords can be challenging and time-consuming. You may have dozens or hundreds of passwords to remember and enter for different apps or services. You may also have to change them frequently or share them with others.

That’s where a password manager can help you. A password manager is a tool that stores and manages your passwords securely, so you don’t have to remember them or write them down. It also helps you create strong passwords for each account and autofill them when you log in.

TeamPassword is a password manager designed specifically for teams and businesses. It allows you to store and share passwords with your colleagues easily and safely. It can autofill to the hundreds of websites you use everyday with its extension, available for all major browsers.

How TeamPassword Can Help You Secure Your Nonprofit

TeamPassword is a frictionless, easy-to-use password manager with discounted pricing for nonprofits. Here are some of the key features and benefits of TeamPassword:

• Security: TeamPassword uses industry-standard encryption to protect your passwords and data. It also offers enforceable 2FA, SSO, activity logs, admin and member permission levels, and more.
• Simplicity: TeamPassword is easy to use and set up. You can create groups for different teams or projects and add users with a few clicks. You can also import or export passwords from other sources or formats.
• Integration: Use browser extensions and mobile apps to access your passwords from anywhere.
• Support: TeamPassword offers live support Monday through Friday. You can contact us anytime via email or chat if you have any questions or issues. We also offer discounts for nonprofits. 

TeamPassword can help you secure your nonprofit by making password management easy, fast, and convenient. You can save time and hassle by storing all your passwords in one place and accessing them with one click. You can also improve collaboration by sharing passwords with your team members securely and efficiently.

If you want to learn more about TeamPassword’s features and benefits, check out our website here. If you want to see how TeamPassword works in action, sign up for a free trial.