Summary: In today’s podcast episode, Rob Shavell from DeleteMe and Stephen Halasnik from Financing Solutions discuss potential cyber security threats that nonprofits encounter. These solutions are helping nonprofits be more prepared to tackle cyber security threats and develop solutions to recover from them.
Summary
What Increases the Chance of Cyberattacks?
Controversies within the nonprofit organization can increase the likelihood of a cyberattack. Controversies can include company politics, disagreements over funding, or any other disruption in normal business operations.
Another aspect of nonprofits that increases the risk of cyberattacks is the fact that nonprofits work for the public. The desire to share information with the public can leave crucial information concerning the nonprofit exposed. Customers are not always careful with the information they receive from nonprofits, acting as a vector for potential cyberattacks. This aspect is specific to nonprofits due to their proximity to the people they serve.
Tight budgets can also increase the chance of a cyberattack. It can be difficult for nonprofits to receive funding or lines of credit. This necessitates trade-offs with how the nonprofit will receive its funding. Nonprofits find themselves unable to allocate funding to cover the risk of cyberattacks, leaving aspects of the business exposed to potential threats. Cyber threats move quickly and are very dynamic, making it hard to keep up with cybersecurity protocols.
How Nonprofits can Boost Their Cyber Security Measures
Nonprofits can benefit from consulting with experts in cyber security to see which services would be best in protecting the business from cyber-attacks. Cyber security services do not have to be expensive. Many services are inexpensive to implement and relatively easy to maintain. Smaller threats can be maintained through basic cyber security measures.
One area that is vulnerable to cyber-attacks is information. Nonprofits should store backups of their core databases and business operation systems. Keeping back-ups ensures that in the case of a cyber-attack, crucial information can be recovered without having damaging effects on the business. Nonprofits should also monitor the hosting provider for their data. Big tech companies such as Google Cloud, Amazon, and Microsoft Defender are great tools for security for relatively low prices.
Another way to protect the business’s information from being exposed is by implementing two-factor authentication for every critical system and employee. Nonprofits should be sure to not leave gaps in protection when bringing on new employees during onboarding. Two-factor authentication protects against password attacks, phishing, and social engineering.
Identifying Data Leaks for Nonprofits
For many individuals and executives, Google is the main platform where data brokers are able to capture and sell your information. Companies such as Spokeo, White pages online, and Background Checker are examples of data brokers that are not regulated by the U.S. and use private data at their own will. Data brokers can obtain very detailed information about an individual or nonprofit that puts them at great risk of doxing or social engineering attacks.
Services such as DeleteMe are able to identify data leaks and remove sensitive information concerning individuals or nonprofits from the internet. DeleteMe has reduced the threat of phishing, doxing, and other cyber-attacks by 40% for nonprofits.
About Rob Shavell from DeleteMe
Rob Shavell is a Co-founder and CEO of DeleteMe, The Online Privacy Company. Rob has been quoted as a privacy expert in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, The Telegraph, NPR, ABC, NBC, and Fox News.
About The Host Stephen Halasnik, Financing Solutions
Stephen Halasnik is the host of the popular, The Nonprofit MBA Podcast. The Nonprofit MBA podcast’s purpose is to help nonprofit leaders. Stephen is the Co-founder and Managing Partner of Financing Solutions, a leading provider of loans for nonprofits in the form of Lines of Credit to nonprofits. Stephen is a best-selling Amazon author and is considered a leading authority on building great, purpose-driven businesses. Stephen lives in New Jersey with his wife, Gina. Mr. Halasnik’s number one purpose is raising his two boys, Michael and Maxwell, to be good men.
10% of profits from Financing Solutions is donated to charity.
