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Nonprofit Security Essentials

Essential security practices to protect your donors' sensitive information and maintain trust.

Why Security Matters for Nonprofits

Nonprofits are increasingly targeted by cybercriminals because they often have limited IT budgets and valuable donor/beneficiary data. A security breach can damage your reputation, violate donor trust, and impact your mission.

Implementing basic security practices protects your organization, your donors, and your beneficiaries from cyber threats.

⚠️ Common Security Threats

Phishing & Email Scams

Links in emails from people you don't know or unexpected links from people you do know

Unsecured Websites

Websites without "https://" in the address bar (the "s" means it's secure)

Password Requests

Legitimate companies never ask for your password via email

Ransomware

Malware that locks your files and demands payment to unlock them

Security Best Practices

1. Strong Passwords

✓ Use at least 12 characters
✓ Mix uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols
✓ Never reuse passwords across accounts
✓ Use a password manager like Bitwarden or 1Password

2. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

✓ Enable MFA on all critical accounts (email, banking, donor database)
✓ Use authenticator apps instead of SMS when possible
✓ Require MFA for all staff accessing sensitive data

3. Regular Backups

✓ Back up critical data daily
✓ Store backups offline or in secure cloud storage
✓ Test restores regularly to ensure backups work

4. Software Updates

✓ Enable automatic updates on all devices
✓ Keep operating systems, browsers, and applications current
✓ Patch vulnerabilities promptly

5. Staff Training

✓ Train all staff on phishing recognition
✓ Establish clear data handling procedures
✓ Create a culture of security awareness

Data Protection for Donors & Beneficiaries

Your donors and beneficiaries trust you with their personal information. Protect this trust by:

✓Only collecting information you actually need
✓Encrypting sensitive data both in transit and at rest
✓Limiting access to data on a need-to-know basis
✓Having a data breach response plan ready
✓Securely deleting data when no longer needed

Getting Started

Start with these basics and gradually implement more advanced security practices. Your donors will appreciate knowing their information is protected.

1.Audit your current security practices
2.Implement strong passwords and MFA
3.Set up regular backups
4.Train your staff on security best practices
5.Review and update your security practices quarterly

How Ventom IT Can Help

Implementing comprehensive security can be complex. Ventom IT specializes in helping nonprofits build secure, compliant IT infrastructure that protects donor data and maintains trust.

→Security Audit: Assess your current security posture and identify vulnerabilities
→Security Implementation: Deploy firewalls, encryption, and access controls
→Staff Training: Educate your team on security best practices and threat recognition
→24/7 Monitoring: Detect and respond to threats in real-time
→Compliance Support: Ensure your nonprofit meets regulatory requirements