Month: February 2022

Nonprofits should take steps to protect their information assets from cybercriminals by hardening their IT systems. A significant number of cyberattacks begin with a hacker scanning the internet looking for insecure networks that may provide them with a place to start digging. This is similar to a burglar going from house to house, knocking and trying to open each door. If they find a door that’s open, they go inside and start digging for valuable items to steal. Many cybercriminals work the same way. They are digging and scanning the internet, looking for organizations with unlocked doors. Network-hardening increases your security by reducing the number of flaws and back doors on your systems which could be exploited by hackers. This is done by removing unnecessary programs, applications, accounts, ports, or permissions across your network. Network-hardening is especially important for nonprofits because they deal with a considerable amount of sensitive data that they collect and use on an ongoing basis. Keeping this in mind, here are three main categories and threats that nonprofits should be concerned about: Your organization’s reputation Given the nonprofit’s operation is built upon the generosity of others, they rely heavily on the positive public perception and confidence

This Guide to Cybersecurity for Nonprofits will give you a broader perspective on how cybersecurity can contribute to your mission and operations. In 2020, Blackbaud, a cloud computing provider that serves nonprofits and charities, was the target of a multi-million dollar cyberattack. Hundreds of organizations worldwide had bank account information and user credentials accessed as a result of the breach. The South Carolina-based organization has faced damages estimated at 3.6 million and two dozen lawsuits in the United States and Canada. Founded in 1983, Blackbaud is a well-established organization and the perfect example to show that no organization is safe from being a target of cybercrime. How Can Cybersecurity Help You Achieve your Mission? At Makaye InfoSec, we know you strive to be a courageous, effective leader, fighting to drive your mission forward. Unfortunately, the amazing work you do for society can often be overshadowed by cybercriminals. Just imagine: what if your organization was hacked? Criminals get their hands on the valuable information of your donors, volunteers, and clients, which they then threaten to sell on the Deep Web. The only solution is to negotiate with them. You pay $10k to the hackers. You may think everything is back to