A cybersecurity program is a comprehensive plan designed to protect a non-profit or faith-based organization’s information, assets, and operations from various cyber threats. It includes policies, procedures, and technologies to safeguard against unauthorized access, data breaches, and other cybersecurity risks. The program typically involves conducting a risk assessment to identify vulnerabilities, implementing cybersecurity controls to mitigate risks, continuously monitoring systems for potential threats, and regularly updating the program to address emerging cybersecurity challenges. This proactive approach ensures the protection of sensitive data and maintains the integrity of the organization’s operations.

The starting point for establishing a cybersecurity program involves the following:

Form a Cybersecurity Committee

Assemble a team of leaders, staff, and volunteers to oversee the cybersecurity program. It’s essential to ensure that there is representation at all levels of the organization, including members from the board, staff, community, and volunteers. Ideally, the committee should be made up of individuals with technology backgrounds, including certifications where possible. This diverse representation will bring various perspectives and expertise to the table, enhancing the effectiveness of the cybersecurity program.

Members should be committed to actively participating in meetings, contributing to discussions, and implementing cybersecurity measures. Additionally, members should commit to completing some certifications in cybersecurity to be more effective in their roles. These certifications will provide them with the necessary knowledge and skills to address cybersecurity challenges and protect the organization’s assets.

By forming a well-rounded cybersecurity committee, the organization can ensure a comprehensive approach to cybersecurity, leveraging the strengths and expertise of its members to create a safe and secure environment for everyone.

Conduct a Risk Assessment

Performing a cybersecurity assessment is crucial for non-profits and faith-based organizations for several core reasons:

1. Protection of Sensitive Data: Non-profits and faith-based organizations often handle sensitive information, such as personal data of members, donors, and staff. A cybersecurity assessment helps identify vulnerabilities and implement measures to protect this data from unauthorized access and breaches.
2. Maintaining Trust: Trust is a cornerstone for non-profits and faith-based organizations. Ensuring robust cybersecurity measures helps maintain the trust of members, donors, and the community by demonstrating a commitment to safeguarding their information.
3. Compliance with Regulations: Many non-profits and faith-based organizations are subject to data protection regulations and standards. A cybersecurity assessment ensures compliance with these regulations, avoiding legal penalties and reputational damage.
4. Preventing Financial Loss: Cyberattacks can lead to significant financial losses, including costs associated with data breaches, ransomware payments, and recovery efforts. By identifying and mitigating risks, organizations can prevent such financial impacts.
5. Ensuring Continuity of Operations: Cybersecurity incidents can disrupt operations, affecting the organization’s ability to serve its community and fulfill its mission. A cybersecurity assessment helps ensure continuity by preparing for and mitigating potential threats.
6. Enhancing Cybersecurity Awareness: Conducting a cybersecurity assessment raises awareness among staff and volunteers about the importance of cybersecurity. It promotes a culture of cybersecurity and encourages proactive measures to protect the organization.

At the conclusion of a cybersecurity assessment, a detailed roadmap can be developed to outline the necessary activities for protecting the organization. Tasks should be prioritized based on risk ratings and the likelihood of exploitation. By basing their planning on a comprehensive cybersecurity risk assessment, the Cybersecurity Committee can effectively allocate resources and personnel to address the identified risks. This strategic approach ensures that the most critical vulnerabilities are addressed first, enhancing the overall cybersecurity posture of the organization.

Develop Cybersecurity Policies and Procedures

Developing cybersecurity policies and procedures is a critical step in establishing a robust cybersecurity program for non-profits and faith-based organizations. These policies and procedures provide a framework for protecting the organization’s digital assets, ensuring compliance with regulations, and promoting a culture of cybersecurity awareness. The process involves identifying potential risks, defining cybersecurity measures, and outlining the responsibilities of staff and volunteers. Clear and comprehensive policies help guide the organization’s actions in preventing, detecting, and responding to cybersecurity incidents.

1. Cybersecurity Policy: This document outlines the organization’s overall approach to cybersecurity, including objectives, scope, and key principles. It serves as a high-level guide for all cybersecurity efforts.
2. Acceptable Use Policy: This policy defines acceptable and unacceptable behaviors related to the use of the organization’s information systems and resources. It helps ensure that staff and volunteers use technology responsibly and securely.
3. Data Protection Policy: This document specifies how sensitive data should be handled, stored, and protected. It includes guidelines for data encryption, access controls, and data retention.
4. Incident Response Plan: This plan outlines the steps to be taken in the event of a cybersecurity incident, including detection, containment, eradication, recovery, and post-incident review. It ensures a coordinated and effective response to cybersecurity breaches.
5. Risk Assessment Report: This report documents the findings of the cybersecurity risk assessment, including identified vulnerabilities, potential threats, and recommended mitigation measures. It serves as a basis for prioritizing cybersecurity efforts.
6. Training and Awareness Program: This document describes the organization’s approach to educating staff and volunteers about cybersecurity best practices. It includes details on training sessions, materials, and ongoing awareness initiatives.
7. Access Control Policy: This policy defines the procedures for granting, modifying, and revoking access to the organization’s information systems. It helps ensure that only authorized individuals have access to sensitive data.
8. Network Security Policy: This document outlines the measures to protect the organization’s network infrastructure, including firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and secure configurations.
9. Compliance Policy: This policy ensures that the organization adheres to relevant laws, regulations, and industry standards related to cybersecurity. It includes guidelines for regular audits and assessments.

Implement Cybersecurity Controls

Implementing cybersecurity controls is a crucial step in safeguarding a non-profit or faith-based organization’s digital assets and information systems. These controls are designed to prevent, detect, and respond to cyber threats, ensuring the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of sensitive data. The process involves selecting and deploying appropriate cybersecurity measures based on the organization’s risk assessment and cybersecurity policies. By implementing robust controls, the organization can protect itself from unauthorized access, data breaches, and other cybersecurity incidents.

Example Cybersecurity Controls

1. Firewalls: Firewalls act as a barrier between the organization’s internal network and external threats, filtering incoming and outgoing traffic to prevent unauthorized access.
2. Antivirus and Anti-Malware Software: These tools detect and remove malicious software, protecting the organization’s systems from viruses, spyware, and other harmful programs.
3. Data Encryption: Encrypting sensitive data ensures that it remains secure and unreadable to unauthorized individuals, even if it is intercepted during transmission.
4. Access Controls: Implementing access controls ensures that only authorized individuals can access sensitive information and systems. This includes user authentication, role-based access, and multi-factor authentication.
5. Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS): IDS monitor network traffic for suspicious activity and potential threats, alerting the organization to possible cybersecurity breaches.
6. Regular Software Updates and Patch Management: Keeping software and systems up-to-date with the latest security patches helps protect against known vulnerabilities and exploits.
7. Backup and Recovery Solutions: Regularly backing up data and having a recovery plan in place ensures that the organization can quickly restore operations in the event of a cybersecurity incident.
8. Cybersecurity Awareness Training: Educating staff and volunteers about cybersecurity best practices and potential threats helps create a culture of cybersecurity awareness within the organization.
9. Physical Security Measures: Protecting physical access to servers and other critical infrastructure helps prevent unauthorized access and tampering.
10. Network Segmentation: Dividing the network into smaller segments helps contain potential breaches and limits the spread of malicious activity.

By implementing these common cybersecurity controls, non-profits and faith-based organizations can enhance their cybersecurity posture and protect their digital assets from various cyber threats.

Train Staff and Volunteers

Training staff and volunteers is a critical component of a cybersecurity program for non-profits and faith-based organizations. This training ensures that everyone involved understands the importance of cybersecurity and is equipped with the knowledge and skills to protect the organization’s digital assets. By fostering a culture of security awareness, the organization can reduce the risk of cyber incidents and enhance its overall cybersecurity posture.

Examples of Common Training Topics

1. Cybersecurity Awareness: Educating staff and volunteers about the basics of cybersecurity, including common threats such as phishing, malware, and ransomware. This training helps individuals recognize and respond to potential cyber threats.
2. Password Management: Teaching best practices for creating and managing strong passwords, including the use of password managers and multi-factor authentication. This training helps prevent unauthorized access to the organization’s systems and data.
3. Data Protection: Providing guidelines on how to handle, store, and protect sensitive data, including personal information of members, donors, and staff. This training ensures compliance with data protection regulations and safeguards against data breaches.
4. Incident Response: Training staff and volunteers on the organization’s incident response plan, including how to report and respond to cybersecurity incidents. This training ensures a coordinated and effective response to cybersecurity breaches.
5. Safe Internet Practices: Educating individuals on safe browsing habits, including how to identify and avoid malicious websites and links. This training helps prevent malware infections and other cyber threats.
6. Email Security: Teaching staff and volunteers how to recognize and avoid phishing emails and other email-based threats. This training helps protect the organization from email-based attacks.
7. Physical Security: Providing guidelines on securing physical access to the organization’s devices and systems, including locking computers and securing server rooms. This training helps prevent unauthorized physical access to sensitive information.
8. Regular Updates and Patching: Emphasizing the importance of keeping software and systems up-to-date with the latest security patches. This training helps protect against known vulnerabilities and exploits.

By incorporating these training topics into the cybersecurity program, non-profits and faith-based organizations can empower their staff and volunteers to play an active role in protecting the organization’s digital assets and maintaining a secure environment.

Establish Incident Response Protocols

Establishing incident response protocols is a vital component of a cybersecurity program for non-profits and faith-based organizations. These protocols provide a structured approach to handling cybersecurity incidents, ensuring that the organization can respond quickly and effectively to minimize damage and recover operations. The process involves defining roles and responsibilities, outlining steps for detecting and responding to incidents, and ensuring clear communication throughout the response.

Key Actions in Incident Response

1. Detection and Identification: The first step is to detect and identify the incident. This involves monitoring systems for unusual activity, analyzing alerts, and confirming the presence of a cybersecurity breach.
2. Containment: Once an incident is identified, the next step is to contain it to prevent further damage. This may involve isolating affected systems, disabling compromised accounts, or blocking malicious traffic.
3. Eradication: After containment, the focus shifts to eradicating the threat. This includes removing malware, closing vulnerabilities, and ensuring that the attacker no longer has access to the organization’s systems.
4. Recovery: The recovery phase involves restoring affected systems and data to normal operations. This may include restoring backups, rebuilding systems, and verifying that all cybersecurity measures are in place.
5. Post-Incident Review: After the incident is resolved, a post-incident review is conducted to analyze the response and identify lessons learned. This helps improve future incident response efforts and strengthen the organization’s cybersecurity posture.
6. Communication: Throughout the incident response process, clear communication is essential. This includes notifying relevant stakeholders, coordinating with external partners, and keeping staff and volunteers informed about the status of the incident and response efforts.

By establishing comprehensive incident response protocols, non-profits and faith-based organizations can ensure a coordinated and effective response to cybersecurity incidents, minimizing damage and maintaining the integrity of their operations.

Monitor and Review

Monitoring and reviewing the cybersecurity aspects of an organizations IT environment are essential practices to ensure the security and integrity of digital assets. Continuous monitoring involves tracking and analyzing network traffic, user activities, and system performance to detect any unusual activities or potential threats. This proactive approach helps in identifying anomalies or suspicious behavior that could indicate a cybersecurity breach.

Regular reviews of cybersecurity policies, procedures, and controls are equally important. These reviews assess the effectiveness of the implemented cybersecurity measures, conduct audits, and make necessary adjustments based on the findings. Having a dedicated team or individual responsible for cybersecurity monitoring and review ensures that potential threats are promptly addressed and the organization’s cybersecurity posture is continuously improved.

Additionally, regular training and awareness programs for staff and volunteers play a key role in enhancing the overall security of the organization. By staying vigilant and proactive, non-profits and faith-based organizations can better protect their digital assets and maintain a secure environment.

Engage with the Community

Engaging with the community is a vital practice for non-profits and faith-based organizations. This involves building relationships and collaborating with other organizations, cybersecurity experts, and the broader community to enhance their cybersecurity posture.

For non-profits and faith-based organizations, engaging with the community can take several forms. One key aspect is participating in cybersecurity awareness programs and training sessions. These programs help educate staff, volunteers, and community members about the latest threats and best practices for staying safe online. By fostering a culture of cybersecurity awareness, organizations can better protect their digital assets and sensitive information.

Another important aspect is collaborating with other organizations and cybersecurity professionals. This can involve sharing information about potential threats, vulnerabilities, and best practices. By working together, organizations can stay informed about the latest developments in cybersecurity and implement effective measures to mitigate risks.

Additionally, non-profits and faith-based organizations can benefit from participating in cybersecurity networks and forums. These platforms provide opportunities to connect with experts, access valuable resources, and stay updated on emerging threats and trends. Engaging with the community in this way helps organizations build a strong support network and enhances their overall cybersecurity resilience.

Overall, engaging with the community is essential for non-profits and faith-based organizations to stay proactive in their cybersecurity efforts. By collaborating, sharing knowledge, and fostering a culture of awareness, these organizations can better protect themselves and their communities from cyber threats.

Are you a cybersecurity professional interested in helping non-profits and faith-based organizations on establishing their cybersecurity programs? If so, please do register to become a Technowise Volunteer.

Are you a non-profit of faith-based organization interested in establishing a cybersecurity program? If you’d like help from Technowise and it’s network of volunteers, please register as an organization.