6 Cyber Safety Tips for Nonprofits

May 17, 2017

6 Cyber Safety Tips for Nonprofits

6 Cyber Safety Tips blog
Protecting against cyber theft is a critical piece in ensuring donor care and retention. It’s vital for donors to know when they choose to contribute, their personal and financial information is safe and protected. Continue to insure all donor information is concealed by constantly taking the necessary steps to safeguard personal data. Here are tips to help minimize and protect against cyber threats.

Passwords

Make certain all passwords are unique for every employee and there is additional security in place to authenticate separate accounts. Employees should be required to change passwords frequently.

Protect your network

Keep Wi-Fi networks encrypted and hidden to prevent any sensitive information being leaked to unwanted parties.

Make sure all software and systems are up to date

Older systems are more susceptible to data breaches, which increases the likelihood of an unwanted hack of  vulnerable data.

Secure payment processing

Many donors choose to give online and are wary to donate if payment processing is not accessible through a robustly secure platform. Manage donations by employing a reputable third-party service specifically designed for nonprofits and which guarantees protection.

Controlled access

Prevent data breaches by only allowing necessary user access to certain files and databases. Keep administrative privileges limited to executive level managers and principal IT staff while requiring all employees to lock up any portable devices not in use.

Have a communication/response plan in place

All staff should be properly trained on security procedures and frequent updates should be provided as procedures change. Should any suspected breach occur, a solid communication and rapid response strategy guarantees employees know who to contact and ultimately prevents additional attacks from increasing.

Proactive and continuous effort to prevent cyber-attacks is critical to every nonprofit organization, their staff and donors. We promote cyber safety and encourage others to do the same!

Content presented by First Nonprofit Group, the leading provider of state unemployment insurance solutions for 501(c)(3) nonprofit employers.

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Testimonials

We’ve been a member of First Nonprofit’s Unemployment Savings Program since 2011 and highly recommend joining. The program is terrific and allows us to earn interest on our own funds while still meeting the state’s requirements on unemployment payments. In addition, the staff are great and always helpful sorting out any questions we may have. Thank you all!

NC Conservation Network, Raleigh, NC

CCSCT was approached by First NonProfit to discuss its Unemployment Savings Program and ways the program could significantly reduce the amount of unemployment taxes we were paying. At the time, our agency was paying approximately $80,000 per year. First NonProfit conducted an analysis to determine if making the switch would be in our best interest, and it clearly was based on our circumstances. The first year on the program, CCSCT saw a 70% reduction in its unemployment costs and each year, continues to experience further reductions as a result of having minimal claims. Some additional benefits of the program including having a fixed annual cost, an interest-baring reserve account, professional unemployment claims management and representation at all unemployment hearings. This has been one of the best decisions we have made.

Community Council of South Central Texas, Inc., Seguin, TX

We first started using First Nonprofit’s Unemployment Savings Program when we were a small startup nonprofit.  We didn’t have an HR department and needed expertise in the event that an unemployment claim was made.  We knew we were eligible to be a reimbursing employer, but weren’t sure how to navigate that process.  They made it easy to set things up, plan for, and then manage claims when they came at a very reasonable cost. The amount of time and stress they’ve saved us dealing with all this has been worth way more than the cost.  We’ve now grown to a large nonprofit and do have an HR department but have no plans to stop using their services.  I highly recommend them to every nonprofit I come into contact with!

CROSSPURPOSE, Denver, CO

Throughout our membership in the Unemployment Savings Program, First Nonprofit understood our demands, community dynamics, and the importance of seamless services; that allowed us to serve our constituents better.

Prevent Blindness America, Chicago, IL

Because INCS advocates for the operating conditions that allow charter public schools to provide high quality public education, partnering with First Nonprofit was an easy decision. First Nonprofit’s unemployment programs provide our member schools two operating elements crucial to their ability to provide high quality public education: savings and budget certainty. Capable, committed teachers are the key to student success. By participating in the unemployment insurance savings plan, charter public schools gain peace of mind and are able to invest more money in their teachers.

Illinois Network of Charter Schools, Chicago, IL

It has been our sincere pleasure to maintain a strong, vibrant business partnership with First Nonprofit. We greatly admire their strong industry knowledge, technical expertise, constant professionalism, knowledgeable and dedicated staff. They are always extremely responsive, personable and provide us with the necessary guidance and recommendations on a numerous variety of employment scenarios.

Thresholds, Chicago, IL

NYCON members who use First Nonprofit’s programs enjoy enduring savings and improved efficiency. Our association knows that success, because from the beginning, we achieved the same great benefits. Great savings, seamless technology, and responsive service. NYCON highly recommends First Nonprofit’s remarkable unemployment solutions.

New York Council of Nonprofits, Albany, NY

Visually Impaired Preschool Services has been a client of First Non-Profit since it was first offered as a benefit of VisionServe Alliance. We completed a thorough evaluation of cash savings to our agency before taking advantage of this wonderful benefit and it has been a very wise decision. Our experience with the processes from accounting to claims have been professional, expeditious and easy.

Visually Impaired Preschool Services, Louisville, KY