Why cyber security is important to small charities

Cyber security is an issue that matters to all of us. No matter the size of your organisation, staying safe online is essential to being able to continue your work and support your local community. That's why we're working with NCSC (National Cyber Security Centre) to train our members to be able to support their networks to protect themselves from cyber threats. In this blog post, we explore why it's so important that every small charity knows how to keep themselves safe online.

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So, what exactly is cyber security? According to NCSC, 'cyber security is the means by which individuals and organisations reduce the risk of becoming victims of cyber-attack'. Through cyber security, we can protect the devices we all use, such as smartphones and laptops, and the services we access on them, from damage or theft. We can keep personal and sensitive information safe, enabling us to do our work with a reduced risk of cyber-attack. Now, with issues such as the cost-of-living crisis, it's vital that all charities and community groups take steps that can prevent cyber criminals getting hold of our accounts, data, and devices.

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The cost-of-living crisis puts added pressure on the voluntary sector, particularly on small charities who may struggle to meet increasing costs. With funding diverted to frontline services, cyber security might not be an immediate priority for organisations that are already stretched for time and energy. However, supporting vulnerable communities at this difficult time can go hand in hand with keeping people safe online. Small charities and individuals might be at risk of hacking or theft if their passwords are not safe, or having to have a laptop or computer repaired due to a virus, for example. Investing some time into cyber security training could save costs (both financial and time) in the long term.

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We know that hacking, theft, and virus infection can happen to any organisation, no matter its size. Many small charities believe that they are not at risk because of their size, but any organisation that has weak cyber security is vulnerable to cyber-attacks. For example, small charities or community groups may be more likely to have volunteers that use personal devices when volunteering, or may have lower budgets for virus protection and up to date software. Small charities may also hold data about vulnerable people that they support, important governance documents, supporter information and more. Keeping this information safe is crucial to continuing to support local communities during the cost-of-living crisis.

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Our members, local infrastructure organisations at the heart of their communities, are key in helping their members and networks to be cyber secure. That's why we're running the Train the Trainer scheme, funded by NCSC. We run sessions for our members, teaching them about cyber security, the risks, and how organisations can keep themselves safe. NAVCA members leave these sessions equipped with the skills they need to run their own cyber security sessions for their local networks of small charities and community groups, and receive payment for running the training. We also provide them with communications toolkits to promote the sessions, and follow up with them to see how things are going.

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If you’re a NAVCA member and want to get involved, please email lydia.lowther@navca.org.uk to find out more and arrange your training. This scheme is running until December 2023.

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Read the NCSC guide to cyber security for small charities here.