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Cyber security is an ongoing threat for charities as reports of cyber crime rise.
With the start of a new year, the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) is urging charities to take the time to review and update their cyber security measures.
Charities often handle sensitive information and financial data, and this can make them vulnerable to cyber attacks.
There are four simple steps every charity can take to help protect against cyber incidents:
- Identify and assess the risks.
- Prevent incidents and mitigate risks.
- Engage people in the charity and relevant third parties to manage risks.
- Take action and respond effectively when concerns, suspicion or complaints arise.
Unfortunately, the consequences of a cyber attack can be significant, including high costs to restore data, loss of critical information, disruption to operations and damage to a charity’s trust and reputation.
The ACNC Cyber Security Governance Toolkit contains practical tools and guidance to help charities strengthen their cyber security. This includes a template plan for responding to a data breach, and a cyber security checklist to help ensure the right policies and procedures are in place to manage cyber security risks.
Take action today to protect your charity and explore the ACNC Cyber Security Governance Toolkit.