David Spriggs asks and answers all the questions the sector should be asking itself about cyber security and so much more. 

It has never been more important to build a digitally capable and resilient not-for-profit sector.

The last few years of disruption have shown us how the effective use of technology can help organisations enable new ways of working, deliver greater impact and be more responsive to the needs of our communities.  

They have also highlighted how vulnerable the sector is in relation to cybersecurity and the challenges in appropriately resourcing our digital transformation journeys.

The beginning of a new year is a good time for organisations to reflect and plan for the year ahead.  What are the priorities for your organisation and where does your digital transformation or technology plan fit within your overall strategy?

What is our plan for information security? 

Infoxchange’s ‘Digital Technology in the Not-for-Profit Sector’ report released in November 2022 showed that this question is not being asked often enough in the sector. 

Key findings in the report included:

• Only 49 per cent of organisations have an information security policy in place and 54 per cent of organisations have a process in place to manage information security related risks.
• Only 47 per cent of organisations provide information security awareness training to staff.
• 45 per cent of organisations are yet to develop a data breach response plan.
• 35 per cent of organisations have not yet implemented multi-factor authentication.
• Reasons for not having an information security policy in place include lack of budget or resources (50 per cent), not sure how to go about it (33 per cent), don’t think it is necessary (26 per cent) and other/unsure (30 per cent).

Given the increasing number of cyber-attacks and data breaches, we must urgently address the significant shortcomings of the sector in this area.

The good news is that resources are readily available to help improve information security and make your organisation more resilient against hacking or cyber-attacks.

You can take this quick quiz on our Digital Transformation Hub to assess your current state and find out what improvements your organisation can make.  

Many are shocked to learn that over 99 per cent of cyberattacks can be blocked just by implementing multi-factor authentication (MFA), yet our survey discovered more than a third of organisations are yet to implement MFA. 

Another critical element is to provide security awareness training for staff and volunteers.  

We have heard from many organisations that they don’t have the time or resources to provide cybersecurity training.  If that sounds like you then please check out our free cybersecurity webinars designed specifically for staff and volunteers of not-for-profits.

Enabling new ways of thinking 

In November last year, the most searched term on Seek was “working from home” indicating hybrid working is clearly here to stay.

More than 83 per cent of the respondents in our survey said they provided staff with the option to work from home.

Given this, it is important we think about the way we work and communicate. There is now far more pressure on our team collaboration tools and information systems to help enable these new ways of working.

This has been a significant area of investment for not-for-profits with 57 per cent of organisations indicating they now have all the necessary infrastructure in place so that staff can work remotely with ease and efficiency.  This is a huge increase from 2021 when only 24 per cent of organisations were able to support staff working away from the office.

It also means there is more pressure on organisations to ensure their staff have an adequate home office space configured with appropriate equipment that meets workplace health and safety requirements.

Investing in digital skills 

It has been pleasing to see the sector investing in technology with Australian not for profits spending 30 per cent more on technology in the last year when compared to the previous year.

The focus for many organisations is now turning to how they can build the digital skills of staff and volunteers to make the most of these new systems.  

This is of critical importance with only 56 per cent of organisations reporting staff are confident in using technology and their information systems.

We must also not forget about the broader issue of digital inclusion and the capability of the community members that we are seeking to serve.  The most recent Australian Digital Inclusion Index showed that 11 per cent of Australians remain highly digitally excluded.  

In looking to improve the digital skills of our own staff and volunteers, we should also be thinking about how we can work together to improve digital inclusion across the community.

Emerging technologies 

The not-for-profit sector has traditionally lagged behind when it comes to the adoption of new and emerging technologies.

In an environment where many organisations are struggling to get the basics right in terms of technology foundations, it is not surprising that there is low interest and scepticism when it comes to taking on new and innovative technology solutions.

In developing our plans for the year ahead it is important we at least have a basic understanding of the evolving technology landscape and how some of these technologies might support our future strategies.

Artificial intelligence and machine learning is one area that all organisations should be seeking to understand in more detail.  The recent advent of ChatGPT has thrown generative artificial intelligence into the spotlight and there is much debate on where it should be used with many states already banning the use of ChatGPT in schools.

For most organisations starting with a data strategy and thinking about how they could make better use of data is a logical place to start before embarking on any large-scale investment in artificial intelligence projects.

Where do I start? 

Infoxchange developed the Digital Transformation Hub to help the sector on their digital transformation journey and become more resilient.   

The initiative has been developed as a cross-sector partnership with founding partners the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation and Gandel Foundation along with contributors from across the government, corporate and for-purpose sectors.

Organisations can undertake an online assessment to identify improvement actions and access resources designed specifically for not-for-profit organisations.

If you are looking to develop a digital transformation or technology plan for the year ahead there are many resources to assist – even an expert bar where you can schedule a session to talk through your challenges for the year ahead.

Let’s work together to make 2023 the year that technology becomes a true enabler for the sector – helping us deliver great impact, enabling new ways of working and improving our resilience.