We are delighted to be back for the third year of our Charity Technology Leaders Report! We held a webinar on 20 May with Tree Hall, CEO at Charity IT Leaders, who led a discussion on the 2025 report, alongside Adam Monks, CEO & Co-founder and James Field, Customer Strategy Director, from Smartdesc. Together, we…
As the cost of living crisis continues to impact charities, coupled with rising National Insurance contributions due to take effect in April, reducing spend is more important than ever. One way charities can do this is to consolidate and optimise their IT systems. At Smartdesc, we have a wealth of experience supporting charities with their…
Welcome to the Smartdesc January newsletter. At the start of a new year, we feature a useful blog on how to build your IT strategy without being a techie. We also share some exciting new services on offer as part of our partnership with Academia Technology Group, including full device lifecycle management, and cheaper, optimised…
Welcome to the Smartdesc November newsletter. This month, we share some useful resources on how to avoid recent Dropbox phishing attacks, how to build an IT Strategy without significant in-house expertise, and how we helped the national charity Mind achieve ISO 27001 certification – in case this is something you are considering at your organisation. We…
Dropbox, a popular cloud storage service, has become an unexpected tool in the hands of cybercriminals. Malicious actors are leveraging the platform to distribute phishing emails, a tactic that is becoming increasingly difficult to defend against. How Does It Work? Traditionally, phishing emails contain malicious links or attachments which, when clicked or downloaded, can infect…
In today’s digital landscape, charities face increasing cyber security threats that can compromise sensitive data and undermine trust. Achieving ISO 27001 certification can be a game-changer, as the gold standard for information security management, and can help your organisation safeguard its information assets while demonstrating your commitment to security and compliance. Join us for our…
What is ISO 27001? ISO 27001 is an international standard for Information Security Management and provides a framework of good practice, including: Risk management Risk-based decision making Proportionate controls A checklist of good practice Why Mind chose ISO 27001 Charities are increasingly reliant on data and technology to deliver their missions. It is important that…
Welcome to the Smartdesc October newsletter. October is Cyber Security Awareness Month, so we’ve included some useful resources on achieving Cyber Essentials, and the key areas charity leaders should be focusing on to improve their cyber security. You can also benefit from free cyber and data protection consultations with one of our subject matter experts.…
In today’s digital age, cyber security is more crucial than ever, especially for charities that may be seen as easy targets by cyber criminals. Although the technical aspects of cyber security can be daunting, focusing on a few key areas can significantly enhance your organisation’s security posture. Here are the top five areas charity leaders…
Welcome to the Smartdesc September newsletter. This month, we are thrilled to invite you to a free networking event for anyone involved in IT at charities – our Charity Leaders Winter Social on 7 November at the Microsoft Experience Centre. Also, don’t miss our blog on important changes to Microsoft licensing, upcoming webinars on Data…
