Welcome to the Smartdesc August newsletter. This month, we share how nonprofits are solving technology resourcing issues with a co-managed approach to IT, including a video case study from WaterAid setting out how they achieved it. Also don’t miss our free charity IT community events – webinars on Subject Access Requests and Microsoft Copilot for…
Subject Access Requests (SARs) can be sensitive, difficult and time-consuming, requiring specialist data protection knowledge. Dealing with SARs is a legal obligation with strict deadlines. They can be especially challenging for charities with limited resources and complex data environments. Join us on Tuesday 22 October at 11am, as we share practical advice on how to…
Welcome to the Smartdesc July newsletter. This month, we share our key takeaways from the insightful 2024 Charity Digital Skills Report. We also feature bespoke IT training, information on our friends Charity IT Leaders, and exciting networking and learning opportunities. Free charity IT resources Inconsistent IT skillsets often cause inefficiencies and a lack of confidence.…
Over 600 charities responded to this year’s Charity Digital Skills Report. The headline is that it has been “a year when tech use across the sector has evolved, yet overall digital progress remains static”. Leadership teams are listening. 80% of charities now view digital as an organisational priority. However, moving this priority into execution is a…
Welcome to the Smartdesc June newsletter. This month, we share a new video on how WaterAid tackled their IT resource challenges with a co-managed approach. We also feature a webinar with Charity IT Leaders, exciting events, free Microsoft Cloud Security assessments, and more. Free charity IT resources We are excited to release our video case…
With the flurry of recent news on cyber attacks, we provide a short summary of the big stories, and what areas charities can look at to address similar threats. Recent news stories Synnovis CEO confirms ransomware attack at London hospitals Reports suggest this was a traditional ransomware attack on a key supplier, Synnovis, within the…
Email communication, while convenient, often becomes the Achilles’ heel of data privacy. The misuse of ‘Carbon Copy’ (CC) and ‘Blind Carbon Copy’ (BCC) features in emails is a common cause of unintended data breaches. So, should we use CC, BCC, or neither? Let’s explore further. The Pitfalls of CC and BCC CC is a way to…
Would you like to learn more about Copilot for Microsoft 365 and how it can save you time at your charity? Smartdesc offer a free online 90-minute introduction to Copilot for Microsoft 365 including a briefing on how you can get Copilot ready. We will cover: An introduction to Copilot A Copilot demo for Microsoft…
Welcome to the Smartdesc January newsletter. This month we share our annual Charity Leaders survey, advice on how you can use ITSM to improve your IT function, a guide on preventing data breaches, and more. Free charity IT resources Our annual Charity Technology Leaders survey is now live! Complete our survey to have your say on…
Data breaches are a serious threat in today’s digital age, especially for nonprofit organisations. While much attention is given to high-profile cyber attacks, internal staff members sometimes mishandle personal data in their care, creating a digital nightmare. One of the more common data breaches involves unauthorised access to databases containing sensitive service user information. These…
