Last week we hosted the first of our Quarterly Charity Technology Roundtables, with Microsoft Tech for Social Impact and Charity Finance Group. In this blog, we summarise our discussion on managing IT budgets, staff retention, and measuring the value of IT, and provide information about our upcoming events. Recruitment & retention Colleagues were aligned that…
Big changes are afoot in the world of internet connectivity, and telephony, across the sector. Traditional copper phone lines in the UK are being switched off forever in 2025, meaning your organisation may need to switch its internet connection(s). The COVID-19 pandemic already transformed how businesses use telephones; across the country plastic desk phones gathered…
Welcome to the Smartdesc February newsletter. This month we focus on how charities can protect themselves against phishing attacks and offer the following resources: Guides on common charity cyber attacks and measures you can take to prevent them Phishing Simulation Service and Cyber Security e-Learning, tailored to charities Further resources from EasyDMARC and Charity Finance Resources…
Email is not secure 91% of all cyber attacks begin with email. Despite all the advances in cyber defence, good old-fashioned email still provides an open door for attackers to knock on. Email is your biggest security risk by a long way. Finance staff frequently use email and they deal with money on a daily…
Charities are increasingly being targeted by cyber criminals. According to the Cyber Security Breaches Report 2022, 19% of charities reported they had been attacked in 2018. This has now risen to 30% of charities reporting attacks in 2022. But why are charities targeted? And what can they do to mitigate against cyber threats and reputational…
Picture this: Your charity has just been hit by a ransomware attack. Your files are all encrypted, staff are locked out of their computers, and hackers are demanding a substantial ransom to restore everything, otherwise they will release your beneficiary data onto the internet. As scary and unlikely as this may sound, charities are increasingly…
The data charities hold is highly valuable, but internal cyber security resources are often limited. It is unsurprising, then, that over 30% of charities reported cyber security breaches or attacks last year, according to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport. A significant increase from 19% in 2018. Smartdesc can quickly scale up your…
Cyber Security Training For Charities & Not For Profit Organisations The Information Commissioners Office (ICO) recommends regular cyber security training for all staff, yet the quality and cost of this often makes it prohibitive, especially for non-profits. At Smartdesc, we offer Cyber Security Training and Data Protection e-Learning specifically for charities. All the content is created by…
Internet and Telephony Services for Charities and Non Profits Internet and telephony services include a fast, reliable and low cost fibre-optic internet connection, firewall and Wi-Fi for your offices and home workers. Landline telephone calls and calling groups handled within Microsoft Teams, meaning staff don’t need a separate desk phone or work mobile for voice calls. Replace old internet connections…
According to our partners at the NCVO, charities are at the front line of the cost of living crisis. Supporters are reducing their giving as they control their personal finances, whilst demand for charitable services goes up and inflation increases the costs of running those services. The NCVO are offering support and resources to their…
