Risks Around Charities for 2023

The world of charitable giving is constantly evolving, and with the new year comes a new set of risks and challenges for charities. As we look ahead to 2023, it’s important to be aware of the potential risks that charities may face to ensure that they are prepared and can continue to do their important work. Here are some of the key risks that charities should be aware of in 2023.

Risk of Increased Scrutiny

Charities are already subject to a great deal of scrutiny from government regulators, donors, and other stakeholders. In 2023, this scrutiny is likely to increase as more people become aware of the importance of charitable giving and the need for transparency and accountability within the sector. Charities should be prepared for increased scrutiny by ensuring they have strong governance structures in place and that they are compliant with all relevant regulations. They should also be prepared to answer questions about their operations, finances, and impact to maintain public trust.

Charities must carefully manage how they collect, store, and process personal data on donors, beneficiaries, and staff to avoid hefty fines or reputational damage from non-compliance with existing laws. It’s essential for any organisation dealing in sensitive information to take the necessary steps towards protecting those involved.

They must also be mindful of the risks associated with their IT infrastructure - from outdated systems or inadequate maintenance to system breakdowns, data loss and security threats. By proactively addressing such issues, organisations can safeguard against potential disruption caused by these vulnerabilities.

Organisations can benefit from cloud computing services when it comes to data storage and application management. However, this technology also brings with it a variety of risks which need careful consideration: third-party vendors may not have the same level of security control; human error due to staff or volunteer inexperience could lead to accidental breaches; and vendor lock-in may occur if charities rely too heavily on these services in daily operations. Ultimately, understanding potential threats is essential for protecting digital assets within an organisation.

Charities may increasingly rely on mobile devices for data access and storage, making them vulnerable to loss or theft if not properly secured. Clever cybercriminals are also a concern, as they can use social engineering techniques such as phishing scams in attempts to acquire sensitive information from charity staff or volunteers. Finally, charities must be aware of risks associated with their suppliers and partners- any security breaches experienced by these external organisations could compromise the integrity of the organisation's own network and data.

If they are already operating with limited resources and budgets, they may face the added challenge of being unprepared for major IT incidents or disasters. Without effective business continuity plans in place, charities can find it difficult to recover from such events - potentially putting their continued operation at risk.

Risk of Cybersecurity Breaches

As technology continues to evolve at an ever-increasing rate, so too does the risk posed by cyberattacks on charities’ systems and data. In 2023, it’s likely that cybercriminals will become even more sophisticated in their methods and target charities more frequently due to their often limited resources when it comes to cybersecurity measures. Charities should take steps now to ensure they have robust cybersecurity measures in place so that they can protect themselves against these threats in 2023 and beyond.

Charities need to be aware that they can face serious cybersecurity risks, such as phishing scams and ransomware attacks. These threats not only put sensitive information at risk but also could lead to costly operational disruption which can cause irreparable damage to the charity's reputation.

Conclusion

Charities have a duty to ensure their operations, reputation and ability to fulfil their mission remain safeguarded against the wide range of IT risks they face. Mitigating these risks can be achieved through best practices in cybersecurity, data privacy, infrastructure management and incident response plans. Having up-to-date business continuity measures is essential for minimising operational disruption during an emergency or disaster situation while ongoing staff training helps protect sensitive data which are key foundations of any organisation's security efforts.

Contact Venture 1 Consulting for more information on IT support for Charities.