Nonprofits Overview
Charitable organizations and nonprofits play a critical role in communities around the world, delivering aid, supporting education, funding research, and advancing social causes. However, their mission-driven focus and limited IT resources often make them attractive targets for cybercriminals. From donor databases and payment processing platforms to volunteer portals and grant applications, nonprofits handle a surprising amount of sensitive information, including personal identifiers, financial records, and even medical or political data depending on their cause.
Risks
According to the UK’s Charity Commission, over 30% of charities reported experiencing a cyberattack in 2023, with phishing, ransomware, and email compromise being the most common. Similarly, in the U.S., the National Council of Nonprofits has warned that nonprofits are increasingly targeted due to their perceived lack of cybersecurity defenses. Despite the high stakes, many charities still lack basic protections like multi-factor authentication, regular patching, and segmented networks, making a single compromise potentially devastating. A breach not only disrupts operations but can undermine donor trust and jeopardize funding.
Solutions
Penetration testing is a crucial measure for nonprofits that want to safeguard their digital assets and fulfill their mission without interruption. It helps identify weaknesses in donation platforms, public-facing websites, internal staff systems, and third-party integrations, before attackers can exploit them. Many charitable organizations use open-source or low-cost tools to run operations, but these platforms can contain unpatched vulnerabilities or be misconfigured, leaving the organization exposed. In some cases, even a spoofed email or phishing attack can lead to unauthorized fund transfers or data leaks.
Shaka Cyber provides specialized penetration testing services for nonprofits and charitable organizations, understanding the unique needs, budgets, and operating environments of mission-focused groups. Our ethical hacking team simulates real-world cyberattacks to assess everything from your donor management systems and email infrastructure to cloud-hosted tools and staff logins. We identify vulnerabilities, assess the impact of potential breaches, and deliver clear, actionable reports that empower your team to remediate issues quickly, without needing deep technical expertise.
Impact
With growing pressure from donors, partners, and regulatory bodies to demonstrate responsible data handling, cybersecurity is now a core pillar of nonprofit governance. Shaka Cyber helps charities of all sizes strengthen their digital defenses, protect donor and beneficiary information, and maintain operational continuity. In a world where trust is vital and every dollar counts, our mission is to ensure your organization stays secure—so you can stay focused on making an impact.
