Nonprofits often handle sensitive information such as donor details, financial records, and personal data of community members. Investing in cybersecurity helps nonprofits safeguard this information from unauthorized access, theft, or misuse.
To help arts organizations get started on their cybersecurity journey, CultureSource’s Technologist-in-Residence has created Cybersecurity 101. This toolkit contains a collection of resources and ideas to stimulate ideas about the digital security needs of your organization.
Nonprofits should invest in cybersecurity for several important reasons:
- Protect sensitive data
- Maintain trust and prevent reputational damage that comes with a cybersecurity breach.
- Maintain compliance requirements with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
- Ensure financial stability. The costs associated with data breaches, including legal fees, fines, and expenses related to remediation and recovery, can strain an organization’s finances.
- Continuity of operations. Cyber attacks can disrupt the normal operations of nonprofits, impacting their ability to deliver essential services and fulfill their mission.
- Protection against cyber threats such as ransomware, phishing attacks, and malware infections.
By prioritizing cybersecurity measures, arts organizations are able to professionalize their operations and demonstrate their commitment to retaining stakeholders’ trust.
Check out this presentation to learn about some of the essential services and digital tools to keep your organization secure.
Investing in cybersecurity is essential for nonprofits to safeguard their data, protect their reputation, ensure continuity of operations, and defend against cyber threats. Making an initial investment in your digital infrastructure can save your organization time and headache in the long-run.
Jon Riley
Technologist-in-Residence
About Jon
Jonathan Riley is a technologist, researcher, and designer living in Detroit, MI. He has served as the technologist-in-residence for CultureSource twice before through his business Telescope Vision, bringing expertise from his work in the nonprofit sector in Detroit having worked with various arts organizations, social impact organizations and small businesses during his tenure with Allied Media Projects and ProsperUs—as well as design and research experience through his work as a researcher at the University of Michigan. The main goal in his work is to support organizations that enrich public life in Detroit and to broadly support creativity to thrive. Beyond this, his office serves as a multi-disciplinary art space, hosting a photo studio, music production suite, and a biweekly film night, all of which are free or deeply discounted for his neighbors in the North End.
About the Technologist-in-Residence Program
Jon has served as Technologist-in-Residence during three iterations of the Digital Access for the Arts program. Currently in its third iteration, Jon has worked to incorporate feedback from member organizations who have participated in previous cycles.
Similar to past years, the third iteration of the Technologist-in-Residence program offers CultureSource members a chance for Jon to learn about their technology needs and offer strategies to help them sophisticate their digital infrastructure. Jon will also help generate a plan for implementation. This approach takes what we’ve learned from previous iterations on the need for additional technical capacity and provide affordable paths to implementation. Jon is excited to work with organizations of all sizes, especially those who have not taken advantage of this program before.
The Technologist-in-Residence program is offered as part of Digital Access for the Arts—an initiative that prioritizes investment in the digital infrastructure and sustainability of arts organizations. Supported by the Gilbert Family Foundation.