How to strengthen your cyber security with TechSoup

Robust cyber security requires layers. It’s not just about antivirus software – though that is incredibly important – but also empowering teams, helping them to spot suspicious activity and respond effectively.  

Indeed, when it comes to cyber security, knowledge is power. But that’s not to underestimate the power of technology in strengthening cyber security. Cyber security  software is essential for charities to protect their data against cyber threats. It can automate updates to your software to ensure cyber criminals don’t exploit vulnerabilities; it can assess the safety of unknown websites and emails; it can protect your data end-to-end across multiple devices.  

The key to strong cyber security is combining both approaches. Yet there is an impression among some organisations in the charity sector that cyber security is expensive and inessential despite the considerable risks that cyber attacks pose (including financial damage, data loss, and disruption to vital services).  

The 2025 Charity Digital Skills report revealed that strengthening data protection or cybersecurity was a low priority for charities, with only 23% prioritising it for the year ahead. The report also showed that smaller charities in particular were struggling to invest in adequate cyber security – a quarter said they have poor or non-existent cyber security protection. 

Fortunately, there are plenty of ways that charities can invest in cyber security on a budget and learn more without breaking the bank. Below, we explore how TechSoup is helping charities in the UK bolster their cyber security in 2025 and beyond.  

How TechSoup can help 

Charities of any size can fall victim to a cyber attack. As such, charities of any size should be able to access the tools they need to protect against them. That is TechSoup’s aim in offering nonprofits affordable cyber security solutions to protect their data and that of their stakeholders.  

On the technology side, charities can access Bitdefender products at a discount, helping charities to analyse and block suspicious websites, prevent unauthorised access to your data via the internet, and much more.  

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Charities with premises, such as office space or community centres, can also invest in Cisco Meraki products at a discount, allowing them to secure their internet connection using tools such as wireless routers, virtual private networks (VPNs), and firewalls. Charities can find out more about Cisco Meraki’s cyber security strengths on TechSoup’s website. 

When it comes to training, TechSoup also has charities covered. TechSoup has created an expert-led Cybersecurity course, specifically for charities, to support them with managing their sensitive data and being able to spot and respond to potential cyber attacks.  

The six-week online course, which starts on Tuesday 4 November, is designed to equip charity professionals with the knowledge and confidence they need to reduce risk and build a culture of security.  

The course will cover, among other things, how to recognise and respond to social engineering attacks (like phishing) and how to create strong internal policies to keep systems safe. Charities will come away from the course with a sustainable plan to improve their cybersecurity and data protection practices.  

Join the course 

Three in ten charities said they experienced a cyber breach or attack in 2024, according to statistics from the UK Government. The 2025 Cyber security breaches survey estimated that the average cost of the most disruptive breach cost each charity more than £3000 – a significant sum for charities of any size, particularly at a time when demand for services is increasing. 

While many charities had implemented basic cyber security protocols, more advanced measures such as multi-factor authentication and VPNs were less likely to be implemented.  

So, with 2026 fast approaching, this Cyber Security Awareness Month is an excellent time for charities to take the next step, learn more about cyber security and how to protect your charity, particularly in the age of AI. 

To find out more about how TechSoup can help your charity strengthen its cyber security, and address other digital challenges, click the button below. 

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