NCSC launches cyber security toolkit for charity boards

The National Cyber Security Centre, in partnership with the Charity Commission hosted a roundtable for charity leaders to highlight new tools to help charities protect themselves from cyber crime, including a new Board Toolkit. Within the charitable sector, 65% of high-income charities recorded a cyber security incident in 2018, underscoring the need for charity boards to have discussions with technical experts. Ciaran Martin, NCSC CEO, explained the threat to charities from cyber crime and emphasised how important it is for trustee boards to have cyber security discussions with their technical experts. The NCSC’s new Board Toolkit is a guide designed to help facilitate those discussions. Mr Martin said: “As Charities of all sizes are increasingly reliant on technology we are committed to ensuring they suffer as few malicious cyber incidents as possible." “The Board Toolkit encourages essential discussions between trustee boards and technical experts within the UK’s larger charities to help charities ensure they are putting in places the measures needed to help prevent these incidents.” “The NCSC has also produced a guide for smaller charities to provide them with practical steps to take to protect themselves from the most common cyber crimes.” Helen Stephenson CBE, CEO Charity Commission of England and Wales, added “At the Charity Commission we want to ensure that charity can thrive and inspire trust so that people can help improve lives and strengthen society. “In a digital world this increasingly means charities must stand up to the threat of cybercrime." “That is why the National Cyber Security Centre’s new Board toolkit provides trustees, especially of larger charities, with the knowledge and understanding that will help make a difference and reduce the harm that cybercrime causes. I encourage trustees, to give this toolkit the consideration it deserves.”

To get started with the NCSC’s Board Toolkit, go the website here.

Catch up with NCSC and Charity Digital webinars:

• Keeping your charity cyber secure
• 5 steps every charity should take to improve their cyber security
• Setting up your charity’s risk management regime
• Is your charity doing enough to protect from cyber attacks?