Video: Making a habit of cyber security

Looking after your organisation’s cyber security is a long-term job. In some cases, it’s actually a full-time job, with 14% of the charity sector saying that a dedicated cyber security professional is responsible for their cyber security. 

Regardless of who looks after it, however, it remains clear that doing so once is not enough. New cyber threats appear regularly and are increasing in sophistication. Charities need to keep up and can do so by regularly reviewing their processes, regularly running scans and updates, and regularly engaging with cyber security content to stay vigilant against new threats. 

There was much sobering reading in our State of Cyber Security in the UK Charity Sector report, not least regarding the technology we’re using to defend against cyber threats. Four in five respondents (82%) told us they were familiar with antivirus, yet just 20% said the same about patch management.  

Patch management, in particular, is part of routine cyber security work – it means updating your apps and software at regular intervals, or at least when prompted, to patch any vulnerabilities in older systems that cyber criminals could otherwise exploit. 

The video above, in partnership with the National Cyber Security Centre, takes charities through more tips for making cyber security part of their routine, demonstrating the importance of maintaining it, the same way you would anything else. All the resources mentioned in the video are linked below and you can find more information on the NCSC’s free tools here.

Resources 

• • • NCSC - Exercise in a Box 
      
      
    • NCSC - Web Check 
      
      
    • NCSC - Mail Check 
      
      
    • NCSC – Early Warning
      
      
    • NCSC – Cyber Aware programme 
      
      
    • NCSC – Small charities guide 
      
      
    • The best patch management software for charities 2021