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The Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) has issued a notice to charities and not-for-profit organisations, advising them on how to protect themselves from malicious cyber attacks.
The Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) published the statement today (18 March), highlighting the increased vulnerability non-profit and charity organisations face due to a lack of resources.
“Charities and not-for-profits can be vulnerable to cyber incidents because they may not have resources to implement robust cyber security measures,” wrote the ACSC.
“Cyber incidents for these organisations are often costly, leading to the loss of sensitive and valuable information, service disruptions, unauthorised alterations to systems, reputational damage and long recovery processes.”
In an effort to assist these organisations in defending against the increased “frequency and severity” of cyber attacks, the ACSC has created a “Cyber Security Checklist for Charities and Not-For-Profits” that aims to assist them in bolstering their cyber security simply without the need for serious investment in infrastructure and software.
“The checklist can help charities and non-profits improve their cyber security through easy-to-follow steps and links to best-practice advice,” the ACSC said.
“Our advice can support you in a range of cyber security efforts, including securing your customer data, understanding cyber threats to your organisation and completing exercises to mitigate cyber threats.”
In addition, the ACSC said that these vulnerable organisations are free to join the ASD’s Cyber Security Partnership program for free as a network partner, which will grant them access to the latest insights and advice.