Stronger Security, Smarter Mission Support
Strategies that work across industries can help nonprofits strengthen operations, protect data and sustain impact.
Mission-Driven Work Deserves Modern Protection
Nonprofits are often under pressure to do more with less. From donor data to cloud collaboration platforms, digital systems now play a central role in how missions are delivered.
As technology becomes more embedded in daily operations, cybersecurity has become essential to continuity, trust and productivity. Fortunately, many effective practices already exist and can be adapted to fit nonprofit workflows and priorities.
Here’s what nonprofits should focus on to make security a support system for mission-driven work.
Protecting Every Program, Platform and Person
Nonprofits manage diverse and complex operations, often with lean internal teams. From donor databases and mobile devices to physical infrastructure and community access points, all systems benefit from a secure foundation.
When security is thoughtfully integrated, it supports compliance, enables service continuity and can strengthen community confidence.
of nonprofits have experienced a cyberattack in recent years1
of nonprofits report no dedicated cybersecurity budget1
of organizations are outsourcing security training2
Taking the Guesswork Out of Cyber Strategy
Many nonprofit teams face the same challenges reported across other sectors: too many tools, limited visibility and increasing oversight from funders or regulators. Organizations making measurable progress are simplifying their environments and aligning to tested frameworks that prioritize access, insight and operational resilience.
Achieving maturity in cybersecurity does not require starting from scratch. The key is choosing solutions that simplify operations and strengthen what’s already working.
say identity and access management (IAM) tools are highly effective in improving cybersecurity visibility2
of organizations report being in the advanced stage of zero-trust implementation2
of those very confident in visibility also feel very prepared to handle cybersecurity incidents2
Focusing on What Works for Nonprofits
Nonprofits should focus on four essential areas to strengthen cybersecurity: physical security, IT expertise, data privacy and network visibility. These priorities help reduce risk while also supporting daily operations.
“The more holistic your view of the enterprise as a whole — not only the specific cyber risk itself, but also the business impacts that are associated with it — typically, the more successful you’re going to be in your cyber resilience aims. From my perspective, cyber risk is business risk.”
Buck Bell, Global Security Strategy Office Lead, CDW
This mission-aligned approach leads to protection of donor and beneficiary data, improved service continuity and scalable solutions that match nonprofit capacity.
Building Confidence into Every Operation
CDW partners with nonprofit organizations to turn proven security strategies into everyday protections. With deep experience supporting mission-based teams, CDW delivers cybersecurity solutions tailored to operational realities, staffing models and funding needs.
Security Assessments and Gap Analysis
Identify the most pressing vulnerabilities and prioritize investments accordingly
Endpoint and Ransomware Protection
Secure staff and volunteer devices using anti-virus, EDR and backup tools
Cloud Security Enablement
Support safe collaboration and compliance through properly configured cloud platforms
Identity and Access Management (IAM)
Simplify and strengthen access controls across roles, systems and locations
Budget-Friendly Managed Services
Extend capacity with 24/7 monitoring, patching and threat detection through CDW’s security operations center
Grant and Funding Support
Navigate available programs to subsidize key cybersecurity investments
It’s time to strategize security so you can confidently focus on what matters most every day.
Sources:
1 Cyberpeace Institute, “Cyber-poor, target-rich: The crucial role of cybersecurity in nonprofit organizations,” March 2024
2 CDW Cybersecurity Report 2024