How to Navigate Network Connectivity in India
Charitable organisations must keep up with technological advancements to remain effective and efficient. Modernising and scaling legacy IT infrastructure and web applications can seem daunting, but it’s essential for improving operations, enhancing security, and better serving your community.
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How IT Infrastructure Automation and Monitoring Can Revolutionise Your Nonprofit
IT Infrastructure Automation and Intelligent Monitoring; this is not a subject that most know too deeply about or may even recognise the level of importance it may have in any given organisation.
Scaling and Modernising IT for Nonprofits: Key Strategies for Success
Charitable organisations must keep up with technological advancements to remain effective and efficient. Modernising and scaling legacy IT infrastructure and web applications can seem daunting, but it’s essential for improving operations, enhancing security, and better serving your community.
Strategies and Tools to Improve Communication for Nonprofits
Effective communication is the backbone of any successful nonprofit organisation. Whether it’s engaging with staff, connecting with constituents, or building relationships with donors, clear and efficient communication can significantly enhance your organisation’s impact.
Cyber Security for Nonprofits: Lessons from Past Cyber Attacks
Non-profit and charitable organisations are facing an increase in cyber security challenges. Often with limited resources and a wealth of sensitive data, nonprofits have become prime targets for cybercriminals.
Past Cyber Attacks
In October 2023 the British Library experienced a ransomware attack that resulted in shutting down its computer, phone and WiFi systems for almost a month. After the Library refused to pay the ransom hundreds of files were released onto the dark web. Now, almost a year on, the Library has revealed its plans for cyber resilience going forward.
The National Trust also fell victim to a ransomware attack that disrupted their operations. Thankfully no data was stolen but the attack caused significant operational challenges and highlighted the vulnerabilities in their cyber defences.
These incidents underscore the importance of maintaining continual robust practices in cyber security for charities. Regular training, strong passwords, multi-factor authentication, and regular software updates can all help support this effort and mitigate the risks.
Common Entry Points for Cyber Attacks
By taking proactive steps, nonprofits can easily protect their valuable data and maintain the trust of their supporters. Attacks are not always that sophisticated. Attackers will often exploit several common entry points in charity systems that can easily be addressed.
Some of the most frequently used are Phishing Emails – which are deceptive emails designed to trick recipients into revealing sensitive information or downloading malicious software. They often appear to come from trusted sources.
Weak Passwords are still a common problem with simple or reused passwords making it easier for attackers to gain unauthorised access to accounts and systems.
Unpatched Software where outdated software may present vulnerabilities is another issue that attackers exploit. Regular updates and patches are crucial to close these security gaps.
By addressing these vulnerabilities through comprehensive security policies, regular training, and robust technical measures, charities can significantly reduce their risk of cyber-attacks.
Cybersecurity Success Stories
Some of the more successful breach prevention strategies that have been effectively implemented by various organisations, including charities are:
- Regular Security Training: One charity implemented quarterly cyber security training sessions for all staff and volunteers. This training included recognising phishing attempts, safe internet practices, and proper data handling procedures. As a result, they saw a significant decrease in successful phishing attacks.
- Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): A non-profit organisation adopted MFA for all their online accounts and systems. This added layer of security required users to provide two or more verification factors to gain access, drastically reducing unauthorised access incidents.
- Regular Software Updates and Patching: Another charity established a strict policy for regular software updates and patching. By ensuring all systems and applications were up to date, they minimised vulnerabilities that could be exploited by attackers.
- Data Encryption: A large non-profit encrypts all sensitive data, both in transit and at rest. This meant that even if data was intercepted or accessed without authorisation, it would be unreadable without the proper decryption keys.
- Incident Response Plan: One organisation developed a comprehensive incident response plan, including regular drills and updates. This plan ensured that in the event of a breach, they could quickly contain and mitigate the impact, reducing downtime and data loss.
- Third-Party Vendor Assessments: A charity conducted thorough security assessments of all third-party vendors before engaging with them. This included reviewing their security policies, practices, and past incidents to ensure they met the charity’s security standards.
Implementing these strategies can significantly enhance an organisation’s cyber security posture and help prevent breaches.
Want to find out more about how best prepared your organisation is against cyber-attacks and where your vulnerabilities are?
Solving the Biggest IT Challenges in the Manufacturing Sector
The integration of new technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), automation and the Internet of Things (IoT) has become paramount to sustaining competitiveness and driving growth in the manufacturing sector. However, this journey can be complex, from embracing digital transformation to fortifying against cyber threats and ensuring the workforce is equipped with the necessary skills.
This article discusses these pressing issues and explores actionable steps to overcome them.
Challenges of Digital Transformation
Digital transformation in manufacturing entails leveraging technologies like IoT, AI, and cloud computing to streamline operations, enhance efficiency, and enable predictive maintenance. Yet, many manufacturing companies face hurdles in adopting these innovations due to legacy systems, lack of digital expertise, and concerns over initial investment and then seeing a return on their investment.
Actionable Steps:
- Assessment and Strategy: Begin with a comprehensive assessment of current IT infrastructure and processes. Develop a clear digital transformation strategy that aligns technology investments with business goals.
- Cloud Adoption: Embrace cloud computing for scalability, flexibility, and cost efficiency. Sify provides cloud advisory services to tailor cloud strategies that fit manufacturing needs.
Increased Threats Related to Cyber Security
As manufacturing processes become more interconnected and data-driven, cyber threats loom larger. The sector is increasingly targeted by cybercriminals seeking to disrupt operations, steal intellectual property or gain financially.
Actionable Steps:
- Cybersecurity Assessment: Conduct regular cybersecurity assessments and audits to identify vulnerabilities and implement robust defences.
- Managed IT Services: Engage with managed service providers like Sify, who offer comprehensive cybersecurity solutions that can be customised specifically to manufacturing environments.
Reskilling/Retraining the Manufacturing Workforce
The influx of digital technologies necessitates a skilled workforce capable of operating, maintaining, and innovating with these tools. However, there’s a significant skills gap in the sector, exacerbated by rapid technological advancements.
Actionable Steps:
- Training Programs: Invest in ongoing training programs to upskill existing employees on emerging technologies such as AI, robotics, and data analytics. Sify’s digital learning solutions ensure custom learning content to meet your goals is created and implemented.
- Partnerships and Collaborations: Explore partnerships with IT training providers to develop the IT skills within your team. Sify has a comprehensive range of IT training courses and certifications that can deliver training programs that bridge the skills gap and prepare the workforce for future challenges.
Sify: Your Partner in Overcoming IT Challenges
Sify can help manufacturing companies overcome these challenges and become a vital partner. With our expertise in cloud optimisation and cloud advisory services, Sify empowers manufacturing companies to accelerate their digital transformation journey securely and efficiently. Our bespoke solutions will address your specific needs, ensuring scalability, reliability, and compliance.
The Key Challenges We Solve
With a heritage in IT Infrastructure, Sify has grown over two decades to provide a one-stop engagement across networks, data centre, cloud, digital and IT services.
Sify enables you to build an IT infrastructure that underpins business profitability, by delivering flexible expertise to fill IT skills gaps, and by deploying, managing and optimising complex hybrid environments to deliver the right combination of flexibility, security and affordability.
Here are the key challenges our Managed Services can help your organisation solve:
Optimisation
Future-proof your business by optimising your use of cloud technology
Resources
Increase responsiveness with access to the right scale and calibre of specialist IT skills as and when you need them
Cost Savings
Make your IT budget go further by lowering your costs and becoming more efficient
Reduce Risk
Control your risks by ensuring the security and resilience of your IT infrastructure
Conclusion
The manufacturing sector stands at a critical juncture where embracing digital transformation, strengthening cybersecurity defences, and upskilling the workforce are imperative for sustained growth and competitiveness. By taking proactive measures and partnering with a trusted provider like Sify, you can navigate these challenges effectively, take advantage of new opportunities, and plan for a successful future.
To learn more about how Sify can support your IT goals, book a call with one of our experts to discuss your challenge.
The Future of Workspace Setup with ‘Branch-in-a-Box’ Solution: Importance, Benefits, and Use Cases
Growth of business today is highly dependent on agility. As business grow, the physical in-branch or in-store location or new workspaces need to come up quickly and efficiently.
