Digital - the First Step in Your Cyber & Data Journeys

There is a tendency in the charity sector to treat data, digital, and cyber as separate initiatives. For organisations that have data and digital covered, this approach is appropriate. However, for most small and mid-tier charities, addressing cyber risks or data ambitions is nearly impossible without first ensuring data is securely stored in core systems, not in spreadsheets and shared drives.

This is a digital challenge because much of the data is exposed due to shortcomings in core systems or the lack of effective digital solutions around those systems. When consulting these organisations, it is usually impossible to suggest addressing the top three cyber risks or establishing an impact reporting framework without first strengthening the systems and filling the digital gaps.

In practice, the first step towards digital is a triple whammy. Not only do we open up internal capacity by making staff more efficient, but we also fix the dependencies required to address our cyber and data ambitions. The good news is that these first steps are typically small initiatives aimed at removing spreadsheets, either by completing abandoned system implementations or addressing shortcomings in core systems by building thin, joined-up experiences around those systems. Each of these initiatives typically takes less than a month.

Andrew Walker
Technology consulting for charities
https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-walker-the-impatient-futurist/

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