In a pioneering effort to bolster cybersecurity across Northern Ireland’s charitable organisations, Vertical Structure has played a pivotal role in assisting numerous local charities in strengthening their cybersecurity posture through the UK government’s Cyber Essentials Plus initiative.
Charities might not be the first entities that come to mind as prime targets for cyberattacks. However, a 2022 report from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) revealed that 30% of UK charities experienced cyberattacks in the past year, with 38% of those incidents impacting their services and 19% leading to detrimental outcomes. In the UK, there are approximately 200,000 registered charities with a combined annual income of £100 billion.
As cybercriminals increasingly shift their focus away from larger enterprises with robust cybersecurity measures toward smaller, more vulnerable organisations like charities, it has become more crucial than ever for the sector to adopt measures that enhance resilience against cyber threats.
The Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action (NICVA) has recognised cybersecurity as a core governance topic for several years. NICVA has consistently promoted resource sharing to enable charities to elevate their cybersecurity preparedness.
Sandra Bailie from NICVA emphasised, “Cyber Security is a major risk for charities in Northern Ireland and working in partnership with experts NICVA provides the sector with the help and support they need to improve their cyber security and reduce their risks. We work closely with The NI Cyber Security Centre, signposting to their resources and delivering training and Vertical Structure has provided practical support to many of our members.”
In 2022, the UK government’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), an arm of GCHQ intelligence service, initiated a funded program for Cyber Essentials Plus. Its primary objective is to assist UK organisations in enhancing their cybersecurity and protecting themselves from common cyber threats.
Lorraine McCafferty, Head of the NI Cyber Security Centre (NICSC), which provides funding for the scheme, stated, “The NICSC is committed to supporting the NCSC National CE+ Funded programme and ensuring access to ring-fenced funded spaces for N.Ireland organisations. In 2022/23, NICSC supported 30+ N.Ireland charities to secure CE/CE+ funding and we will continue to provide N.Ireland charities with the opportunity to avail of CE/CE+ funding for 2023/24. NICSC highly recommend the CE+ scheme as an exemplar approach to helping protect your organisation against cyber attack.”
As a fully funded scheme, this initiative enables charitable organisations to achieve Cyber Essentials Plus certification without straining their limited resources. For organisations that typically have tight budgets, cybersecurity can often be overlooked. Providing this funding serves as a lifeline for the sector, enabling charities to stay ahead of cyber threats.
Moreover, Vertical Structure, an experienced certification body, guides organisations through the certification process, transforming what could be a daunting endeavor into a positive experience.
Joanne Madine, Office Manager at Bolster Community, praised Vertical Structure, saying, “Vertical Structure guided us through what could have been a very time-consuming process, we had Cyber Essentials implemented in a matter of months with next to no downtime on our end.”
As an assured service provider for Cyber Essentials, Vertical Structure has successfully collaborated with more than 35 Northern Ireland charities, assisting them in securing funding and navigating the certification process.
Simon Whittaker, CEO at Vertical Structure, expressed his satisfaction with the initiative, stating, “Working with local charitable organisations under this scheme has been hugely rewarding for us all. All too often, we see cyber security being deprioritised due to a lack of funds. This scheme has countered that issue and ignited huge interest from charities across Northern Ireland.”
Although the initial scheme has concluded, a similar opportunity awaits charities employing fewer than 50 staff members based in Northern Ireland for the 2023/24 period.
