The Cyber Threat Alliance (CTA) recently published its 2024 Cyber Threats to NGOs Joint Analytic Report (JAR) on May 1, 2024. This comprehensive report, highlighting the unique and complex cyber threats faced by non-governmental organizations (NGOs), is a remarkable resource born from the collaboration of various industry leaders. At Women in CyberSecurity (WiCyS), we are particularly proud to celebrate one of our own, Chelsea Conard, who played a crucial role in contributing to this significant publication.
NGOs are increasingly targeted by cyber threats due to their involvement in sensitive political, governmental and humanitarian activities. The JAR provides a detailed analysis of these threats, offering NGOs essential guidance to enhance their cybersecurity measures. From financial theft to espionage, disinformation and operational disruptions, the report outlines prevalent threats and suggests effective remediation strategies.
Developed by CTA’s Cyber Threats to NGOs Working Group, the report emphasizes several critical areas. It highlights how the vulnerabilities and limited resources of NGOs make them attractive targets for cybercriminals, nation-state actors and hacktivists. Key cyber threats identified in the report include fake websites, business email compromise, ransomware and social engineering. To improve their cybersecurity, NGOs are advised to take initial steps such as changing their organizational mindset, contracting managed security services and implementing basic cybersecurity controls.
Furthermore, the report discusses future challenges, including the impact of emerging technologies like AI and deepfake on NGOs’ cybersecurity. It underscores the importance of board oversight and executive management of cyber risks, urging leadership to take proactive steps in cybersecurity governance.
Chelsea Conard, a dedicated WiCyS member and volunteer, is recognized as one of the contributors to this comprehensive report. Her involvement showcases the significant impact that WiCyS members are making in the cybersecurity landscape. Chelsea’s contribution to the JAR not only highlights her expertise but also underscores the collaborative spirit of WiCyS members working together to enhance global cybersecurity.
The 2024 Cyber Threats to NGOs Joint Analytic Report is a testament to the power of collaboration among industry leaders to tackle pressing cybersecurity issues. At WiCyS, we celebrate Chelsea Conard’s contribution to this important work, reflecting our commitment to supporting and empowering women in the cybersecurity field. We encourage everyone in the NGO sector to leverage this report to enhance their cybersecurity posture and protect the invaluable work they do around the world.
For more details on the report and to access it in full, visit 2024 Cyber Threats to NGOs.
About Women in CyberSecurity (WiCyS):
Women in CyberSecurity (WiCyS) is a nonprofit organization with international reach dedicated to the recruitment, retention and advancement of women in cybersecurity. WiCyS was founded by Dr. Ambareen Siraj in 2013 through a National Science Foundation grant awarded to Tennessee Tech University. In less than 10 years, it has grown into an organization (est. in 2017) representing a leading alliance between trailblazers from academia, government, and industry. WiCyS offers opportunities, trainings, events, and resources for its members. Strategic partners include Tier 1: Akamai, Amazon Web Services, Battelle, Bloomberg, Carnegie Mellon University – Software Engineering Institute, Cisco, Fortinet, Google, Lockheed Martin, Meta, Microsoft, Optum, Sandia National Laboratories, SentinelOne. Tier 2: AbbVie, Aristocrat, Dell Technologies, Intel, JPMorgan Chase & Co., LinkedIn, McKesson, Nike, NCC Group, Workday, Navy Federal Credit Union, Yubico Inc., DeVry University. To partner, visit http://www.wicys.org/support/strategic-partnerships/.
About Cyber Threat Alliance (CTA):
CTA was founded by Check Point Software Technologies Ltd., Cisco, Fortinet, McAfee, Palo Alto Networks, and Symantec, Enterprise Division of Broadcom. Membership also includes AT&T Alien Labs, Brandefense, CUJO AI, CyberCX, Gen, Juniper Networks, K7 Computing, Maltiverse, NEC Corporation, Nozomi Networks, NTT, OneFirewall, Outpost 24, Panda Security (WatchGuard), Penta Security, Rapid7, Red Piranha, ReversingLabs, SANDS Lab, Scitum, SecureBrain (Hitachi), SecurityScorecard, SK shieldus, SonicWall, Sophos, TEHTRIS, Telefónica Tech, and Yoroi.
CTA is the industry’s first formally organized nonprofit group of cybersecurity practitioners that work together in good faith to share threat information and improve global defenses against advanced cyber adversaries. CTA’s mission is to facilitate the sharing of actionable intelligence and situational awareness about sophisticated cyber threats to improve its members’ cyber defenses, more effectively disrupt malicious cyber actors around the world and raise the level of cybersecurity throughout the Internet and cyberspace. The alliance is continuing to grow on a global basis, enriching both the quantity and quality of the information that is being shared across the platform. CTA is actively recruiting additional regional players to enhance information sharing to enable a more secure future for all.