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Why great IT support is mission-critical for nonprofits

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If you are a nonprofit organization, IT support is more than just a luxury. It’s mission-critical. As the world becomes increasingly technologically advanced, it is not enough to have an up-to-date website and social media presence. Nonprofits need 24/7 IT support to stay on top of their game in this ever-changing environment while maintaining an active donor base and engaging volunteers.

According to a 2018 NTEN Study, 80 percent of nonprofits lack a policy to address cyberattacks. This omission has led to an overall increase in the number of cyberattacks, making protective IT software and cybersecurity crucial to protect sensitive data.

The study also noted that most nonprofits lack internal IT resources, with nearly 60 percent reporting having two or fewer full-time IT staff, potentially making them more vulnerable to cyberattacks. If your organization lacks a robust IT department, you might want to consider outsourcing many of your IT services. Outsourcing can be a cost-effective, strategic decision that frees up resources so your team can focus on fulfilling your nonprofit’s mission.

Why your organization might want to outsource most of its IT 

Outsourcing IT isn’t right for every nonprofit, but it is a viable solution for many. Some of the IT services you can outsource are network administration and management, disaster recovery planning/assistance, and network security audits.

Benefits of outsourcing IT services include:

  1. Access to skilled resources and expertise
    Technology is advancing daily, requiring more expertise and skills to operate. Outsourced experts make it their business to stay up-to-date (unlike IT staff who have to juggle professional development against day-to-day tasks), giving them—and through them, you—access to the best resources and tools needed to help your organization grow and reach its goals.
  1. Reduced IT costs
    IT services require heavy investment in the latest equipment to keep up with ever-changing technology. Outsourced IT specialists have their own equipment and software, saving your organization those expenses.
  1. Round-the-clock monitoring
    Outsourced IT service providers ensure that your IT systems are monitored around the clock, without requiring your staff to be available 24/7. Round-the-clock monitoring ensures there’s always someone available to take care of emergencies like data corruption or malware attacks.
  1. Scalability and increased stakeholder satisfaction
    Nonprofits often experience spikes in traffic and data usage—including increased donations—during the holidays. Outsourced IT experts will be able to scale up resources to keep your network stable and running smoothly, without downtime or data loss due to lack of capacity, enabling you to provide consistent service to your stakeholders.

Want to learn more?

Join Electric on June 24, 2021, at Candid’s webinar “Why Great IT Support Is Mission Critical for Nonprofits.” We’ll discuss how to recognize when you should consider outsourcing your organization’s IT functions and how to evaluate and choose an IT solution. Register for the webinar.

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