North Carolina nonprofits improved their cybersecurity through Apparo’s Bank of America Nonprofit Cybersecurity Resilience Cohort. Nine nonprofits and twelve volunteers participated to increase cybersecurity awareness.
Nonprofit participants learned how to recognize cybersecurity risks, take measures that can protect personal and sensitive business information, encourage a culture of cybersecurity awareness and improve overall cybersecurity practices. Cohort members received guided assistance to complete a cybersecurity questionnaire, a scorecard with suggested improvements, and resources to address areas of vulnerability.
Cybersecurity Training
The program kicked off on March 5th with a cybersecurity training session (via 90 minute webinar) in which nonprofits gained a deeper understanding of risk and opportunities for protecting personal and other sensitive business information. During this session, the cybersecurity assessment were introduced.
Organizational Cybersecurity Assessment
With the support of a volunteer technology mentor, each participant worked through a security assessment questionnaire. Nonprofits and their mentors met and completed the assessment by April 1st.
Cybersecurity Resilience Planning
Apparo reviewed each nonprofit’s assessment questionnaire and provided them with a cybersecurity scorecard that outlined areas of risk and opportunities for improvement. Each nonprofit met with Apparo and their mentor to review the scorecard and to discuss priorities and free/affordable resources to address needed improvements.
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Participating Nonprofits and Volunteers
Group 1
- Nonprofit: Andrew Gravens, A Place at the Table
- Volunteer: Steve Sharer, RipRap Security
Group 2
- Nonprofit: Leon Colclough, Charlotte Rescue Mission
- Volunteer: Kevin Harris, AAA Carolinas
Group 3
- Nonprofit: Lara Ingram, FeedNC
- Volunteer: Vinicius Da Costa, Bank of America
Group 4
- Nonprofit: Sagan Cichocki, Habitat for Humanity of the Charlotte Region
- Volunteers: Sherri Leach (Ingersoll Rand), Dianelys Soto-Cruz (Bank of America)
Group 5
- Nonprofit: Melissa Lefko, Heart Math Tutoring
- Volunteer: Emma Van Horn, Bank of America
Group 6
- Nonprofit: Yasaman Sarmadi, Hospitality House of Charlotte
- Volunteers: Brian Hinkle (TIFIN Wealth), Sara Eldabaa (Bank of America)
Group 7
- Nonprofit: Fontella McKyer, Dress for Success Charlotte
- Volunteers: Katie Cipkala (LPL Financial), Naomi Verma (Bank of America)
Group 8
- Nonprofit: Sarah White, Project Scientist
- Volunteer: Dylan Goodman, Bank of America
Group 9
- Nonprofit: Catena Bergevin, Reconsidered Goods
- Volunteer: Tina Martinez
