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The University of Technology Sydney (UTS) is closing the cyber security gap between non-profits and other organisations, leading a pilot program designed to bolster the former’s cyber capabilities.
According to formerly IBM-owned Kyndryl IT, non-profit organisations and their staff often do not have the necessary cyber security training in place to fend off threat actors despite holding sensitive information.
“According to the Australian Nonprofits State of the Sector 2023 report, 80 per cent of non-profits have not received any cyber security training for staff in the last 12 months, despite 79 per cent believing that a cyber attack will have a negative impact on their organisation,” said Kyndryl.
Now, being one of 11 organisations to receive funding from Kyndryl, UTS is at the helm of a new program designed to provide cyber security training to non-profit organisations in refugee, Indigenous, and lower socioeconomic communities.
“Like any organisation, charities and non-profits can be vulnerable to cyber security incidents. This funding allows UTS to help these organisations implement robust and continuous cyber security measures. We are excited to be working with Indigenous, refugee, and low socioeconomic communities to build cyber security resilience within those communities,” said Peta Wyeth, dean of the UTS faculty of engineering and IT.
“Through providing cyber security expertise and training, we are endeavouring to remove some of the resourcing burdens these organisations face in keeping their sensitive information safe.”
UTS has said it aims to close the gap between non-profits and other organisations “by piloting the design, development and delivery of cyber security education for up to 90 learners” in 2024.
“By supporting non-profit capability development in cyber security skills, these grants address the critical shortage of trained cyber security professionals and contribute to building a more diverse and inclusive tech workforce,” said the deputy vice-chancellor and vice-president (enterprise) at UTS, Glenn Wightwick.
“Through our collaborative efforts, we aim to equip non-profits with the necessary tools and resources to mitigate cyber risks and safeguard their operations, thereby strengthening the overall resilience of our communities.”
As previously stated, Kyndryl’s partnership with UTS is one of 11, with the company handing out grants to organisations in an effort to achieve two key goals – 1.) to grow an inclusive cyber security workforce and 2.) to prepare non-profits to be cyber attack-smart.
UTS was the only Australian group to receive Kyndryl Foundation funding, but joins organisations like the Data Security Council of India (DSCI), Girl Security in the USA, and the NPO Support Centre in Japan.
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