Combat Nonprofit Security Gaps and Authentication Attacks

Authentication attacks on nonprofits around the world are increasing drastically due to security gaps between the technology used and the policies in place. Currently, nonprofits are being attacked more than any other industry. Strong identity security is more important than ever, writes the NonProfit Times. 

AI advancements save time, but they also introduce greater cyber risk to an already vulnerable sector when a security gap exists. The ratio of threats to authentications rose to 78% over the last year, according to a report called Nonprofits at Work 2026 by technology firm Okta. 

Nonprofits are already facing a lack of cybersecurity funding during the race to embrace technological advancements. Staying on top of relevant technology is made more challenging by the inability to invest in robust security amid rising cyber threats.

Nonprofits often manage sensitive data, such as donor records, refugee data, and government grants. AI adoption can improve workflow and save time, but integration that exceeds AI policy and cyber regulations can create a data-rich, exposed organization. Of 16 industries studied, nonprofits are ranked last in automated lifecycle management (LCM), reinforcing the security gap.

The Okta report reveals that 76% of nonprofits lack a formal strategy for using AI tools. These companies have no policies or restrictions. Employees are individually using chatbots such as ChatGPT and Claude for help. These individual-use websites can be dangerous because they lack security precautions such as multifactor authentication (MFA) or single sign-on (SSO). These would add a layer of protection for the sensitive information often handled by nonprofits.

Get ahead of the risks by closing the security gap. The NonProfit Times suggests association leaders embrace an automated lifecycle management (LCM) system to process employee onboarding and a strong governance system that applies to humans and technology. These measures will help nonprofits prepare for and avoid falling victim to cyber incidents.