Every day, your nonprofit handles sensitive donor information, program data, financial records, and more — in addition to the responsibility of delivering your mission's core operations. You do this against an ever-changing backdrop of staff, volunteers, and case workers, and evolving beneficiary needs. And potential disruptions in funding streams or sunsetting programs can change the course of your technology approach in an instant.
Three pillars of navigating these changes are understanding your options regarding security, storage, and business continuity. Amazon Web Services (AWS) can help your organization thrive while keeping costs manageable and your data secure and can help you have a plan in place for the unexpected. Let's break down three crucial areas and provide practical steps to get you started.
Making Security a Priority, Not an Afterthought
When it comes to protecting your nonprofit's data, security should be woven into the fabric of your operations from day one. While many small organizations worry about their ability to implement robust security measures, cloud platforms like AWS actually provide enterprise-grade protection that would be costly to build independently. Here are a few important steps to consider.
Step 1: AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) allows fine-grained access control to AWS services and resources. You can create and manage users, groups, and permissions, implementing the principle of least privilege.
Step 2: AWS offers comprehensive encryption solutions for data at rest and in transit. Services like AWS Key Management Service (KMS) allow you to easily create and control encryption keys.
Step 3: Regular backup procedures act as your safety net, while a well-thought-out disaster recovery plan serves as your roadmap for responding to potential security incidents.
Together, these elements create a comprehensive security framework that protects your mission-critical data and maintains your stakeholders' trust.
Assessing Your Current Data Landscape
Speaking of data, what data does your nonprofit have, and where does it live? Taking stock of your current data situation will help you choose the right storage solutions. It's helpful to start with an inventory of all your data sources, from donor databases and program metrics to financial records and beyond.
As you catalog these sources, document the existing systems and software you're using to manage this information. This process will likely reveal data silos and integration challenges within your organization. Pay close attention to data quality and consistency issues across different systems — these are areas where AWS could potentially offer significant improvements.
AWS offers a comprehensive suite of services and solutions to help nonprofits address their data needs across various aspects of data management, storage, processing, analytics, and intelligence. AWS provides Amazon S3, Amazon EFS, and Amazon FSx as fully managed data stores for different types of data. The key is understanding your requirements and selecting the database service that best aligns with those needs.
AWS Lake Formation makes it easy to set up, secure, and manage data lakes. It simplifies and automates many of the complex manual processes that are typically required to create a data lake.
To migrate data to the cloud, AWS provides tools for every type of data. AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) enables database migration with minimal downtime. AWS DataSync and AWS Storage Gateway automate data transfer between on-premises and AWS.
Business Continuity: Keeping Your Services Running
Ensuring that your nonprofit's services remain available, regardless of circumstances, is crucial to maintaining your mission's momentum. Business continuity in AWS isn't just about backing up data — it's about creating a comprehensive strategy that keeps your organization running smoothly through any challenge.
Start by implementing an automated backup strategy in Amazon S3, which acts like a digital safety deposit box for your critical information. These backups should follow clear retention policies that balance storage costs with compliance requirements. Quarterly testing will ensure that you can actually restore from these backups when needed.
Your disaster recovery planning begins with a clear understanding of which systems are essential to your operations. AWS Backup can automate this process, creating regular snapshots of your entire infrastructure. Set specific recovery time objectives — in other words, how quickly you need to be back up and running — and document detailed procedures for restoration. Think of this as your emergency response playbook, ensuring that everyone knows their role during a crisis.
Amazon WorkSpaces provide business continuity for your desktop productivity, providing your employees with secure access to virtual desktops from any location, improving productivity and collaboration while ensuring data security and compliance. WorkSpaces optionally come with a Microsoft Office bundle installed for an additional fee. With all your data as well as access to that data in the cloud, the security perimeter shifts to the cloud. This reduces the risk of data loss from lost or stolen devices and reduces the need for additional endpoint protection on end-user devices.
While building this robust continuity framework, keep costs under control by leveraging AWS's Free Tier services for initial testing and development. Additionally, the AWS Nonprofit Credit Program, detailed below, can provide significant savings, and setting up cost alerts helps prevent unexpected expenses. Effective business continuity doesn't have to break the bank — it's about smart planning and efficient use of available resources to protect your organization's future.
Getting Started Today
Building these foundational pillars to secure and maintain your organization's resiliency can take time. Remember: You don't need to implement everything at once. Start small with basic storage, add security measures, and then build your continuity plan.
The AWS Nonprofits Credit Program, accessible through TechSoup, offers an excellent starting point, providing up to $5,000 annually to help offset your cloud implementation costs.
Once you've secured your credits through a simple application process, start small by focusing on a single service — Amazon S3 is typically the ideal first step as it addresses the universal need for secure, reliable storage. Consider it like dipping your toes in the water before swimming: Get comfortable with one service before you expand your cloud footprint.
As your team builds confidence and familiarity, you can gradually incorporate additional services based on your organization's growing needs. This measured approach ensures a smooth transition to the cloud while maximizing the value of your nonprofit credits and minimizing the learning curve for your team.
To summarize:
- Assess your current storage and security needs.
- Create an AWS account.
- Start with S3 storage.
- Enable basic security features.
- Build from there!
Have questions? Start a conversation with the dedicated AWS Nonprofits team or connect with other organizations that have navigated this journey successfully. You're not alone!
Thumbnail photo: Shutterstock
