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Non-ProfitSecurity

Non-Profit Secures Donor Data with Limited Budget

International Relief Organization
Atlanta, GA
80 employees
4 months
50%
cost savings vs. enterprise
Started:Aug 2023
Duration:4 months
Completed:Dec 2023

The Challenge

Global Relief Partners operates in 15 countries, coordinating disaster response and development programs. They handle sensitive data: donor payment information, beneficiary identities (including refugees), and program details that could endanger staff in conflict zones.

A breach at a peer organization exposed 50,000 donor records and led to identity theft. The board demanded improved security, but the IT budget was $75K annually-less than one enterprise security analyst's salary.

Major foundation grants were also requiring security assessments. Without demonstrable security practices, $2M+ in potential funding was at risk.

Our Approach

1

Risk-Based Assessment

Week 1-2

Identified highest-risk data and systems. Prioritized protection based on mission impact rather than comprehensive coverage.

2

Cost-Optimized Security Stack

Week 2-8

Implemented non-profit licensed security tools including Microsoft 365 E3 (non-profit pricing), endpoint protection, and MFA.

3

Staff Security Training

Week 6-12

Deployed role-based security training for 80 staff across 15 countries. Focused on phishing, physical security, and data handling.

4

Managed Monitoring

Week 12-16

Implemented 24/7 security monitoring at non-profit rates. Created incident response procedures for global operations.

Solution Overview

Right-sized security program including cloud security baseline, endpoint protection, staff training, and managed security monitoring at non-profit pricing.

The Results

Enterprise-grade security at 50% typical cost
Zero data breaches since implementation
Donor confidence scores increased 40%
Met foundation grant security requirements

Business Impact

Cost Savings
50% below enterprise security costs
Deals Enabled
Qualified for $2.3M in foundation grants
Risk Reduction
Zero breaches in 18 months

"PlatOps understood our mission and budget. We got enterprise security at non-profit prices."

P
Patricia Okonkwo, Executive Director
International Relief Organization

"Major donors now ask about security. Being able to answer confidently has increased giving."

M
Michael Chen, Development Director
International Relief Organization

Key Takeaways

  • Non-profit licensing can reduce costs 50-80%
  • Risk-based approach focuses limited resources effectively
  • Donor trust is increasingly tied to security practices
  • Foundation grants are driving non-profit security investment

Key Outcome

50%
cost savings vs. enterprise

Technologies Used

Microsoft 365 (Non-profit)Defender for EndpointKnowBe4Arctic Wolf

Compliance Frameworks

GDPRFoundation RequirementsPCI-DSS

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