JISAR

Abstract: Information security is a hot button topic across all industries and new reports of security incidents and data breaches is a near daily occurrence. Much is known about recent trends and shortcomings in information security in the public and private sectors, but relatively little has been found about the state of information security in nonprofit organizations. The underlying missions of nonprofit organizations, composition of their workforce, and their reliance on grants and donations for revenue generation streams all provide stark contrast with private business. These facts warrant an examination of information security of nonprofit organizations separate from private or commercial groups. This paper examines the state of information security in nonprofit organizations with results obtained by surveying volunteers or employees at nonprofit groups in two areas of Illinois. A qualitative discussion using observations gained from direct analysis of the security status of three organizations as part of student service learning projects is presented as well.

Keywords: Information Security, Nonprofits, Information Technology

Download this article: JISAR - V7 N2 Page 29.pdf

Recommended Citation: Imboden, T., Phillips, J., Seib, J., Fiorentino, S. (2014). Information Security in Nonprofits: A First Glance at the State of Security in Two Illinois Regions. Journal of Information Systems Applied Research, 7(2) pp 29-38. http://jisar.org/2014-7/ ISSN: 1946-1836. (A preliminary version appears in The Proceedings of CONISAR 2013)