Not having account lockout mechanisms in place, which stop hackers from repeatedly guessing passwords. That’s why on my websites (which use the WordPress CMS) I now use a plugin called Login Lockdown which locks people out of the login form if they keep entering incorrect passwords.

Charities often choose insecure passwords, which increases the chances of unauthorised access to accounts. Too many charities use their organisation’s own name or location as their password, sometimes with a letter replaced by a number. Anything that can be guessed is really poor security. LASA’s Knowledgebase has advice on choosing secure passwords.

Apparently charity websites tend to be configured weakly when first set up and then not they’re not updated to resist the latest security threats. With WordPress this used to be a big issue because new versions would come out and the web designer would be required to install them, but these days WordPress and any plugins in use can be updated by the charity itself with just a couple of clicks when prompted to do so.

There are many other ways to make a WordPress website more secure but you can’t assume you’ll never be hacked (it happened to me only last week). That’s one reason that making a regular backup of data is so important: I use a plugin called WP DB Backup which I configure to send  me a weekly backup by email.

One last piece of advice: open a free Google Webmaster Tools account. Apart from getting really useful information on how well Google can index your website, you can receive an alert if Google detects that your site has been compromised and once you’ve fixed the problem you can request that Google reinstates your website in its index.

Web Accessibility Pack for Voluntary and Community Organisations (booklet & CD)

Download the Web Accessibility Guide (PDF 1.7 MB)

This booklet from the ICT Hub is a practical introduction to web accessibility and tell you how to make your website accessible at little or no cost.  It explains what web accessibility is, the benefits and what the law says, as well as giving guidance for web managers, commissioners, designers and developers.

How to Use New Media Guide and New Media Case Studies

Download a copy of How to Use New Media (PDF 944 KB)
Download a copy of New Media Case Studies (PDF 701 KB)

The Media Trust published two booklets highlighting how VCOs can make the most of new media technology and giving practical examples of 10 organisations that have done it. I wrote several of the case studies.

LASA Computanews

Download and subscribe to the latest Computanews (PDF)

Lasa‘s magazine Computanews provides straightforward, clear information on the use of IT for staff in small to medium-sized voluntary organisations. They often cover web-related topics. Also check out the very useful Knowledgebase, a collection of articles on all aspects — inluding online — of charities’ ICT.

Managing Technology to Meet Your Mission: A Strategic Guide for Nonprofit Leaders

Purchase Managing Technology to Meet Your Mission

With contributions from the top experts in the nonprofit tech field, this book provides nonprofit decision makers with information to make smart, strategic decisions about technology. This book hones in on how to manage technology in an organization and offers practical advice on critical subject matter unfamiliar or mysterious to many in nonprofits.

Website Owners Manual

Download a Free Chapter and find out more about the Manual

Just because you’re responsible for your organisation’s web presence doesn’t mean you know how to build a website. The Website Owner’s Manual is for IT managers and project leaders who need to put a website in place and keep it running with a minimum of trouble. It’s not actually on sale yet but based on the free chapter, the Website Owners Manual is shaping up to be the one book I’d recommend to a nonprofit organisation with a website to manage.

Future Focus 3: How will we use new technologies in five years’ time?

Download Future Focus 3 (PDF, 2.4mb)
This guide from the NCVO explores how developments such as the Internet, mobile telephony and digital television are changing the way individuals and organisations behave, from how we communicate, to making choices, to where we work. It explores the effects these changes might have on your organisation and suggests ways you can use this information to help make strategic choices and plan ahead for an even more successful future.

Website articles

Tips for designing (or redesigning a nonprofit website (TechSoup, June 2009)