Most people think building an NGO website is about design and content.
For me, security comes first.
Over the years, working on dozens of civil society websites, I’ve learned that an insecure website is not just a technical problem. It is a safety risk.
Why NGO websites are targeted
NGO websites attract attackers because they:
- Host sensitive reports
- Collect personal data
- Represent political positions
- Receive international attention
- Often lack strong protection
This makes them easy targets.
What I look at first
When I audit a website, I start with:
- Hosting quality
- SSL configuration
- Backup systems
- Update routines
- Plugin security
- Firewall setup
- Admin access control
Design comes later.
The silent dangers
Many NGOs think their website is safe because it “looks fine”.
But behind the scenes, I often find:
- Outdated plugins
- Exposed admin panels
- Weak passwords
- No monitoring
- Open directories
- No malware scanning
These are invitations to attackers.
My approach
I don’t just fix websites.
I build systems.
That means:
- Training staff
- Documenting access
- Creating maintenance plans
- Setting security alerts
- Planning for incidents
A secure website is one that can recover quickly.