PSK CPA

Trap #10 Taking Information technology for granted

Churches have embraced the digital world and are becoming very proficient in the use of computers.  A vast array of applications has been made available to the church including sophisticated financial accounting and reporting, childcare security, online purchasing, online tithing, phone trees and coffee bars with free wireless internet.  Without a doubt, churches have become technologically savvy.

Unfortunately, there is a vast array of other things that most churches aren’t so savvy about: the numerous new portals computers provide through which fraudsters can gain entry into the church.  Computer and online crime is drastically changing the face of fraud prevention.  The best way to address this situation is to simply provide a list of questions each church should ask itself:

• Does our church have a formal Information Technology security plan?
• Do any individuals at our church have access to all modules of the church’s software system?
• Does our church partition its computer applications so that employees and volunteers have access only to files necessary to perform their duties?
• Does computer access require passwords that are confidential and unique?
• Are our passwords changed periodically?
• Are passwords complex including alpha, numeric and case sensitive characters?
• Do we have backup procedures that are performed regularly that include off-campus storage?
• Do we have measures in place to protect the church from malware?
• Do we train our employees to avoid accepting email from unknown locations?
• Do we have a download policy?
• Do we maintain separate public and private wireless networks?

(This post is part of an article published originally in the Spring 2011, NACBA Ledger.)

Security at Your Church/School

You need more than faith in God to keep you and your people safe from attacks in your facilities!!

Recently, several high-profile incidents have raised awareness of the threat posed by individuals against churches, schools, and similar organizations.  Dr. George Tiller, a controversial  physician in Kansas, was shot to death in the lobby of Reformation Lutheran Church in Wichita.  James von Brunn attacked the Holocaust Museum in Washington DC; he had a list of other potential targets in his vehicle, including the National Cathedral.  The man who attacked a military recruiting center in Little Rock also conducted ongoing surceillance on a Baptist church in Atlanta.  And although it's been ten years since the horrific catastrophe, our own client, Wedgwood Baptist Church in Fort Worth, lost seven members when a lone gunman opened fire in the church sanctuary.

For help in security issues, I immediately think of our friends at Gatekeepers Security Services, www.gatekeeperssecurity.com.  Chuck Chadwick and Matt Gilstrap stress that it's much more than alarms and locks.  Many churches utilize off-duty police officers or other hired security personnel.  Even more, though, there needs to be an overall awareness by the entire congregation that's proactive.  Effective security takes ongoing training, and so much more.

Contact Gatekeepers for help and insight in this area.  And contact PSK with questions about the business of running your church.