Cloud Security for Charities: Getting the Most from Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace
Microsoft and Google both offer significantly discounted or free cloud licensing for eligible charitable organisations — and these platforms include security features that most charities have never enabled. Microsoft 365 Business Premium (available to charities at substantial discount) includes Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, Defender for Office 365 email protection, Conditional Access, Intune device management, and Advanced Threat Protection. Enabling and configuring these built-in security features can dramatically improve a charity's security posture at no additional cost.
Over 85% of UK charities using Microsoft 365 have never enabled Microsoft Defender or Conditional Access — leaving powerful free security tools completely unused.
Essential Security Configuration for Charity Microsoft 365
Charities using Microsoft 365 should immediately enable and configure: Multi-Factor Authentication (required for all accounts — enable via Azure AD Security Defaults or Conditional Access policies); Microsoft Defender for Office 365 (email anti-phishing, safe links, and safe attachments — dramatically reduces phishing success rates; included in Business Premium, requires configuration to be effective); Conditional Access policies (restrict login from unmanaged or non-compliant devices — reduces risk from volunteer personal devices); Microsoft Defender for Endpoint (EDR for all Windows devices managed via Intune — replaces legacy antivirus with modern behavioural protection); and Microsoft 365 audit logging (enables forensic investigation of user activity if an incident occurs). Each of these is a configuration change within the existing Microsoft 365 admin console — no additional software required.
Getting Free or Discounted Charity Technology Licensing
Charities should apply for charity technology pricing before purchasing any paid security tools: Microsoft for Nonprofits (up to 10 free Microsoft 365 Business Premium licences plus discounted additional licences for eligible charities — apply at microsoft.com/nonprofits); Google Workspace for Nonprofits (free Google Workspace Business Starter for eligible charities — apply through Google for Nonprofits); Salesforce.org Power of Us Program (free Salesforce licences for eligible nonprofits); and NCSC Cyber Essentials subsidised assessment (available through the IASME Consortium for qualifying small charities). Kyanite Blue helps charities navigate these programmes and configure the security features included in charity technology licensing — maximising security return on the charity's existing technology investment.
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