"These tools give us confidence, we know what is happening in our IT environment"— discover how ChildFund Australia, with Huon IT, is leading the way in nonprofit cybersecurity through advanced MDR, ensuring global visibility, rapid threat response, and a culture of awareness across its international operations.
Client Overview
ChildFund Australia is an independent international development organisation working to end poverty for children. ChildFund Australia works with local partners in Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Papa New Guinea, Timor-Leste and other Pacific nations, and support partners to deliver projects throughout Asia, Africa and the Americas. With staff and operations spread across continents, ChildFund Australia consistently prioritises data security, recognising the evolving threats in today’s digital landscape. As an organisation with a forward-thinking approach to cybersecurity, ChildFund Australia sought a solution that would ensure ongoing protection, proactively detect threats, and enable full visibility for their dispersed operations.
The Challenges
As an early adopter of security practices, ChildFund Australia identified the need for advanced cybersecurity measures. Operating in regions with heightened cybersecurity risks, ChildFund Australia was aware of the increasing complexity of threats facing non-profits and organisations with global footprints. The organisation sought a robust solution to strengthen its security posture, align with the Essential Eight framework, and ensure a vigilant response to any potential threats.
ChildFund Australia’s objectives were clear:
- Implement real-time visibility across global user activities, especially for personnel in high-risk regions.
- Establish a responsive system capable of rapid threat detection and intervention.
- Foster a culture of security awareness from the executive level to field personnel, enhancing security ownership and attention across the organisation.
The Solution: N-able Managed Detection and Response (MDR)
ChildFund Australia partnered with Huon IT to deploy N-able’s Managed Detection and Response (MDR) platform, a strategic decision to stay ahead of threats and reinforce its leadership in cybersecurity. The MDR solution provides comprehensive, real-time insights, enabling ChildFund Australia to monitor, detect, and respond to potential risks across its infrastructure worldwide.
Key Features of the Solution
- Global Visibility and Proactive Threat Landscape Analysis
The MDR platform equips ChildFund Australia with a high level of visibility into its cybersecurity landscape, making it possible to monitor and analyse user activity organisation-wide. By leveraging this proactive monitoring, ChildFund Australia can detect and address unusual patterns, from suspicious login locations to unexpected user behavior, ensuring the organisation stays ahead of potential issues.
- Swift Incident Response and Risk Mitigation
With Huon IT’s MDR solution, ChildFund Australia now has the ability to rapidly address potential threats as they arise. For instance, when a potential credential compromise was detected in the Papua New Guinea office, the MDR platform enabled ChildFund Australia to immediately contain the issue, safeguard other critical systems, and ensure the affected user could quickly and securely resume work.
- Enhanced Cybersecurity Education and Organisational Awareness
The MDR solution goes beyond technical protection by fostering a culture of cybersecurity awareness within ChildFund Australia. Regular security reports and alerts keep the team updated on threat trends, and training sessions empower staff at all levels to recognise and report potential threats. This proactive educational approach helps maintain ChildFund Australia’s high standards of security while enhancing their organisational resilience.
- Cost-Effective and Scalable Protection
By partnering with Huon IT, ChildFund Australia gained access to top-tier cyber security without overloading the internal team. The MDR platform delivers critical, tailored alerts—ensuring the organisation is notified of significant instances, reducing alert fatigue and prioritising efficiency. This approach allows ChildFund Australia to remain agile and responsive, ensuring the team has time to focus on continued innovation and improvements.
The Results
With the MDR solution in place, ChildFund Australia has set a new standard for cybersecurity in the non-profit sector. Eric Frudd, Head of Technology Solutions states “These tools give us confidence we know what is happening in our IT environment”. The organisation now enjoys streamlined visibility, proactive incident response, and organisation-wide awareness, further establishing its reputation as a leader in security for nonprofits. As Eric Frudd at ChildFund Australia notes, “It makes our life so much easier.”
A recent example underscored the MDR’s capabilities: when ChildFund Australia’s CEO travelled to a conference in San Diego, the MDR platform flagged the access as an unusual login, verifying the legitimacy of the login and highlighting the platform’s role in maintaining real-time security for remote staff. “We can keep our staff, and the children we work with, safe and our systems secure”- Eric Frudd.
Conclusion
Through Huon IT’s MDR platform, ChildFund Australia exemplifies cybersecurity leadership in the nonprofit sector. This proactive approach not only strengthens the organisation’s infrastructure against emerging threats but also empowers its global team to prioritise and practice cybersecurity. By leveraging advanced tools and fostering a culture of vigilance, ChildFund Australia continues to lead the way in safeguarding data, ensuring operational continuity, and staying ahead of the ever-evolving cyber threat landscape.
