Civil society organizations (CSOs) comprise a diverse group of entities that aim to fill critical gaps in services, support, and advocacy for citizens where needs are not met by governments and businesses. In a world where information and communication technologies (ICTs) are increasingly integrated into all aspects of life, research finds that CSOs are utilizing technology to meet their missions, to facilitate outreach to citizens and donors, to deliver services, and to enable public awareness campaigns. To this end, digital technologies have been found to positively transform the working conditions of CSOs by increasing efficiency, enabling greater reach and impact, reducing workload, supporting more effective planning, and increasing digital literacy. From information sharing to data management and operations, digital technologies can act to simplify and streamline functioning as well as open access to knowledge and communication channels, which are critical for CSOs who often work in resource-constrained contexts or with hard-to-reach communities. However, as these organizations have grown more dependent on digital tools, their exposure to cyber threats has expanded in parallel, often without a commensurate increase in the resources, skills, or protections needed to manage the novel risks posed by digital technologies.

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