Contact The NJ State Council
on the Arts
Mailing Address:
NJ State Council on the Arts
P.O. Box 306
Trenton, NJ 08625-0306

Office Address:
225 West State Street, 4th Floor
Trenton, NJ 08608

Tel: (609) 292-6130
NJ Relay: 711

Email: Feedback@sos.nj.gov
OCTOBER 2017
CYBER-SECURITY MONTH
 
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As performing arts organizations we might not think of our most valuable assets as being inside the cyber world, and as a result we might be putting ourselves at risk for a cyber attack. If your organization manages employee, donor and patron records, bank account and business financial records, and technology-based professional networks large or small, you could be a target. The destabilizing effect of an information breach, break down or lock out is a reality for organizations of any size. Establishing a strong cyber-security posture can safeguard your information and keep you doing what you do best.
 
Here are some simple tips to protect your data:
  • Make sure all of your organization's computers are equipped with antivirus software and anti-spyware. This software should be updated regularly.
  • Secure your Internet connection by using a firewall, encrypt information, and hide your Wi-Fi network. 
  • Establish security practices and policies to protect sensitive information.
  • Educate employees about cyber threats and how to protect your organization's data. Hold employees accountable to the Internet security policies and procedures.
  • Require employees to use "strong" passwords and to change them often.
  • Invest in data loss protection software, use encryption technologies to protect data in transit, and use two-factor authentication where possible.
  • Protect all pages on your public-facing websites, not just the checkout and sign-up pages.

Steps to take if your system is comprised
Want to learn more? I'm here to help.
I'm Ellen Korpar, and for the next year I'll be working as New Jersey's Emergency Preparedness Consultant (EPC). Simply put, that means if you're with a New Jersey performing arts organization and you want to make sure you're prepared for emergencies of all kinds, in all the ways you should be, I want to help you - for free.

My work in New Jersey is made possible by the Performing Arts Readiness project (PAR), a national initiative focused on strengthening preparedness efforts of the performing arts sector. We believe preparedness is the key to resiliency, and resiliency means our treasured cultural resources and venues can continue to contribute to communities in the vital ways we've all come to expect.

The New Jersey State Council on the Arts is a founding partner in the PAR project, and my host for the year. Together we will work to support performing arts organizations of all sizes, and in all disciplines, providing one-on-one consulting and planning services, group trainings, and everything in between. If I haven't met you yet, please feel free to be in touch!

609-777-3657
ABOUT THE PARTNERS
 
The New Jersey State Council on the Arts, created in 1966, is a division of the NJ Department of State. The Council was established to encourage and foster public interest in the arts; enlarge public and private resources devoted to the arts; promote freedom of expression in the arts; and facilitate the inclusion of art in every public building in New Jersey. The Council receives direct appropriations from the State of New Jersey through a dedicated, renewable Hotel/Motel Occupancy fee, and competitive grants from the National Endowment for the Arts. To learn more about the Council, visit www.artscouncil.nj.gov. 

The Performing Arts Readiness project was formed in the recognition that performing arts organizations are especially vulnerable to disasters and emergencies that can halt performances, and can put an organization out of business overnight. This multi-year project was launched in January of 2017 through a generous grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. The Project Partners bring together knowledge of the performing arts field and expertise in emergency preparedness. Learn more about the free services, information and support PAR provides, visit www.PerformingArtsReadiness.org.  

CONNECT WITH PAR