Why Does Your Church Need Data Security?

Church data is an often overlooked aspect of overall church security. Scams, phishing, hacking, and viruses can crash your church computer systems.

Has your church looked at the way you present yourself to the world lately? Are you following God’s plan? Or are you joining in with the world in presenting yourself to the world?

Are your pastor and staff safe from threats from the cyber world?
Like physical security, cyber security is no less a liability to have a plan for. Failing to have this plan can and will affect you in many ways. From cyber terrorism (this includes child hunting by pedophiles),  to  spamming and denial of service, the threat is real and your church needs to make sure that you have a plan in place and someone willing to step up and take on the responsibility of protecting the church’s cyber space.

With this information you are on the way to starting that process. From containing viruses and worms, to handling phishing expeditions, to protecting the pastor and staff, this manual will guide you through some proven professional steps to help guard against that threat.
So what are you waiting for, get started and protect the cyber flock now!

About the Author T.G. Sampson

In early 2009, I had received a number of phone calls and emails requesting information and resources on securing the church website, emails and networks. While there are a number of resources for this information, I wanted to publish a manual written by a Christian author for Christian churches. With this in mind, I went to a close friend who is very strong in the Christian faith, and who is also charged with maintaining primary web interfaces and security for one of the nation’s largest military schools and base. In addition he has had experience as a solution provider with a world leader in IT Solutions, EDS.

Terry has been involved in the world of computers and IT for 15 plus years. While having breakfast at a small group meeting, I mentioned the need to increase security on church websites. Terry immediately volunteered his help in putting together a basic manual that can be used by all churches in understanding and implementing protective measures. This manual is written in an easy to read style and will not overwhelm you in technical jargon.

If you have a church computer network interfaced to the internet, have a website for the public to view, or wish to maintain accountability for the subject matter viewed on the church computers, I highly recommend Terry’s manual.

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Church Security Incident, Temecula, CA- A Korean church camp/retreat center, Kkottongnae Retreat Camp, came under fire in Temecula, CA on Tuesday, April 7, 2009 late in the evening. Authorities believe a man entered the retreat center and shot a female relative, possibly his spouse.

It is unknown whether the suspect used a rifle or handgun.

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A man walked into the Crystal Cathedral on Wednesday morning (2/18/2009), handed a church greeter a note, then knelt in front of a cross and shot himself in the head, leaving him dead at the altar, police said.

The coroner’s office identified the man Wednesday afternoon as Steve Smick, 48. It released no further details about him. Police said his last known address was in Whittier, but they were investigating whether he had moved since then.

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Can this happen in your church?

Here is a danger that often we do not think about as the security team. What can the churches computers be used for? In this case, the media manager for the church was allegedly using the church computer to swap child porn images with others.  If you have computers and internet access at your facility,  you must consider adding serious internet filters to prohibit accessing these types of sites and images. There are a number of commercial programs to block these sites. We need to consider recommending that the church management implement one of these filters to reduce the temptation that exists here. Additionally the bad publicity that is incurred will follow a church for a long time.

The Story from the Cincinnati paper is below:

FBI says he used computers to transmit child pornography

On May 18, 2008 a man opened fire at a church related carnival, prompting heroic reactions from two men attending the event. Event attendees were startled to realize a man holding an assault rifle had fired shots at the mother of his children in an apparent domestic violence incident. After shooting three people, he attempted to re-load his weapon when he was taken down by “spontaneous heroes.”

Watch the video below.

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Prince George’s County police have arrested two suspects in the armed robbery of thousands of dollars from a Lanham church Monday morning.

The gunmen burst into the Mount Calvary Baptist Church’s business office about 10 a.m., demanding cash.

Police arrested 20-year-old Alozie Chinagozim Onuoha and 16-year-old Ugo Onuoha, both of the 6500 block of Manton Way in Lanham, about 2:30 p.m. Monday with the help of eyewitnesses, police said. Investigators could not say what the suspects’ relationship was to one another.

Church members said they believe divine justice will prevail, just as God kept dozens of children at the church protected during the incident.

“And so God, we say thank you for your faithfulness,” sang the church’s youth ministry. The robbery happened while dozens of children ages five to twelve were at the church for summer camp.

Donnese Tyler said he five-year-old and the other children were out on the playground when it happened.

“You never think this is gonna happen at a church,” he said.

Tyler and several other parents are suspicious of the timing. Mondays are when camp tuition is due. “Monday they know is when the money comes,” parent Erica McPherson said.

“Apparently it’s someone who knew the system, knew the time and day to come, cause it was payroll and everything.”

Pastor Charles Cato believes it was the work of the devil in the house of the Lord, a place he laments is not exempt from crime. Still, he promises to pray for whoever is behind this.

“It’s a sad mind to do something of this magnitude.” Meanwhile, his ministry is remaining focused on the day’s victory that while the money is gone, their faith remains strong.

Link to the story and video

CHRISTIANA, Del. – May 25, 2008 (WPVI) — A man opened fire at a church fundraiser in Christiana, Delaware Sunday night.

It happened around 7:00 at the Christiana Hilton, located at 100 Continental Drive in Newark, Delaware, during a function held by the Saint Mary Coptic Church.

A 50-year-old man from Philadelphia was shot in the head. Police say the suspect was in attendance at the fundraiser and opened fire at the conclusion of the victim’s presentation to the group.

During the shooting a female relative of the victim grabbed the suspect and others jumped on top of the suspect. The female relative and the suspect were both injured in the struggle.

The police arrived at the scene and transported the shooting victim, the female relative and the suspect to Christiana Hospital. The victim was later pronounced dead.

Delaware State Police are interviewing everyone that was in the room at the time of the shooting. There were nearly 100 people in the room at the time of the shooting.

Police recovered 2 semi-automatic weapons at the scene. No word on why the suspect went in shooting.

Why I decided to CCW with Appendix Carry

By John Czeiszperger

Chief of Security

Dayton Area Church

Getting Started in CCW

Like many of you, my gun handling progression went something like this; firing from the low ready position, a 4 count draw stroke from an outside the waistband Kydex range holster that came with my pistol with no concealment and then drawing from my Kydex holster with concealment. After that I tried an inside the waistband (iwb) strong side carry which offered better concealment.

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In 2004, in Beslan, Russia the local school was over run by radical terrorists.

The local police were not ready for anything like this.

The incident was well planned and lasted for three days.

The following is a review of the known details.

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Vandals break in and attempt to burn down a church.