Why Your Church Needs More Than Just Antivirus in 2025

“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”

-1 Peter 5:8 NIV

Introduction:

For years, we’ve been told that antivirus software is the key to computer safety. And it is important. Think of it as the lock on your church’s front door. It’s a good, basic step that stops many common threats.

But what happens when the threat isn’t someone trying to break down the door? What if it’s a trickster who tries to fool you into letting them inside?

Today, the biggest online dangers to your ministry are often these kinds of clever tricks. And a simple lock, or basic antivirus, just isn’t enough to stop them.

With that said, let's explore IT security solutions beyond antivirus! 👊

The Modern Threat: A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing

The most common way criminals get into a church’s computer system isn’t by hacking through a firewall. It’s by sending a tricky email. This is called a phishing attack.

A phishing email looks like it’s from someone you trust. It might look like a message from a church leader, your bank, or a familiar company. The email will ask you to click a link or open a file.

If you click that link, you might be taken to a fake website that steals your password. Or it might download harmful software onto your computer. Antivirus software often can’t stop this because you are the one who clicked the link.

Building a Stronger Defense with Layers

Because threats have gotten smarter, our security needs to be smarter, too. The best way to protect your ministry today is with a layered security approach. This means having several different kinds of protection that work together.

If one layer fails, another one is there to back it up. Here are two essential layers that go beyond basic antivirus.

Layer 1: A Security Guard for Your Internet

One of the most powerful layers you can add is called DNS filtering. You can think of it as a security guard that stands between your computer and the internet.

Before your computer connects to any website, the guard checks the address against a list of known dangerous places. If the website is on the bad list, the guard simply blocks you from going there. This can stop a phishing attack before it even starts.

Layer 2: Automatically Patching the Holes

Software is complicated, and sometimes it has small security holes that criminals can use to sneak in. When companies find these holes, they release updates, or “patches,” to fix them.

It’s very important to install these updates right away. But it’s easy to forget or put it off. An automated update service works in the background to install these critical patches for you, on every computer. It closes the security holes before they can become a problem.

Layer 3: The Last & Most Important Line of Defense

Even with the best technology, your security is only as strong as the people using the computers. Technology can stop many threats, but the final decision to click a link is often made by a person.

This is why training your staff and volunteers is so important. When your team knows how to spot a tricky phishing email or a suspicious link, they become your best line of defense. Regular security awareness training helps everyone stay alert and make safe choices online.

Simple Security for a Busy Ministry

You shouldn’t have to be a cybersecurity expert to keep your church safe. Your focus should be on your people and your ministry.

That’s why a layered security approach is so important. It works quietly to protect you from the threats you can’t always see.

At Systems Shepherd, we provide these essential layers in one simple, affordable service. We handle the advanced filtering, the automatic updates, and provide weekly security awareness training emails. We give you security that goes beyond the basics, providing peace of mind for your entire ministry.

Click here to learn how Systems Shepherd can protect your church's computer!