• Regulatory Fines:  Depending on your jurisdiction, a data breach involving member addresses or payment info could lead to significant legal fees and fines.

• Loss of Trust & Reputation:  If private club matters or member details are leaked because management "cut corners" on security, it can cause irreparable damage to the club's prestige and member retention.

• The Danger: Hackers can easily intercept unencrypted data packets, capturing login credentials, private messages, or financial spreadsheets.

• The Result: A single compromised password could give an outsider total control over the club’s digital assets.

• Lack of Data protection:  Without a VPN, the club’s internal traffic patterns and IP addresses are visible. This makes it easier for bad actors to map out your infrastructure for a targeted attack.

• Accidental Exposure:  If files are shared via open cloud links or basic email to avoid "connection hurdles," those documents can be indexed by search engines or forwarded to non-members with ease.

Without a centralised VPN, managers often resort to "shadow IT" - using their own personal (and often insecure) apps to get work done.

• Inconsistency:  Important documents end up scattered across personal Dropboxes, WhatsApp threads, and private Gmail accounts.

• The "Exit" Risk:  When a committee member leaves the 381 Club, revoking their access to a dozen different personal platforms is nearly impossible. A VPN allows for a "kill switch" approach to access.