While you’re focused on strong design and persuasive messaging, it’s just as important to protect your supporters’ information behind the scenes. That’s where Content Security Policy (CSP) comes in. In Engaging Networks, CSP works like a guest list for your page templates—it tells the browser exactly which scripts, styles, and images are allowed to load, and blocks everything else. By implementing a well-crafted CSP, you can effectively neutralize threats like Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) and data injection. In this post, we’ll break down what a CSP is, how to build your site to support it, and our top recommendations for a seamless (and secure) rollout.

What is a CSP in Engaging Networks?

A Content Security Policy (CSP) is a security layer that helps detect and mitigate certain types of attacks, including Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) and data injection attacks. In Engaging Networks, you can apply these policies to your page templates to tell a supporter’s browser exactly which sources are “trusted.”

Think of it like an invitation list for a gala: if a script or resource isn’t on the list, the browser won’t let it in, even if a hacker tries to sneak it through a form field or URL.

How to Build for a CSP

Turning on a CSP without preparation is a quick way to “break” your pages. To ensure your Engaging Networks templates are ready, you should:

• Move all custom scripts into .js files: Move all custom scripts into .js files and host them in your EN Library or a trusted CDN.
• Add nonce attribute to inline scripts: If you have any inline scripts, probably built using the Engaging Networks Code Blocks, you can add a nonce attribute to tell the CSP that the script is safe to run.
• Audit Third-Party Tools: List every external service you use—Google Analytics, Meta Pixels, Hotjar, etc. You will need to “allowlist” these specific domains in your policy.
  • Note: Need help finding all your Custom JS and auditing third party tools? Use our CSP Scanning Bot to find all of these and automatically generate a CSP policy.
• Standardize Styles: Just like scripts, inline CSS should be moved to external stylesheets whenever possible to avoid “unsafe-inline” warnings.

The Pros and Cons of Turning This On

Our Recommendations

For most nonprofit organizations using Engaging Networks, we recommend a phased approach:

1. Start with “Report-Only” Mode: Engaging Networks allows you to test your policy without actually blocking anything. Use this to see what would have broken so you can fix it ahead of time.
2. Avoid ‘unsafe-inline’ if possible: While it’s easier to set up, allowing inline scripts weakens your protection. Aim for a “strict” CSP.
3. Centralize Your Assets: Use the Engaging Networks Component Library for your JS and CSS. It keeps your resources under the same “origin,” making your CSP easier to manage.
4. Use Automation for Maintenance: Maintaining your CSP can be a headache – Run our CSP Scanning Bot regularly to ensure your CSP is up to date.

What’s Next for Your Site

Implementing a Content Security Policy is one of the most proactive steps you can take to safeguard your nonprofit’s digital home. While the technical transition—like auditing third-party scripts and moving to external files—requires some upfront effort, the peace of mind that comes with a hardened Engaging Networks environment is well worth the investment. If you have questions about setting up your CSP or want to ensure your page templates are fully optimized and secure, Doing Good Digital is here to help. Reach out to our team today, and let’s work together to make sure your technology is as strong as your mission!