What is in cybersecurity audit?

You need more than the latest antivirus software to ensure your company’s network is secure.

A cybersecurity audit helps you create a complete picture of your security strategy. An audit is not only for large enterprises; any system—large or small—requires regular audits. Cybercrime has grown into one of the epidemics of modern times. In 2018 alone, we saw 812.67 million instances of malware infections. Meanwhile, 2020 brought a 600% increase in cybercrime. And estimates state that ransomware attacks will cost companies over $6 trillion per year by 2021. If you don’t prioritize cybersecurity, you risk placing yourself and your company at significant threat.

Now, you may already have some strategies in place to combat hackers and other malicious cyber forces. However, you need to feel confident that the measures you have in place are sufficient. That’s where cybersecurity audits become essential. In this article, we’ll explain what cybersecurity audits are and share some crucial tips for running one in your company.

WHAT IS A CYBERSECURITY AUDIT?

Think of an audit as a comprehensive examination of every cybersecurity strategy you’ve implemented. You have two goals with the audit:

• Identify any gaps in your system so you can address them.
• Create an in-depth report to demonstrate your readiness to defend against cyber threats.

A typical audit contains three phases:

1. Assessment
2. Assignment
3. Audit

In the assessment phase, you examine the existing system. This involves checking your company’s computers, servers, software, databases, and online services your company might be using. You’ll also review how you assign access rights and examine any hardware or software currently in place to defend against attacks. This phase will likely highlight some security gaps that need attention. Once that’s done, you move on to the assignment phase, where you assign appropriate solutions to the issues identified. This may involve assigning internal professionals to implement solutions or bringing in external contractors for assistance. Finally, you conclude with the audit phase. This is done after implementing the proposed solutions and acts as a final check to ensure all installations, upgrades, and patches work as expected.

THE THREE TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL CYBERSECURITY AUDIT

Now that you understand the phases of a cybersecurity audit, you need to know how to run an audit effectively so that it provides the information you need. After all, a poorly conducted audit may miss crucial security gaps, leaving your systems vulnerable to attack. These three tips will help you conduct an effective cybersecurity audit in your company:

TIP #1 – ALWAYS CHECK FOR THE AGE OF EXISTING SECURITY SYSTEMS

There is no such thing as an evergreen security solution. Cyber threats evolve constantly, with hackers continually finding new ways to breach existing security protocols. Any system you’ve implemented has an expiration date. Eventually, it will become ineffective against the new wave of cyber threats. This means you always need to check the age of your company’s existing cybersecurity solutions. Make sure to update your company’s systems whenever the manufacturer releases an update. If the manufacturer no longer supports the software, it’s time to make a change.

TIP #2 – IDENTIFY YOUR THREATS

As you conduct your company’s cybersecurity audit, ask yourself where you’re likely to experience the most significant threats. For example, if you’re auditing a system with a lot of customer information, data privacy becomes a crucial concern. Threats in this case may arise from weak passwords, phishing attacks, and malware. Other threats may come from internal sources, such as malicious employees or accidental granting of access to unauthorized individuals. Sometimes, employees might unknowingly leak data. For example, allowing employees to connect their own devices to your company network creates risks because you have no control over the security of those external devices. The point is: you need to understand the potential threats you face before focusing on solutions.

TIP #3 – CONSIDER HOW YOU WILL EDUCATE EMPLOYEES

You’ve identified the threats and created response plans, but those plans mean little if employees don’t know how to implement them. If you face an emergency, such as a data breach, and your employees don’t know how to respond, your cybersecurity audit is essentially useless. To avoid this situation, you need to educate your employees on what to look out for and how to respond to cybersecurity threats. This often involves creating a plan that includes the following details:

• The various threat types you’ve identified and how to spot them.
• Where employees can go to access additional information about a threat.
• Who to contact if they identify a threat.
• How long it should take to rectify the threat.
• Any rules about using external devices or accessing data stored on secure servers.

Remember, cybersecurity is not just the IT department’s responsibility. It’s an ongoing concern that everyone in the organization must remain vigilant about. By educating employees on the threats and how to respond to them, you create a stronger defense against future attacks.

AUDITS IMPROVE SECURITY

Cybersecurity audits offer you the chance to evaluate your security protocols. They help you identify issues and ensure you’re up-to-date on the latest cybersecurity threats. Without them, a business risks relying on outdated software to protect itself from ever-evolving attacks. The need to stay up-to-date highlights the importance of regular cybersecurity audits. However, security solutions are not one-and-done—they require constant updating and re-examination to ensure they still meet your needs. When they no longer suffice, your business becomes vulnerable to exploitation.

Audits improve cybersecurity, and improved cybersecurity means you and your customers can feel more confident. If you’d like help conducting a cybersecurity audit but aren’t sure whether you have the necessary skills, we can assist. Let’s have a quick, 15-minute, no-obligation chat to discuss your existing systems and how we can help improve them.