Now more than ever there is a global awareness taking place when it comes to cybersecurity threats. In response, many organizations are now beginning to put more of an emphasis on their security readiness.
Despite the increased emphasis on planning and executing various cybersecurity initiatives, there remain many opportunities for organizations to gain a deeper understanding of their full scope of vulnerabilities. This is where cybersecurity audits play an important role in the hardening of digital defenses.
What Exactly is a Cybersecurity Audit?
Auditing isn’t a new concept for most organizations. There are any number of areas of a business that need regular review, including financial viability and ensuring certain levels of operational readiness. Cybersecurity auditing is a highly focused area of due diligence that gives organizations a transparent view of how well their business is performing when it comes to security preparedness.
Because of the broad nature of cybersecurity, audits in this area are designed to help businesses segment various risk factors associated with their operations while providing a blueprint for necessary improvements.
Cybersecurity audits can be completed in a variety of ways. These can include:
Network Vulnerability Assessments – Due to the interconnected nature of many businesses’ supporting infrastructure, network vulnerability assessments are designed to evaluate how well firewalls, routers, and encryption solutions can keep connected systems and databases secure.
Penetration Testing – Many organizations work with third-party “pen test” (penetration testing) teams that specialize in running real-life system penetration exercises to ascertain the effectiveness of an organization’s cybersecurity protocols. Rather than just documenting “theoretical” risk factors, these contracted teams will mimic attack methods used by malicious hackers and actually test how well security systems perform while providing helpful insights.
Security Certification Programs – Although there are a number of different cybersecurity audits companies can choose to use, there are many security certifications available that organizations can strive to achieve to help them stay in alignment with industry regulations and industry framework requirements. Certification programs like HiTRUST CSF, for example, are an identifier for organizations that operate in the highly regulated industry of healthcare and prove their capabilities when safely collecting and storing sensitive medical data. In other organizations, conducting ISO audits can help them test and strengthen their information security management systems (ISMSs), improving their ability to protect critical assets from bad actors and unauthorized access.
Why Do Cybersecurity Audits Matter?
Although many businesses will never be mandated to complete a cybersecurity audit, there are a variety of reasons why doing so can be beneficial.
First and foremost, it can be difficult to navigate what cybersecurity initiatives to prioritize if you don’t know what is vulnerable.
Cybersecurity audits enhance organizations’ visibility, helping them to make informed decisions about where to invest their time and resources effectively. They break down the more complicated elements of a business’s security readiness and help create a systematic checklist of action items needed to harden its defenses.
While some companies may initially assume that a formal auditing process could strain financial resources, it often proves to be a cost-effective investment. Although receiving a formal cybersecurity audit from a qualified outside source will require an initial investment, the long-term cost benefits that come from the information gained can far outweigh these initial costs.
Being able to foresee potential security dangers posed by certain operational processes or system configurations plays a critical role in avoiding potentially catastrophic security-related events from taking place. Cybersecurity audits give organizations data that they need to make sure they’re constantly minimizing their attack surfaces while ensuring long-term sustainability for their business.
What’s Involved in a Cybersecurity Audit?
Cybersecurity audits vary considerably in depth and results. Most audits have their own testing framework and are conducted by a contracted third party.
When these audits take place, they are typically completed in five different phases.
1. Planning
During the initial stage of a cybersecurity audit, auditors typically meet with the organization’s stakeholders to discuss the steps necessary to complete the audit. This may also involve contacting necessary third-party vendors, who may also be evaluated to obtain their support during the process.
2. Data Collection
The volume and quality of data collected will greatly improve the value extracted from the audit process. To do this effectively, auditors will identify all relevant assets (physical and digital) that need to be evaluated while referencing all documented policies regarding their use. At this point, auditors may also want to interview various staff members to better understand how a company operates.
3. Analysis
Once all of the relevant information is collected – with timelines that can vary considerably – auditors will then compile and categorize the information they’ve collected. This data is then analyzed and reviewed against certain benchmarks to identify both strengths and weaknesses associated with the security controls the organization has in place.
4. Detailed Reporting
After an audit is completed, auditors will usually use a combination of data visualization tools and comparative reporting that will be provided to the organization. The goal of this process is to identify various grades (pass or fail) associated with various areas within the business. This can then be used to help create a priority list for the organization to focus on.
5. Remediation Planning
While some auditing partners may simply provide the results of the audit, many others will work directly with the organization to help create an effective remediation plan based on the results. This will include identifying the highest risk areas that should be addressed first as well as recommendations regarding system upgrades or replacements as well as the creation of new supporting security policies.
Test Your Cybersecurity Readiness With a Formal Audit Process
It’s important to ensure that the investments you’re making in your security initiatives are effective long-term. By going through a formal cybersecurity auditing process, you can give your organization the transparency it needs to feel confident in its ability to minimize security breaches and continue to protect the integrity of its critical systems.
##
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Nazy Fouladirad is President and COO of Tevora, a global leading cybersecurity consultancy. She has dedicated her career to creating a more secure business and online environment for organizations across the country and world. She is passionate about serving her community and acts as a board member for a local nonprofit organization.
