The importance of having a robust cyber security plan for every business has been reiterated plenty of times – and for a good reason.
With most companies using online networks and systems or cloud computing services for daily operations, the presence of strong and robust cybersecurity is crucial to safeguard all systems and data of your business.
Whether your business is big or small, cybersecurity is an important aspect you must focus upon. Conducting necessary tests like the Cyber Risk Score, to know about the strength of your security is essential.
Building on this, an important element of every strong cyber security plan is conducting Cyber Security audits. What’s more, a deep assessment and evaluation of your business are key to maximize the safety of your organisation and providing end-to-end security.
That said, through this article, we’ll provide you with all the necessary information that you need to understand the A-Z of cybersecurity audits for business.
What is a Cyber Security Audit?
A cyber security audit is a comprehensive evaluation of your business’ existing IT infrastructure. From compliance and management to controls and performance, a cyber security audit provides an in-depth insight into your company’s efficiency, financial assets, and security.
Through this, vulnerabilities of your systems are highlighted after which you can develop a plan to tackle them.
However, many companies are unaware of the potential damages a cyber attack could have on their company. This is why being prepared beforehand can prove to be beneficial for your organization.
Key Areas Covered In Your Cyber Security Audit
A cyber security audit covers certain key areas of your business’ IT-related operations. These include:
- Data: Reviews data security, network-related access controls and transmissions.
- Operations: Checks adherence to policies, regulations, protocols, and other controls.
- Network and Systems: Evaluates network controls in terms of security, anti-virus software, existing firewalls, and security monitoring software capabilities.
- Physical Security: Covers multi-factor authentication, data encryption, biometrics, access-controls, etc.
Since these areas cover your entire IT infrastructure to ensure end-to-end protection of your business, it’s important to conduct a comprehensive evaluation. In doing so, it’ll lead you to better awareness about the efficiency of your business and other IT-related operations.
Why is a Cyber Security Audit Necessary?
Viruses, malware and different types of cyber threats are constantly evolving; being unprepared for these can leave your company susceptible to damage. Additionally, with the increased sophistication of cyber attacks, having strong cyber security is key to protect your business against any major losses.
By conducting cyber security audits through a managed IT service provider, end-to-end business security is guaranteed. This is because the comprehensive analysis and evaluation of your organisation cover all aspects of your business software, networks and systems. The detailed report provided by the auditor on completion of the assessment also helps you recognize the weak areas that need to be improved.
Moreover, with many employees working from home, safeguarding your business’ data and information becomes all the more crucial.
Through the audit evaluation, you can regularly check on the way your IT environment is being used and make the necessary updates or changes to improve your environment even further.
Additionally, through these audits, you can also brief your employees on the rules and guidelines they need to follow to ensure end-to-end business security and improved efficiency.
How Does A Cyber Security Audit Benefit My Business?
Cyber security audit, usually conducted by a managed IT services company, provides you with a detailed report of your business’ IT infrastructure. Thus, it has various benefits for your company.
1. Exposes Vulnerabilities In Your IT Environment
Since a company’s data is accessed through many different devices, there are many ways a cyber threat could attack your business.
However, an in-depth analysis of your business’ online networks and systems can potentially expose any existing vulnerabilities that are present in your IT environment.
With this, improving or reworking on the existing weak areas to develop stronger systems will also lessen any potential chances of damages. Moreover, by conducting a cyber risk score test, you can analyse and understand the durability of your existing cyber security plan and further improve it, if required.
What’s more, the report submitted by the IT auditor will help you understand what course of action you need to take to improve the security for your business even further.
2. Minimizes the Chances Of Threats And Loss
After recognising the flaws in your existing IT environment, improving on those becomes a priority for your organisation. Issues that hinder the overall cyber security of your business needs to be dealt with to ensure the efficiency of the ongoing operations.
By identifying the existing problem areas, your business’ IT department can work on developing a course of action to improve these areas and thereby rework and strengthen them.
Moreover, strengthening the systems will make your IT infrastructure immune to cyber attacks and risks, thereby proving to be beneficial for your business.
3. Reinforces Adherence To Standard Cyber Security Laws And Protocols
Every business’ cyber security needs to be as per the standard cyber security laws set by the Government. Through a cyber security audit, you can check if your IT environment follows the standard laws and protocols.
Moreover, through these audits, the auditors can check the efficiency and reliability of your systems along with the company’s operations concerning the standard cybersecurity laws.
Through audits, you can also recheck and, if necessary, reshape your existing IT infrastructure to make it follow the current laws while also promoting end-to-end business security.
4. Improves Data Security
Protection of your organization’s data is crucial for end-to-end business security, meaning through cybersecurity audits the safety of your data is guaranteed.
Since your company’s employees may access data from different devices, protecting this data becomes important to avoid it from being misused. By including software that uses multi-factor authentication before giving access to confidential information, you can ensure maximum security for said data.
Moreover, through an audit, you can test the data security and improve on existing policies and guidelines to enhance protection even further.
5. Increases the Efficiency of Your Company
The main function of audits is to reveal areas in your IT infrastructure that need to be worked upon. Through this, increased efficiency is ensured as your business’ overall performance is enhanced.
Improved cyber security for your business also results in smoother operations. This means by regularly conducting an audit, the overall productivity of your business can be increased significantly. Another added advantage is that a smooth-running system and operation will keep motivating your people to work better.
Moreover, through increased efficiency and protection of your IT environment, better results for your business is within reach.
With so many benefits to offer, the importance of a cyber security audit for your business can’t be overlooked. Not only does it prove to be helpful in improving your existing IT infrastructure but also ensures better security and protection of your business.
To Sum Up
While the pandemic saw an increase in the number of sophisticated cyberattacks, it has also brought the importance of cyber security for your business under the limelight. This means, through regular cyber security audits, you could not only work on the end-to-end security of your business but also improve the efficiency of your employees.
Moreover, by making audits a norm for your business, not only do you improve security and efficiency but you also guarantee scalability and progress for your organisation.
