Cybersecurity audit: what it is and 3 tips for carrying one out

Having the latest antivirus software isn't enough to ensure the security of your company's network. A cybersecurity audit helps you develop a comprehensive picture of your security strategy.

Cybercrime has become one of the epidemics of modern times.
In 2018 alone, we saw 812.67 million cases of malware infections. Meanwhile, 2020 brought with it a 600% increase in cybercrime. And estimates claim that ransomware attacks will cost businesses more than $6 trillion annually by the end of 2021.

If you don't prioritize cybersecurity, you're putting yourself and your business at risk of attack. Chances are, you already have strategies in place to combat hackers and other cyber threats. However, you also need to ensure that the measures you have in place are sufficient.

This is where cybersecurity audits become so important. In this article, we explain what cybersecurity audits are and give you some essential tips for conducting one in your business.

What is a Cybersecurity?

Think of the audit as a comprehensive review of all the cybersecurity strategies you have in place. The audit serves two purposes:

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

A typical audit has three phases:

• Assessment
• Attribution
• Audit

In the assessment phase, you examine your existing system. This involves checking your company's computers, servers, software, and databases. You'll also review how you assign access rights and examine any hardware or software you currently use to defend against attacks. This phase will likely highlight some gaps that need to be addressed. Once this step is complete, you move on to assignment.

In this step, you assign appropriate solutions to the identified problems. This may also involve designating internal professionals to implement these solutions. However, you may also need to call on external service providers to help you.

Finally, you conclude with an audit.
This takes place after the implementation of the proposed solution and is a final check of your new system before it is reintegrated into the company. This audit primarily aims to ensure that all installations, upgrades, and patches are working as intended.

3 Tips For a Successful Cybersecurity Audit

Now that you understand the phases of a cybersecurity audit, you need to know how to conduct one effectively so that it yields the information you need. After all, a poorly conducted audit can overlook crucial security flaws, leaving your systems vulnerable to attack.

These three tips will help you conduct an effective cybersecurity audit in your business.

Tip 1 - Always check the age of existing security systems  

There is no such thing as a security solution with unlimited lifetime.

Cyber ​​threats are constantly evolving, with hackers and others constantly inventing new ways to breach existing security protocols. Any system you already have in place has an expiration date. It will eventually become ineffective against the new wave of cyber threats.

This means you should always check the age of your company's existing cybersecurity solutions. Be sure to update your company's systems as soon as the manufacturer releases an update. If the manufacturer no longer supports the software you're using, that's a sign you need to upgrade.

Tip 2 - Identify threats

As you conduct your company's cybersecurity audit, continually ask yourself where the threats are likely to be the most serious.

For example, when auditing a system that contains a lot of customer information, data confidentiality is a critical concern. In this situation, threats come from poorly designed passwords, phishing attacks, and malware.

Other threats can come from within, whether from employees with bad intentions or access rights granted to employees by mistake. Sometimes, employees can even unknowingly disclose data. For example, allowing employees to connect their own devices to your company network creates a risk because you have no control over the security of those devices.
Therefore, you need to understand the potential threats you face before you start implementing solutions.

Tip 3 - Think about how you will educate your employees

You've identified the threats and created strategies to address them. However, these strategies are meaningless if employees don't know how to implement them.
If you're facing an emergency, such as a data breach, and your employees don't know how to respond, a cybersecurity audit is virtually useless.

To avoid this situation, you need to teach your employees how to be aware of and respond to cybersecurity threats. This often involves creating a plan that incorporates the following elements:

• The different types of threats you have identified and how to protect yourself against them;
• Where the employee can go to obtain additional information about a threat;
• The person the employee should contact if they identify a threat;
• The time required to remedy the threat;
• Any rules you have in place regarding the use of external hardware or access to data stored on secure servers.

Remember that cybersecurity isn't just the purview of the IT department. It's an ongoing concern that the entire organization must address. By educating employees about current threats and how to respond, you're creating a culture of cybersecurity and, therefore, a stronger defense against future attacks.

Audits Improve Security

Cybersecurity audits allow you to evaluate your security protocols. They help you identify issues and ensure you're up to date with the latest cybersecurity threats. Without these audits, a company runs the risk of using outdated software to protect itself against ever-evolving attacks.

The need to stay up-to-date underscores the importance of cybersecurity audits.
However, your security solutions aren't one-size-fits-all. They need to be regularly updated and reviewed to ensure they're still relevant to your needs. Once they're no longer relevant, your business opens up vulnerabilities that others can exploit.

Audits improve cybersecurity.

And improved cybersecurity means you and your customers can be more confident. If you're interested in conducting a cybersecurity audit but aren't sure you have the skills to do it properly, we can help. We'd love a quick, no-obligation 15-minute chat to discuss your existing systems and how we can help you improve them.

Article used with permission from The Technology Press .

About Nexxo

Nexxo Computer Solutions specializes in providing IT and technology services to Quebec businesses. Its mission is to offer Quebec companies IT services tailored to their needs. Acting as an external IT department, it handles all of a company's IT tasks, allowing it to focus on its business activities. It achieves this by collaborating closely with its clients and putting their interests at the center of its concerns.