Boards Should Insist On A Cyber Audit

 

 

One of the common pitfalls a company might fall into is assuming that its cyber security solutions are maintained and managed via standard risk assessments. This assumption can cause significant organisational issues, as the rapid development of technology and its use in business has far surpassed the remit of any general assessment. 

 

At Cyber Security Intelligence we think it is time for organisations to employ an independent IT team to come and irregularly perform Cyber Security Audit Tests on your organisations systems, methods being used and discuss cyber security/IT methods that employees employ whether working in th office, outside or at home.

 

 

These audits should play an integral role in assessing and identifying opportunities to strengthen enterprise security. The audit should inform the board of directors that the controls for which they are responsible are in place and functioning correctly, a growing concern across boardrooms as directors face potential legal and financial liabilities. 

 

External auditors are able to bring a wide range of knowledge and experience to the table, which enables them to identify security flaws and breaches in your cyber infrastructure. A cyber security audit should therefore help mitigate the consequences of a breach and demonstrate that your organisation has taken the necessary steps to protect client and company data. 

 

 

A cyber security audit is designed to be a comprehensive review and analysis of your business's IT infrastructure. It identifies threats and vulnerabilities, exposing weaknesses and high-risk practices. They are also a valuable tool for organisations that haven’t yet documented their internal and external risks, vulnerabilities and threat exposure. It is also applicable to businesses that have expanded, implementing various software and security controls but are inevitably overwhelmed by the volume of data being processed in daily communications.

 

Your first audit will be helpful when establishing the benchmark for all future reviews, in that you can measure what has worked and what needs to be improved upon. By continually updating your processes and investing in the latest technology, you have the opportunity to create a culture that really drives home the impact of cybersecurity and highlights the dangers of not having implemented appropriate safety measures.

 

 

Careless Employees – Your employees need to be your first line of defence; any weak link in this chain is enough to undermine the whole process. How well trained are your employees? Are they trained to notice suspicious activity and follow security protocols to the letter?

 

Phishing Attacks – Breach perpetrators are regularly using phishing attacks to get hold of sensitive information.

 

Weak Passwords –Weak or stolen passwords are the most common method used by hackers to gain access to networks.

 

Insider Threats – No one wants to think about the idea that someone on the inside of their business would do anything to hurt their business either maliciously or accidentally, but unfortunately it is possible, and it does happen.

 

DDoS Breaches –  A distributed denial of service attack does exactly what it says on the tin. Multiple systems flood a target (usually a web server) to overload it and render it useless.

 

Employee Devices – Do your employees connect their smartphones to the Wi-Fi or use their own USB stick? If so, you need to take these into account as it substantially weakens your security position.

 

Malware – This encompasses several threats, such as worms, Trojan horses, spyware and the persistent and increasingly prevalent ransomware.

 

However, it’s often the case that internal auditors will often lack the experience of a professional and therefore would need some help to begin the process. 

 

CBR Online:        Cyfor:        GlobalSign:          ITGovernance:        Deloitte:     ITGovernance: 

 

 

 

Reducing Exposure To Cyber Attack: