For many organizations today, meeting proper security standards is a top priority. Every year that goes by brings new, and many times, never-encountered cyber threats that leave business owners on edge. Unfortunately, the lack of understanding of how to mitigate these potential risks often finds many in an exposed position.
Luckily, over the years, more and more organizations have become aware of their need for improvement concerning security education and operational planning. Companies are increasingly allocating resources for regular security audit services to maintain updated and secure systems.
Image source
What Is the Purpose of a Security Audit?
A security audit is any form of objective and quantifiable review of a system or application. They are also scalable, meaning they can be used in smaller business scenarios or in large enterprise settings with complex business ecosystems.
A security audit’s main goal is to find vulnerabilities and weaknesses in the system’s security framework related primarily to data protection and access control. Though it is usually an elective step by organizations, in some cases, these types of audits can be enforced by regulatory bodies.
The information gathered through a security audit is used to inform an organization about its overall risk profile or compliance in relation to specific outlined standards or procedures.
While not every type of audit has the same reporting structure, most of them provide highly detailed technical assessments that outline all found vulnerabilities, issues and recommended solutions.
Why are Security Audits an Essential Part of Organizational Resilience?
There are plenty of operational barriers in today’s business environment that organizations need to overcome for success. Businesses are constantly faced with challenges that can undermine their resilience when trying to maintain scalability, establish new growth opportunities, or add new security measures.
But to face these issues directly, information can become a source of strength. Instead of waiting until an issue occurs, security audits help organizations to be proactive and identify potential threats before they become serious issues.
Resilience is essential for any organization, and security audits play an important part in maintaining and strengthening it. Without a clear grasp of their security readiness, companies leave themselves vulnerable to major threats such as cyberattacks, data breaches, and other critical incidents, which can result in lasting impacts.
What Are the Different Types of Security Audits?
Security audits are broadly classified based on their coverage and depth, as well as the auditing standards being used. While there are any number of audit types your business can conduct, three common audits and certifications that organizations rely on when improving their resilience are ISO, SOC, and HITRUST.
ISO Audits
An ISO audit adheres to the ISO 27001 standard set by the International Organization for Standardization and concentrates on the thorough evaluation and ongoing enhancement of an organization’s information security management systems.
Different from audits that solely examine technical aspects of a business, this type encompasses a diverse array of elements, covering legal, physical, and security considerations for a holistic approach to information protection.
SOC Assessments
A SOC assessment, commonly called a SOC audit, evaluates the measures service organizations implement to protect client data. SOC audits vary in their focus – SOC 1 is centered on financial activities, whereas SOC 2 is much broader, and is more commonly referenced in relation to security efforts.
SOC 2 audits are comprehensive, covering various aspects to meet all five trust service principles: security, confidentiality, availability, processing integrity, and privacy. Companies dealing with customer personal data or offering tech-based services commonly opt for SOC 2 as their audit framework of choice.
HITRUST Assessments
The HITRUST Alliance has developed the Common Security Framework (CSF), offering a thorough, adaptable, and effective strategy for navigating regulatory compliance and risk management.
HITRUST certifications assess a company’s adherence to various industry norms and regulations. These assessments hold particular importance for entities required to follow healthcare regulations or those collaborating with external healthcare service providers.
Getting the Most Out of Your Security Audit
Despite its intimidating label, a security audit can be an amazing tool for increasing your organization’s resilient focus and addressing the areas that really matter. Below are tips on how to make the most out of your security audit.
Understand the Scope
Prior to initiating the audit, it’s important to understand its coverage. This involves identifying the systems to be analyzed, the benchmarks for evaluation, and the risks that could be uncovered. Being informed about these elements in advance prepares you effectively and helps avoid unexpected developments during the audit.
Involve All Relevant Stakeholders
An effective audit is a team effort. Ensure that all relevant personnel, from IT staff to executives, are involved in the process. Their cooperation and input can prove invaluable in conducting the audit and implementing its suggestions.
Document Everything
Ensure all processes, policies, and procedures related to your organization’s security are thoroughly documented. This helps the auditors and serves as a handy reference for future audits or security improvements.
Be Transparent
Honesty is key during an audit. Don’t try to hide flaws or mistakes in your system. Instead, view them as opportunities for improvement. The more accurate the audit, the more useful its findings will be.
Review the Audit Results
After completing the audits and looking into the findings, it’s important to examine more than just the pass or fail of each issue identified.
Try to understand the underlying cause, its possible effect on your organization, and its relation to your overall security readiness. Reflect on whether the issues are isolated instances or indicative of a broader problem that warrants additional scrutiny.
Prioritize Actions
After identifying your security weak spots, it’s crucial to determine the appropriate actions. Not every discovered issue necessitates urgent attention. Some may be trivial with minimal risk, whereas others could pose significant dangers to your organization.
Effective prioritization involves assessing the potential impact’s severity, the chances of exploitation, and the resources needed for rectification. Adopting this risk-centered strategy guarantees that your efforts are concentrated on elements that will significantly improve your security.
Implement Changes
With your results identified and prioritized, the next step is to put these changes into action. This might include tasks ranging from software patching and revising security guidelines to educating employees and re-calibrating processes.
Effective communication is crucial at this stage. It’s important that all individuals impacted by these changes are fully informed about the what and the why. This approach not only helps create a seamless transition but also builds a strong sense of security consciousness across your organization.
Start Making Your Business More Resilient
In any thriving business, security plays a pivotal role. Conducting security audits is essential for uncovering potential risks and flaws, but these findings are just the initial phase.
To really elevate your security position, effective prioritization and execution of each of the changes is key. By following the guidelines provided, you’ll be on a path to fortifying your business and ensuring long-term resilience.
Author Bio:
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.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nazy-fouladirad-67a66821