In an era dominated by digital advancements, the protection of sensitive information is vital for organisations of all sizes and across all industries, with SMEs being a prime target.
Cyber threats are continually evolving, and with the help of AI, becoming more sophisticated by the day. That's why the execution of a regular and comprehensive cyber security audit is an essential practice for modern businesses. An audit is a proactive approach to supporting your organisation's defences, identifying vulnerabilities, and ensuring continuous and robust protection against potential cyber attacks.
Discover 7 reasons why your organisation should have a cyber security audit below:
1. Understanding the Landscape
Cyber criminals continue to find new and inventive ways to infiltrate systems, steal data, and disrupt operations. This means that organisations can’t stand still, they need to stay informed about the latest cyber threats and regularly assess and enhance their security measures. A cyber security audit provides a systematic, scheduled and thorough examination of your organisation’s cyber security stance, infrastructure, policies, and practices. This will help you uncover holes in your defensive armour in a timely manner.
2. Uncover Vulnerabilities
One of the primary objectives of a cyber security audit is to identify vulnerabilities within your organisation's IT systems and networks. These vulnerabilities could range from outdated software, weak passwords, inadequate access controls and unpatched software. Identifying and addressing these weaknesses early helps prevent cyber attacks and data breaches.
3. Compliance and Legal Requirements
Regulatory compliance in the realm of cyber security is a growing concern. Many industries are subject to specific regulations and legal requirements governing the protection and handling of sensitive data. A cyber security audit helps ensure that your organisation is compliant with these regulations, reducing legal risks and potential penalties.
4. Protecting Customer Trust
In an age where data privacy and protection are of utmost importance, customers and employees want assurance that the organisations they engage with and work for prioritise the security of their personal information. A cyber security audit demonstrates your commitment to safeguarding your customer and employee data, building trust. The stronger your security measures, the more confidence customers will have in your organisation's ability to protect their sensitive data.
5. Mitigating Financial Loss
Cyber attacks can have devastating financial consequences. The costs associated with a breach include legal fees, compensation to affected parties, system restoration, and damage to your organisation’s reputation. In conjunction with financial losses, other consequences of a data breach, can’t be quantified in monetary terms, take loss of trust as an example. This is something that can be hard to rebuild and takes a long time to earn back. A cyber security audit helps identify potential weaknesses and prevents or mitigates the financial and unquantifiable losses associated with a cyber attack.
6. Enhancing Operational Resilience
Disruption to business operations due to cyber attacks can be crippling, resulting in business downtime, loss of critical data, and decreased productivity. By conducting a cyber security audit, your organisation is better prepared for potential attacks. An audit allows you to enhance your incident response capabilities and strengthen your operational resilience.
7. Future-Proofing the Business
Cyber threats are continually evolving. A cyber security audit isn't a one-time event but an ongoing process. Regular audits ensure that your organisation is adapting to new threats, technologies, and business practices. This approach helps you to stay ahead of potential risks and keep your business future-proofed against emerging and evolving cyber threats.
Sharp's Cyber Security Audit
Has the above information caught your interest? Need to get booked in for your own audit?
Our Cyber Security Audit solution provides a 360 view of your entire IT environment, before delving into 6 key areas to identify any high-risk issues that could leave you exposed to a cyber attack. The Complete Security Audit covers:
- Internal Infrastructure Review - Our Internal Infrastructure Review takes a representative sample of your endpoints and servers to assess your organisation's baseline security posture. This comprehensive scan will identify critical vulnerabilities and weaknesses in your security.
- Microsoft 365 Phishing and Impersonation - Our AI-driven Phishing and Impersonation Protection detects and blocks advanced impersonation threats, including phishing and business email compromise. Identifying potential dangers before they reach users significantly enhances security while maintaining high accuracy and minimising false positives.
- Dark Web Scan - Dark Web Scans search the hidden parts of the internet, aka the dark web, where bad actors often trade stolen information. We conduct this scan to identify if any of your organisation’s credentials have been compromised, such as usernames, passwords, or other sensitive data.
- Microsoft 365 Security Review - Running a Microsoft 365 Security Review allows us to identify and close potential security gaps in your organisation’s infrastructure, reducing the likelihood of cyber attacks and data breaches. The review examines key security areas, including user access controls, data protection strategies, threat management, and adherence to best practices.
- Copilot Readiness Assessment - A Microsoft Copilot Readiness Assessment assess how prepared your organisation is to use Microsoft 365 Copilot. Through this assessment, we can identify gaps in your current environment and provide some suggestions and recommendations to help ensure a seamless transition and maximise productivity benefits.
- Cyber Essentials Gap Analysis - A Cyber Essentials gap analysis is necessary before pursuing certification as it identifies weaknesses in your current cyber security measures, prioritises necessary improvements, and provides cost-effective solutions to achieve compliance. This proactive approach not only helps in securing certification but also strengthens your overall cyber security posture.
Following the audit, we will outline any weaknesses in your IT infrastructure and identify areas you need to focus on improving. We’ll provide our expert recommendations to help strengthen your IT security. These recommendations can vary from simple changes to larger project work. Partnering with us will provide your organisation with a detailed IT roadmap, including the key elements to improve your security.
Download a sample audit here to find out what you can expect from our Cyber Security Audit, or get booked in here.
Stay Vigilant and Secure!
In an interconnected world where the volume and sophistication of cyber threats are ever-increasing, a cyber security audit should no longer be a choice but a necessity. It is a strategic investment that safeguards your organisation's assets, protects your reputation, and maintains stakeholders' trust. By regularly assessing and improving security measures, you can proactively mitigate risks and ensure a resilient and secure digital future.
