A total of $6 trillion every year. That's how much money is lost every year because of cybercrime. If you don't think your company is at risk and ignore cybersecurity best practices, you'll put your whole company at risk and fall into that statistic.
The good news is that you still have
time to get started with cybersecurity. However, it does take some work on your
part as a small business owner to set up your security protocols right.
If you aren't sure where to start
with your cybersecurity audit, this post will help. Keep reading to learn how
to use your IT department to conduct a successful internet security audit.
Define
Your Scope
The first step in creating your
cybersecurity audit is to define the scope. Determine which systems, files, and
employees to include in the audit. Do you want all systems (including
servers, desktops, and laptops)?
You may also opt to include only
certain applications or a specific type of data. For example, if you work at a
bank, you may only want to have the online banking program or system files
related to online banking activities.
All of this will depend on your
industry, company needs, and where your sensitive data resides. Take all this
into account and consult with your security team to develop the best plan of
action.
Create
an Asset Inventory
Once you define the scope of your
cybersecurity audit, you need to create an asset inventory. To do this, you
need to list all the devices connected to your network (both physically and
virtually).
Once you create a master list of all
assets, categorize them into sections and identify the primary function of each
device. For example, if there are 20 desktops within your organization, you can
organize them by their physical location or departments.
Also, be sure to include every
connected device. Everything from WiFi printers to networked security products
is vulnerable to attacks. Include all of them in your internet security audit.
Define
Your Data
The entire point of a cybersecurity
audit is to make your company data safe. The problem is that you may not know
what data resides where, and that's what defining your scope and assets helps
you do.
Now that you have that information,
you can dig into your assets to see your information. Not all of this data will
be important, and some of it is personal information on your employees'
computers.
However, some computing systems can
contain sensitive company and customer information that you need to protect at
all costs. This information should be the focus of your cybersecurity audit.
Your goal is to put systems in place that isolate this data and make it hard
for hackers to access.
Acquire
the Right Testing Tools
Cybersecurity audits require special
testing tools to help you get vital information to your audits. Your IT
department should be able to help you with this.
There's only so much you can do
manually when handling this work. The work you'll complete yourself will likely
be setting up new security software and hardware, defining procedures, and
talking about best practices.
However, you need to be sure you can
test those changes. That's where penetration testing tools help. This software
will run hacking attempts against your company network.
Use these tools to test standard
hacking methods to ensure you don't let a security vulnerability slip through
the cracks.
Get
Everyone Involved
Your cybersecurity audit should be a
collaborative effort, and it needs to be conducted with your IT department and
other team members (like compliance experts).
If you have a compliance officer,
bring them along to help define what kinds of information you should
include in your cybersecurity policy. Your job will be to identify the cyber
vulnerabilities and recommend ways to shore up security on company networks.
Of course, you don't only need
technology experts involved either. Creating a security policy means including
everyone in your organization in the process. You never know who will come up
with an insight you never thought of that will help you better protect your
company.
Create
New Procedures
Your cybersecurity audit is an
opportunity to put new procedures in place. Your goal is to make it so that
it's difficult for hackers to get into your network.
Your defense is only as good as the
systems you have in place. Even if you have a robust internet security
architecture, it won't work well if nobody uses it correctly.
Standard operating procedures will
help everyone in your organization learn how to use technology in your
business. These procedures should lay out best practices for using the internet
and let people know what they shouldn't do on company equipment.
If you need help creating your
procedures, it pays to reach out for help. Talk to a cyber security company in your area to get help from expert data security
professionals.
Train
Your Team
No matter how much planning you put
in, if your employees aren't adequately trained, they'll probably take unsafe
actions on your company network. People are the most significant risk you have
to your internet security. You need to ensure that your employees understand
how to use company-provided technology correctly.
This training includes everything
from web browsers to antivirus software and security programs. Your IT people
should train coworkers on these systems, but it may also be a task for a
manager.
You can also create a training
program and require every employee to go through the process. You can use
online video courses are create an in-person event for everyone to attend.
If you want a successful security
training program, ensure that everyone in your company participates. You
shouldn't allow anyone in your organization to work on computer equipment
without first knowing the rules of your company.
Now
You're Ready to Start Your Cybersecurity Audit
You can't afford to take chances if
you want to protect your company from online threats. Letting one mistake slip
by will open up your entire company to attacks. Use the cybersecurity audit
checklist above to lock down your company network.
Are you looking for other ways you
can better manage your IT infrastructure? Check out the blog to find more IT
management tips.
