THE BEST INFORMATION SECURITY AUDIT CHECKLIST TO HELP YOU THRIVE

Securing your staff, property, and assets is a priority for every business. However, many businesses are dangerously unaware of their own vulnerable points, leaving them exposed to a wide range of potential threats. Taking stock of your organization’s current security strengths and weaknesses, both physical and digital, is the first step in preventing any intrusions. By performing regular security audits via information security audit checklist, you can identify and eliminate vulnerabilities before hackers could use them for malicious acts.

WHAT IS AN INFORMATION SECURITY AUDIT CHECKLIST?

WHAT IS AN INFORMATION SECURITY AUDIT CHECKLIST

An information technology security audit is an assessment of the security of your IT systems. It covers the entire IT infrastructure including personal computers, servers, network routers, switches, etc. There are two types of information technology security audits that includes both automated and manual audits. Automated audits are done using monitoring software that generates audit reports for changes made to files and system settings. Manual audits are done using an IT security audit checklist that covers the technical as well as physical and administrative security controls.

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WHY DO YOU NEED TO CONDUCT INFORAMTION SECURITY AUDITS?

WHY DO YOU NEED TO CONDUCT INFORAMTION SECURITY AUDITS

The frequency and sophistication of cyber-attacks on small and medium businesses are increasing that demands information security audit checklist to improve your cyber security methods. As per the 2019 Data Breach Investigations Report by Verizon, 43% of cyber-attacks were targeted at small businesses. To set up a strong defense against cyber threats, you must be aware of not just the threats but also the state of your Information security and vulnerabilities.

The information security audit checklist are not one-time projects but a living document. The advances in technology and changes in your business model create vulnerabilities in your information technology systems. These advances and changes are dynamic. So, to be effective your IT security also has to evolve continuously. For now, here are the steps for a successful information security audit checklist that you need to know:

• Assess your current IT security state
• Identify vulnerabilities and prioritize improvement opportunities
• Describe the target state for your IT security
• Access your progress towards your desired IT security state

WHAT ARE THE 4 MAIN TYPES OF VULNERABILITY?

WHAT ARE THE MEASURES INCLUDED IN THE PHYSICAL INFORMATION SECURITY CHECKLIST?

Do the topography and landscaping of your premises reduce the risk of intrusion, or heighten it? How secure are your points of entry? Are there security checkpoints turnstiles, swipe-card locks, or there are some people to guard the crucial entryways?

Well, here are some questions to consider when performing a physical security audit of your property.

LIGHTING

lighting

Are your premises well-lit, or are there shadowy recesses which might provide concealment? Are doors and other access points well-lit? Do lights turn on automatically at nightfall?

ALARMS

alarm

Have you installed adequate smoke, fire, water, intrusion, tamper, and motion detectors? Are the sensors in good working order? Have you set up notifications to be sent to your mobile device?

PHYSICAL BARRIERS

PHYSICAL BARRIERS

Are fences tall enough to prevent intrusion? Are they free of holes or other damage? Are driving entrances gated and staffed by an attendant?

ACCESS POINTS

ACCESS POINTS

Do all doors, gates, and windows latch and lock properly? Are windows protected with a security lamination to prevent breakage? Who monitors the access points?

CCTV

CCTV

Do you have adequate camera coverage for your premises? Are cameras programmed to switch to night vision or low-light mode at dusk? How safe is your camera system from glitches, power shortages, and other recording disruptions? Is footage continuously monitored, or only infrequently reviewed?

GUARDS

GUARD

Do guards verify visitors’ identities, and if so, using what method or information? Do guards patrol the premises? How frequently, and how do they record their findings? Are guards able to clearly see key access points or assets from their station?

ACCESS METHODS

ACCESS METHODS

Are access points secured with key locks, swipe cards, or codes? Who has access to keys, cards, or codes? How frequently are codes updated? Has the access of former employees been revoked?

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WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE INFORMATION SECURITY AUDIT CHECKLIST?

With the evolvement of technology and cyber security devices used at your place has made people to create a new and more modified information security audit checklist that can help businesses secure their data, staff, environment and more. But just as with physical intrusions into your premises, digital intrusions can be prevented and mitigated with robust security measures, careful monitoring, and immediate response to any threats. A security audit of your computing equipment and business network should begin with the following checklist.

DIGITAL SECURITY PERSONNEL AND SOFTWARE

DIGITAL SECURITY PERSONNEL AND SOFTWARE

Do you have qualified digital security personnel to install, manage, and monitor your security tools? If not, do you have a comprehensive security system professionally managed by a trusted service provider? Well, Securityx is here to help. So if you need a hand with creating an information security audit checklist or setting up a patent software at a fortune of cost, feel free to contact the experts.

ACCESS TO DATA AND EQUIPMENT

ACCESS TO DATA AND EQUIPMENT

Who has access to which data and equipment, and what are the limits of that access? Are laptops, tablets, and other portable devices properly secured when not in use? Well, with an information security audit checklist, you can simply get an access to the cyber-security equipment.

ENCRYPTION

ENCRYPTION

Is all of your business data encrypted, on every device? What about customer data and your email communications? How frequently does re-encryption happen? So now get the encryption without any glitches.

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MOBILE DEVICE USAGE

MOBILE DEVICE USAGE

Are all mobile devices (personal and company) locked with a PIN or fingerprint ID? Is company data accessed and transmitted via mobile devices encrypted?

PATCHING

PATCHING

Do you regularly update your software to patch known security issues? Are updates installed immediately?

CLOUD USAGE

CLOUD USAGE

When working remotely, how do employees access your network or data? Are staff members using unauthorized cloud storage or collaboration programs? Is data stored in or accessed from the cloud encrypted?

PASSWORDS

PASSWORDS

Does your company have policies regarding strong password creation, using separate passwords for different websites, and time between changing passwords? Do you have a password management system in place for automating password creation?

POLICIES AND EMPLOYEE TRAINING

POLICIES AND EMPLOYEE TRAINING

Are employees thoroughly trained on your security policies and best practices—including recognizing suspicious emails and links, securing mobile devices, creating strong passwords, and safely using cloud programs?