5 Reasons Why You Should Conduct Regular Cybersecurity Audits

Cyber threats are growing more sophisticated, covert, and frequent every day. This year alone has seen the likes of T-Mobile and PharMerica suffering serious security breaches. These incidents disrupted operations and threatened their bottom lines, not to mention the lingering aftereffects and negative brand perception in the eyes of their customers.

Taking the recent Optus data security breach as an example, one source indicated that up to 30% of Optus customers would switch providers due to that incident. Even if an individual’s data has not been compromised, the risk outweighs the rewards of loyalty.

Businesses have a responsibility to implement proactive measures to protect their data and systems, as doing so is integral to preserving the organization’s finances and reputation in the long-term. One of the most effective ways to strengthen your data protection posture is to conduct regular infrastructure, network, and system cybersecurity audits.

What is involved in a typical cybersecurity audit?

5 Reasons to conduct regular cybersecurity audits

1. Uncover hidden security risks

• Outdated security software that creates openings for malware attacks. Audits verify all connected hardware and software have the latest updates and patches.
• Weak or insufficient password policies that allow employees to set easy-to-guess passwords, or reuse them across multiple logins and devices. Audits check that password protocols meet industry best practices, and ensure all login processes cannot bypass minimum password requirements.

• Unsecured external devices, such as USB drives or used digital camera equipment, that provide possible unsecured entry points. Audits take inventory of all connected devices and notify users of any possible vulnerabilities or weak points that exist within your estate.

Excess permissions that allow access to unauthorized data. Audits review and validate all permission levels, allowing administrators to assign and delegate the appropriate access to relevant personnel, services, and processes.

 Without regular audits, these security gaps often remain invisible.

2. Maintain regulatory compliance

Industry and government regulations contain mandatory IT security controls and protocols that companies must comply with. Examples include PCI DSS for retailers handling secure online payments, HIPAA for healthcare, and GDPR for organizations handling EU citizen data. International quality standards like those provided by the ISO, also require evident commitment and diligence in systems and data management.

Cybersecurity audits thoroughly assess all areas of a security program to confirm compliance with relevant mandates and standards. If any deficiencies exist, the audit will reveal them so corrective actions can be taken.

As cybersecurity requirements evolve to meet the changing threats, audits provide assurance that a company is keeping up with the latest compliance benchmarks. They also create evidence of proper due diligence for external auditors.

3. Prevent data breaches

Data breaches often occur when weaknesses in security programs are not addressed. The 2023 Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report found that 74% of breaches were caused by human error, and as such, routine security audits would have prevented many individual incidents.

For instance, audits may reveal that employees are using weak passwords or unpatched software, which are some of the main attack vectors exploited by cybercriminals.

By preemptively finding deficiencies, audits significantly reduce the risk of destructive breaches impacting customer data and company assets. They provide an essential layer of breach prevention, giving companies the incentive to fix deficiencies quickly and effectively.

4. Gain visibility into cyber risks

Audits provide as accurate a picture as possible of the organization’s current cyber risk posture. The audit process gathers data and evidence across the entire attack surface to analyze where vulnerabilities exist. Not only that, but audits also provide insight into the strength and effectiveness of disaster recovery and business continuity measures, as well as your chosen methods of threat containment and isolation.

Findings from a cyber audit are used to generate prioritized action plans for businesses to strengthen their multiple layers of cybersecurity. With high-risk areas identified first, data-driven insights can highlight the need for threats that need addressing as a priority.

Ongoing audits enhance visibility as your infrastructure changes over time, enabling leaders to allocate sufficient resources in the right areas and as new assets are added.

5. Protect your reputation

Cyber incidents have the potential to inflict severe and often irreparable reputational damage. According to the National Cybersecurity Alliance, 60% of small companies go out of business within six months after being attacked, and this isn’t even accounting for the fact that customers who lose trust in a business are victimized by a cyber attack victim.

Audits demonstrate to customers and partners that security is taken seriously. Audits also reflect the organization’s compliance and commitment to proactive safety measures rather than a reactive approach.

In the aftermath of a breach, audits can provide evidence that prudent security practices were in place. While audits cannot guarantee immunity from cyber attacks, they show regulators and the public that reasonable care was exercised. In turn, this can significantly reduce the amount of reputational harm suffered, provided that the business handles the news with utmost accountability and transparency.

Safeguard your critical assets, data and reputation