Why security assessments are more important than ever
What is an assessment ?
An assessment is a review of your organization’s existing IT infrastructure, management, security, processes, and performance to identify opportunities for improvement and get a comprehensive view of the state of your IT. This helps you make more informed and strategic business decisions.
Generally speaking , there are 5 types of assessment.
- Infrastructure Assessment – This is meant to be a comprehensive review of the current technology systems. Server Environment ,Application Delivery, Print Environment, Network, End User Devices, Security, Backup, Policies and Procedures are the main points.
- Performance Assessment – The performance assessment identifies any problems with specific campus and WAN segments, devices, servers and enterprise circuits.
- Availability Assessment – The availability assessment identifies gaps in the availability of IT services and their impact to business revenue.
- Management Assessment – Problems with the current network management strategy are identified and how that is affecting current network operations. Here , IT framework, processes and procedures are reviewed.
- Security Assessment – The developing of a security policy and strategy is important to protecting company assets.
- Infrastructure Assessment – This is meant to be a comprehensive review of the current technology systems. Server Environment ,Application Delivery, Print Environment, Network, End User Devices, Security, Backup, Policies and Procedures are the main points.
Why is NOW more important that ever ?
In 2020, as businesses were forced into supporting remote workforce, network assessments became even more valuable.
Many businesses have experienced slow downs due to the covid-19 pandemic. Many more have had to rethink their IT strategies and road map.
As the work-from-home-model has recently become the “new norm,” and may continue to be for the foreseeable future, proactive planning has quickly become a higher priority. This new operational model comes with its own set of technical challenges and security implications as the common user must now work from and often uses their own personal device.
A Security Assessment can come in many different flavours. In general, a Security Assessment is a technical review of your technology systems, physical security, and policies where a security expert looks for holes and weakness that could lead to a security incident.
Security Assessments can differ depending on who is conducting it and your business goals for the assessment.
What is in a security assessment ?
A security assessment will often contain the following elements
- Vulnerability Assessment: This review utilizes assessment tools to scan your public facing systems for weaknesses or security gaps. This also outlines issues by priority and includes a comprehensive improvement plan.
- Penetration Test: A Penetration Test is often used with a Vulnerability Assessment. In a Pen Test, an expert will try to exploit vulnerabilities to show you possible causes for a breach.
- Security Posture Review: A Posture review is a non-invasive and low impact security review when a security expert reviews your policies and procedures to assess your current level of security. One key benefit of a posture review is that it provides you valuable time with a security expert to discuss your overall state of security and make a plan to get better in the future.
Why does my organization need one ?
Every organization should conduct regular security assessments to locate any new or dangerous gaps in your security posture. While dedicating a large (or any) budget towards security can be difficult for smaller organizations, SMBs can be especially vulnerable to cyber attacks.
Below are four of the primary reasons organization engage in a security assessment:
- Security is a bit of unknown – Often, especially for smaller companies, security is ignored. However, at some point, there comes a time when your security strategy will need some love.
- You are legally or stongly advised to get one – Many businesses, such as government agencies and other critical entities, are required by law or through audits to conduct a security assessment
- It just doesn’t feel right – If whenever someone mentions the word security at work, you get an uneasy feeling, trust your instinct, something is likely not right.
- Security is a bit of unknown – Often, especially for smaller companies, security is ignored. However, at some point, there comes a time when your security strategy will need some love.
What can we do for you ?
It is important to not wait until you experience an issue. Find out what your problems may be ahead of time and take care of them before your issues become public (and costly).
Data Breaches can ruin your reputation and your finances, but remember there is way to prevent them.
Act now and we’ll show you how to grasp better control, get peace of mind and put your security worries to bed.
Contact US today, you cannot afford not to.