Cybersecurity is not something businesses can review once a year and forget about. New vulnerabilities, changing technology, new employees, and evolving cyber threats can create security gaps throughout the year. Regular security audits help businesses identify these weaknesses before attackers do.
But how often should a business actually run a security audit?
At Least Once a Year
For most businesses, a comprehensive security audit should be performed at least annually. This review can evaluate user access, passwords, devices, software, network security, backups, security policies, and other important controls.
An annual audit provides a baseline and helps businesses track improvements over time.
After Major Changes
Businesses should also consider a security review after significant changes, such as:
- Moving to a new office or network
- Adding new cloud applications
- Implementing major software or hardware changes
- Acquiring another company
- Adding remote employees or new vendors
- Making significant changes to user access
Major changes can introduce new risks that may not be covered by an older security assessment.
After a Security Incident
If your business experiences phishing, ransomware, unauthorized access, or another security incident, a security audit can help determine how the incident happened and whether other vulnerabilities remain.
The goal should not only be to fix the immediate problem but also to prevent a similar incident from happening again.
Regular Monitoring Between Audits
Annual audits are important, but businesses should not wait 12 months to discover a security problem. Regular monitoring can identify suspicious activity, outdated systems, unusual login attempts, and other potential issues throughout the year.
A combination of annual audits, ongoing monitoring, and periodic vulnerability assessments provides a stronger approach to security.
What Should a Security Audit Check?
A security audit may review areas such as:
- User accounts and access permissions
- Password and MFA policies
- Software and security patches
- Firewalls and network configuration
- Endpoint security
- Cloud applications
- Backup and recovery procedures
- Employee security awareness
- Vendor access
- Incident response procedures
The exact scope should depend on the size, industry, systems, and risk profile of the business.
Protect Your Business with I.T. For Less
Security audits are most valuable when they lead to action. Identifying a vulnerability is only the first step; businesses also need a plan to address and monitor those risks.
I.T. For Less is a managed IT service provider that helps businesses assess their technology environment, identify security risks, and maintain more secure and reliable systems. Through proactive IT management, monitoring, security assessments, and ongoing support, I.T. For Less helps businesses stay ahead of potential IT and cybersecurity problems.
Regular security reviews can help turn cybersecurity from a reactive task into an ongoing business priority.