Craig Pearson
Whilst a cyber security audit and cyber security assessment both play a key role in protecting your organisation, they have some important differences that are worth understanding.
In this post, we’ll break down exactly what each one is and how they can help safeguard your business. At Your IT Department, we have over 10 years of experience in ensuring businesses like yours stay protected with proactive, reliable support. So, let’s take a closer look and see how these processes can help you stay one step ahead of a cyber attack.
What is a Cyber Security Audit?
A cyber security audit is designed to check for any weak spots in your systems and verify that your cyber security measures meet industry-specific legislation. An audit focuses on checking what you already have in place, ensuring that your data protection policies, procedures and controls are up-to-date with the latest standards. Audits are usually carried out by cyber security consultants, who provide you with recommendations to implement new measures if needed.
Why Are Cyber Security Audits Important?
Audits are important because they take a proactive approach, allowing you to stay ahead of threats and avoid the serious consequences of a data breach, such as loss of sensitive data and financial damage.
After a security audit in 2018, Google found a flaw in the security that meant third parties might have been able to access their users’ private data between March 2015 and 2018. This is an example of an issue that went unnoticed and might have for even longer without an audit, showing just how important audits are for catching risks you might not even know exist.
Benefits of a Cyber Security Audit
A cyber security audit brings a lot of valuable benefits that can help keep your business secure over the long term. One of the main advantages is its ability to pinpoint weaknesses or outdated systems before cybercriminals have a chance to exploit them.
Another is that you can schedule them regularly to keep checking that your systems are up to date as technology and threats evolve. With regular audits in place, you’ll be able to quickly spot any new risks and adjust your defences accordingly, giving you peace of mind that your business is always well-protected.
What is a Cyber Security Assessment?
A cybersecurity assessment is a detailed evaluation of your organisation’s security systems to see how well they protect against potential threats. It involves reviewing everything from your infrastructure and processes to how employees handle security. An audit can be included as a part of a cyber security assessment, or provided separately.
What is the Difference Between a Cyber Security Audit and Cyber Security Assessment?
The main difference between a cyber security audit and a cyber security assessment comes down to focus.
An audit identifies any gaps in your security and checks if you have the right security measures in place to meet industry standards and legislation. A cyber security assessment, on the other hand, checks how well these measures are working, using techniques like simulated cyber attacks.
For example, as passwords were reported as the root cause for over 80% of breaches by FIDO, an audit might check if you’re using multi-factor authentication to protect your data and recommend it if not to ensure your compliance with the Data Protection Act. Multi-factor authentication means that instead of just entering a password, users need to provide a code sent to them by text or email.
Whereas an audit checks if multi-factor authentication is implemented, an assessment digs deeper to see if it is actually reducing the risk of breaches and recommends improvements based on this.
Key Differences
Let’s go into more detail on the key differences between these two terms.
Cyber Security Audit:
- Frequency: Audits are typically conducted on a regular schedule, especially when required by regulations or industry best practices. Yearly audits are the most common.
- Goals: The goal of an audit is to verify compliance with specific standards, ensure regulatory requirements are met, and identify any gaps or vulnerabilities in your current systems. This can cover both data security and physical security measures.
- Focus: Audits often focus on ensuring your security controls are compliant with legal requirements like the Data Protection Act 2018 and up-to-date with cyber security standards like ISO 27001 and Cyber Essentials.
Cyber Security Assessment:
- Frequency: Assessments are often performed when there’s a need for a comprehensive review of your security posture, such as after a major system change or a security breach.
- Goals: The assessment aims to identify risks and vulnerabilities by testing your systems, but also to recommend actionable improvements, which might also be carried out as a part of the provider’s cyber security services.
- Focus: Assessments are more about helping you understand your current security status and providing recommendations on how to strengthen it, not just meeting standards.
Steps Involved in a Cyber Security Audit
Cyber security audits can look different depending on the provider. Some might only include compliance checks, whilst others verify that your control measures, like firewalls, are working correctly. Here’s an example of what a cyber security audit typically looks like.
1. Planning
The first step of a cyber security audit is all about setting the stage. Here, auditors work with your team to define the goals and scope of the audit. This means figuring out which systems, networks, and processes will be looked at, and making sure everyone understands your organisation’s specific security needs.
2. Identifying Security Gaps
Next comes the vulnerability assessment, where auditors dig into your systems using specialised tools to spot potential security weaknesses. Once found, these vulnerabilities are ranked by risk, so you can prioritise fixing the most critical issues first. It’s about making sure you focus on the areas that matter most.
3. Verifying Compliance
After identifying vulnerabilities, auditors will take a close look at your security policies and controls. They’ll assess how well your policies align with the relevant legislation. Any gaps between your current policies and the required regulations will be highlighted, and recommendations will be made to improve compliance and security.
Why Choose Your IT Department for Cyber Security Audits?
Your IT Department offers more than just a one-time security check—we provide a fully personalised and customer-focused experience, designed to fit the specific needs of your business.
One of the ways we do this is by assigning you a dedicated account manager who works with you throughout your entire time with us.
They get to know your business inside and out, ensuring that our solutions are perfectly tailored to your unique challenges and goals. This personalised approach means you’re not just another client or a number—we’re here to build a long-term partnership focused on keeping your business secure.
As an award-winning IT provider, you can trust us to deliver cyber security audits that stay ahead of the latest cyber threats.
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Frequently Asked Questions
We’ve answered some of the most common questions on cyber security audits below.
Who Needs a Cyber Security Audit?
All businesses need a thorough cyber security audit. Whether you’re a small start-up or a large corporation, if you handle sensitive data—such as customer details, financial information, or intellectual property—you’re a potential target for cyber attacks.
Even if you feel your data isn’t particularly valuable, hackers can still block access to your systems through ransomware attacks. A cyber security audit helps you identify weaknesses in your security and ensures your systems are strong enough to protect against these risks.
What is the Difference Between an IT Audit and a Cyber Security Audit?
The difference between an an IT audit and cyber security audit lies in their focus. An IT audit reviews your organisation’s overall technology, ensuring that your technology is running efficiently and supporting your business operations. A cyber security audit, on the other hand, zeroes in on your defences against cyber threats, assessing how well your data, networks, and systems are protected from breaches and attacks.
What is an Example of a Cyber Security Audit?
An example of a cyber security audit could involve a mid-sized business that handles customer financial data. The audit would start with a review of the company’s system security, checking things like firewalls, data encryption, and who has access to important information. The auditor would also look at security policies, such as password rules and how employees access sensitive data, to make sure everything follows best practices.
The auditor might also do a check to find any weaknesses in the company’s systems. If any issues are found, they’d provide a report explaining the risks and suggesting steps to fix them.
