

{"id":258513,"date":"2022-11-10T13:11:43","date_gmt":"2022-11-10T07:41:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jigsawacademy.com\/?p=258513"},"modified":"2022-11-10T13:44:08","modified_gmt":"2022-11-10T08:14:08","slug":"what-is-a-cybersecurity-audit-and-how-is-it-helpful-for-your-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jigsawacademy.com\/blogs\/cyber-security\/what-is-a-cybersecurity-audit-and-how-is-it-helpful-for-your-business\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is a Cybersecurity Audit and How Is It Helpful for Your Business?"},"content":{"rendered":"<h3 aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Introduction<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559738&quot;:200,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:288}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Cybersecurity<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> audits are an essential part of maintaining a secure business. They can help you identify weaknesses in your system, understand how much risk your company faces from <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">cyber security threats<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> and prevent costly data breaches.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:200,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">This article will explain a security audit and why it&#8217;s so important for businesses today. We&#8217;ll also provide tips on best practices for conducting <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">cybersecurity audits<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:200,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 aria-level=\"2\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What Is a Cybersecurity Audit?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:360,&quot;335559739&quot;:200,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">A <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">cybersecurity audit<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> is used to determine the level of risk your business faces from a cyber-attack. It&#8217;s often tool companies use to improve their overall security, even if they&#8217;re not currently experiencing any problems.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:200,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">A cyber audit involves conducting an in-depth analysis of your company&#8217;s network and infrastructure to identify potential vulnerabilities that hackers or other malicious actors could exploit. The goal is to ensure there aren&#8217;t any holes in your security system so that you can stay safe online\u2014and it goes way beyond just checking if the antivirus software on all your computers is up-to-date.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:200,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The difference between this type of audit and other types like penetration testing or <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">vulnerability in cyber security<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> scanning is that while those two approaches are aimed at finding out how secure an organization already is, a cyber security audit aims at improving its overall level of protection. It helps organizations identify weaknesses within their networks so they can then fix them before being attacked by bad guys.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:200,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">According to a study conducted by the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S1467089521000506\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Cybersecurity Audit Index<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, scores on a scale from 0 to 100 reflect the effectiveness of cybersecurity audits, with a mean of 58 scorings.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:200,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 aria-level=\"2\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What does an Audit Cover?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:360,&quot;335559739&quot;:200,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">A <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">security audit in cyber security<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> is a thorough review of an organization&#8217;s cybersecurity posture and assets. It must be performed by qualified and trained personnel, who can then provide recommendations on improving your company&#8217;s overall security.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:200,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">An audit will typically cover topics such as:<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:200,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Your current security infrastructure, including hardware, software, and policies in place to protect against cyber threats and attacks<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276,&quot;335559991&quot;:360}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The effectiveness of these protections in stopping malicious actors from accessing your data<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276,&quot;335559991&quot;:360}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Any gaps in coverage that need to be addressed in order to improve protection<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:276,&quot;335559991&quot;:360}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 aria-level=\"2\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">How Often Do You Need Security Audits?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:360,&quot;335559739&quot;:200,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">You should conduct a <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">cybersecurity audit<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> on a regular basis, depending on your business needs. For example, if you&#8217;re a small company and don&#8217;t have much technical expertise in-house, then it would be advisable to get an external security audit once every couple of months.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:200,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">On the other hand, if your company has many employees working remotely or with access to sensitive data across various locations, it would make sense to conduct frequent audits and review them regularly with your employees as well.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:200,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 aria-level=\"2\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Cybersecurity Audit Checklist<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:360,&quot;335559739&quot;:200,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">There are a number of things that need to be considered for a cybersecurity audit checklist.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:200,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The first step is to create a list of all devices connected to the network. This can include computers, printers, and even phones if they are using your network for internet access.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276,&quot;335559991&quot;:360}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Next, check any additional devices that might be connecting from outside the office through Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connections.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276,&quot;335559991&quot;:360}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The next step is to create a list of all software installed on the devices. This should include any installed apps, programs, or software updates. It&#8217;s important to remember that if your company uses cloud-based services such as Google Docs or iCloud, these will also need to be checked.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:276,&quot;335559991&quot;:360}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 aria-level=\"2\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Best Practices for a Cybersecurity Audit<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:360,&quot;335559739&quot;:200,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">When you are in the process of choosing a third-party cybersecurity audit provider, make sure that they have a proven track record with similar clients. You should also be clear about how long it will take for them to complete your audit and what kind of timeline you are working under.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:200,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Once you have chosen your preferred vendor, it is time to start thinking about what will happen when the results come in. Will your company need more personnel? How much more money will it need? Do you have enough cash available for new hires and equipment upgrades?<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:200,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The answers to these questions help determine whether or not this investment is feasible at this time or if some other options are preferable instead. Asking these questions now could save both parties from wasting valuable time later on down the line when things don&#8217;t go as planned because no one was prepared beforehand.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:200,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Conclusion<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559738&quot;:200,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:288}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">In a nutshell, a cyber security audit is one of the best ways to keep your business safe from cyber-attacks. It will help you identify vulnerabilities in your network and fix them before an attacker breaches them. For a successful career in cyber security, UNext Jigsaw&#8217;s<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.jigsawacademy.com\/program\/postgraduate-certificate-program-in-cybersecurity\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\"> Postgraduate Certificate Program in Cybersecurity<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> is a great opportunity to learn the latest cybersecurity trends and procedures.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:200,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Introduction\u00a0 Cybersecurity audits are an essential part of maintaining a secure business. They can help you identify weaknesses in your system, understand how much risk your company faces from cyber security threats and prevent costly data breaches.\u00a0 This article will explain a security audit and why it&#8217;s so important for businesses today. We&#8217;ll also provide [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2640,"featured_media":258517,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1496,673],"tags":[],"form":[10312],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jigsawacademy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/258513"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jigsawacademy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jigsawacademy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jigsawacademy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2640"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jigsawacademy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=258513"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.jigsawacademy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/258513\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":258516,"href":"https:\/\/www.jigsawacademy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/258513\/revisions\/258516"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jigsawacademy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/258517"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jigsawacademy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=258513"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jigsawacademy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=258513"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jigsawacademy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=258513"},{"taxonomy":"form","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jigsawacademy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/form?post=258513"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}