Information security audit

An information security audit is a survey that aims to verify and assess the state of a company’s information security (IS), identifying vulnerabilities and non-compliances.

Audits can be internal and external. Internal audits are necessary for self-control, the company conducts them by its own employees. External audit helps to obtain an independent assessment of IS processes and infrastructure security from a third-party organization that has all the necessary certificates and licenses.

How to prepare for an audit

Prior to an internal audit, the IS department staff prepares an internal document where they outline the audit process step by step: list of systems and processes, type of final reports, etc.

Before the external audit, the auditing organization signs an NDA and an agreement with the company. The contract fixes the responsibilities of the parties, the requirements for the audit, the boundaries of the audit, etc. After that, the auditors make a preliminary study of IS processes and the composition of the company’s IT infrastructure.

What is checked during the audit

During the audit, specialists check: operating systems, servers, communication means, data processing processes, access rights, etc. The audit allows to find weaknesses in the IS and IT infrastructure, so that in the future the company can reliably protect confidential information and avoid financial and reputational losses.

Audit outcome

After the audit, specialists prepare a final report with information about the state of information security processes and give recommendations on what needs to be corrected. The company can perform them in-house or by outsourcing the tasks to a third-party organization.

ITGLOBAL.COM Security specialists recommend conducting an internal audit 4 times a year, and externally at least 1-2 times a year. But it all depends on the business objectives and the impact of information security on the company’s operations.