Cyber Security

A Guide to Common IT Security Audit Findings and How to Address Them

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22 August 2023

If you own a business today, there may be a high probability that your company’s sensitive information and data is stored in the cloud. This shift towards digital storage and technology has undoubtedly made your business operations convenient and efficient, however, it has also exposed your business to increased risk of cyber threats.

If your organisation doesn’t have a seamless IT security system, don’t worry! You are not alone! Every month, new application updates are released to stay ahead of the cybercriminals that are constantly working to hack them. Identifying gaps in your security system is the first step towards tackling these threats, before they turn into bigger problems. 

A comprehensive IT security audit can help you to achieve this, by identifying weak spots and vulnerabilities in your IT infrastructure, checking your security controls and ensuring you’re following regulations.

If you want to strengthen your organisation’s IT security, consider having an IT audit by experts like Redpalm. This allows you to find specific gaps and take proactive steps to keep your business secure. 

In this blog, we explore 3 typical findings of an IT security audit and how you can take back control.

Let’s get started! 

1. Outdated Software 

The Risk:

Similar to how cars lose their value and efficiency over time, software can also become outdated. Without regular maintenance and updates, software brings a bunch of security vulnerabilities, putting your business and data at risk of cyberattacks. 

To avoid this, software developers frequently release new software updates, which can be addressed in regular IT security audits. Staying on top of these updates enables you to improve your business’s performance and protect it from potential threats. 

Best Practices:

Automating Software Updates – Make sure to automate your software updates by integrating and using a Unified Endpoint Management Solution, this allows you to monitor, manage and secure all end user devices such as laptops, mobiles and any other connected device.

Apply Patch Management – Create a well-structured patch management process, which ensures you stay current and updated. Having this will allow you to quickly apply security patches when they are released by software vendors. This practice will form a strong line of defence and protect your software from risks. 

2. Poor Password Security

The Risk:

Poor password security may be one of the most neglected issues in cyber security. However, it is also the easiest means by which a cybercriminal can hack your systems and misuse your business data. For instance, if you’ve got a weak or no access management system, a hacker can easily log into your network. 

When an IT security audit is completed, thorough assessments shed light on this problem, allowing you to develop a comprehensive plan to strengthen your digital security. As a result, you can implement the right access management systems and technical defences, like password deny lists, for enhanced security.

Best Practices:

Protect Your Access Management System – Cyber criminals may attempt to gain access to your system through unlawful practices such as modifying password policies or stealing tokens. By taking steps to protect your internal access management systems, you can prevent these attackers from gaining unauthorised access.

Use Multi-factor Authentication – Having MFA allows for an extra layer of protection. This involves setting up an authentication email or text message to an account or number of your choice, and makes it even more difficult for hackers to gain access to your data. 

Set Up Password Deny Lists – Password deny lists serve as a particularly effective method to prevent common (or easily guessed) passwords from being used. This list can be created from published lists of common passwords or can be custom-tailored to your organisation.

3. Insufficient Data Backup 

The Risk:

Data is the lifeline of your business and without it, you lose customer insights and valuable information that aids your decision making. If your business doesn’t have proper data backups, it becomes vulnerable to data loss from cyberattacks, hardware failure, or any other unforeseen incident. 

IT security audits uncover these loopholes by carefully examining your backup system. Their keen eye assesses the frequency of backups and the methods used for data storage, enabling you to understand the effectiveness of your recovery strategies. In case the measures are not effective enough, experts suggest changes to fix the issues.

Best Practices:

Carry Out Backup Restoration Tests – Unexpected factors can cause data loss, but this can be avoided with regular test restores. Set up reminders to perform monthly test restores of your backups to ensure they are always working as expected.

Data Storage at Multiple Sites – Storing the data in multiple locations maximises safety. This way, if one location is compromised, you haven’t lost anything. 

Educate Your Team – Training your employees about data backup and disaster recovery is a proactive and great way to minimise damage done in an emergency 

Contact Redpalm for Diligent IT Security Audits and More!

Identifying these common risks is very important to keep your business protected and scale it effortlessly. In order to reduce data breaches and ensure a seamless IT system, contact the team at Redpalm who will conduct careful cybersecurity audits. 

We are specialists in delivering unrivalled and careful IT security audits. Our experts can help you to keep your business secure while taking steps to stay ahead of the competition.

We also provide services like cyber security, technology procurement, and data backup and disaster recovery to keep your business safe. If your business is in need of an IT security audit, cybersecurity or more, don’t hesitate to contact us for all your needs. 

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