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 Outdated Software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Similar to how cars lose their value and efficiency over time, software can also become outdated.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 inregular 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:
Regular Software Updates – Make sure to update your software and operating systems regularly. In order to remain on top of this, it is recommended to make a note of what software has been updated and when. The more information, the better, so consider adding the version specifics and when the next checkup date is due.
Check for Wear – In addition to updates, you should periodically check the condition of all your software. Inspect their condition and assess how well they are performing. In the case of worn-out software, replace them with new ones.
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. Weak Password Practices
The Risk:
Weak passwords 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 use the same password for your business email and other services, a hacker could use it to access your company’s sensitive information.
When an IT security audit is completed, thorough assessments shed light on this problem. Auditors check the password length and strength, how much it is used and other important factors that can harm your organisation. By doing this they reveal improvements and provide you with a comprehensive plan to strengthen your digital security.
Best Practices:
Create Strong Passwords – You can create a powerful password by using a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters. To make it even stronger, use special characters and numbers. Besides this, avoid using common passwords like your birthdate and your name.
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.
Password Update Policy – Set a policy within your organisation to remind your employees to update their passwords regularly. This could be in the form of an email or calendar reminder.
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:
Timely Data Backups – Unexpected things can cause data loss but this can be avoided by timely data backups. Setting up reminders will help you to stay on track and do the backups on a regular basis.
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.
