Data privacy and information security are among enterprises’ most pressing concerns. Ensuring that data are protected and secured in the most efficient and economical manners possible are constant battles due to the increasing sophistication of cybersecurity threats and the amount of data protection regulations. Organizations are constantly under pressure to ensure that the security of their IT systems and the privacy of their customers’ data are assured. One of the most effective ways to achieve these objectives is through IT audits. IT audits can help any enterprise assess the effectiveness of its controls and identify potential risk and vulnerability areas.
An IT audit serves multiple purposes, including:
- Helping organizations identify any vulnerabilities in their systems or processes
- Aiding in evaluating compliance with relevant regulations and standards
- Serving as a basis for providing recommendations and remediation plans for improvement
Enterprises seeking to improve their cybersecurity and data privacy postures with an internal IT audit can do so by following several steps.
Define the Scope
The first step of conducting an IT audit is to define the scope. Defining scope includes identifying the systems, applications and processes to be audited. It is important to be specific about what the goals of the audit are, what the enterprise is trying to achieve through the audit and which areas are its intended focus. Defining the scope of your internal audit ensures that only the affected systems and environments are tested and avoids ‘scope sprawl.’ Scope sprawl refers to the unintentional expansion of the audit scope beyond originally agreed-upon objectives, which can lead to inefficiencies, delays, resource fatigue, and reduced effectiveness of the audit process. An enterprise may wish to focus on specific business units or applications, or its goal might be to evaluate the effectiveness of its entire cybersecurity program.
It is important to be specific about what the goals of the audit are, what the enterprise is trying to achieve through the audit and which areas are its intended focus.
Evaluate Individual Security Controls
Once the scope is defined, the next step is to evaluate security controls. Enterprises must assess the effectiveness of their existing security measures. This can be done in myriad ways, such as reviewing usage and configurations of firewalls, antivirus software and intrusion detection systems (IDS). Testing these controls lets the organization know whether it is performing as expected and helps identify any gaps that may need remediation.
Assess Data Privacy Practices
In tandem with evaluating individual controls, the enterprise’s current data privacy practices must be assessed. Reviewing how the organization stores, collects, processes and uses customer data assists in evaluating current levels of compliance with regulations such as the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) or the US State of California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). Policies and procedures should be in place to ensure the privacy of customer data and transparency with customers about how their data are utilized.
Organizations that have not achieved provable compliance with applicable laws, regulations or industry best practices face dire consequences. An environment that has not achieved compliance subjects itself to penalties that can include financial, reputational or legal sanctions.
Identify Risk
Once data privacy practices are defined, the enterprise must identify any potential sources of risk. By reviewing known vulnerabilities and gaps in systems and processes, the likelihood and the possible impact of a cyberattack or breach can be assessed. Prioritizing these risk factors based on the likelihood of occurrence and the impact to the organization is beneficial in developing a plan to address them.
Develop a Plan for Improvement
Once relevant data have been gathered, the organization should develop, implement and document its plan for improvement as the final step of concluding the internal assessment. Based on the findings identified during the audit, the organization is now able to prioritize recommendations for improvement and review remediation options. This step should involve all stakeholders in the process such as the IT department, legal and other business units. By establishing metrics for measuring progress and performing regular review of, and updates to, privacy and security practices, the enterprise can ensure that it is up-to-date and effectively securing its data.
By taking a proactive approach, an enterprise can strengthen its cybersecurity and data privacy practices while building trust with customers and stakeholders. This enables organizations to stay competitive in a quickly evolving business landscape and remain prepared for cybersecurity challenges in the future. IT audits help organizations stay ahead of the ever-changing horizon of cyberthreats and regulations.
Denise Owens, CISM, CISA, ISO 20000 LA
Is an IT and cybersecurity professional with more than 12 years of experience ranging from help desk management to senior management. Responsible for multiple facets of information security, she has led risk management teams to successfully implement several frameworks. Owens is an Amazon best-selling author who aims to help fill the many vacancies in the information security realm with fresh talent and seeks every opportunity to do so.