What Should a Small Business Cybersecurity Assessment Include?
Cybersecurity Assessment, IT Security & Business Protection | JIT Systems, LLC
Many small businesses have security software, firewalls, backups, passwords, and other protections in place. But having security tools does not automatically mean the business is protected.
A small business IT assessment can help a business understand its technology environment, while a cybersecurity assessment takes a closer look at the security controls protecting that environment.
What Does a Cybersecurity Assessment Look At?
A cybersecurity assessment reviews the technology and practices that help protect a business from unauthorized access, malware, ransomware, phishing, data loss, and other security problems.
Depending on the business, an IT security assessment may examine:
- Computers, servers, and other business devices
- User accounts, passwords, and access permissions
- Email security and phishing protection
- Network, Wi-Fi, router, and firewall security
- Backup and data recovery
- Employee cybersecurity practices
- Software updates and security patches
- Sensitive business information and where it is stored
Employee Cybersecurity Is Part of the Assessment
Technology can be properly configured and a business can still experience a security incident if employees do not know what to watch for.
Employee cybersecurity can include phishing awareness, password security, multifactor authentication, suspicious email reporting, safe browsing, and knowing what to do when something looks wrong.
JIT Systems has also covered why employees are an important part of a business's cybersecurity defenses .
Email Security, Accounts and Access
Business email accounts and user credentials are common targets for attackers. A security review should determine who has access to important systems and whether that access is appropriate.
This can include passwords, administrator accounts, former employee accounts, multifactor authentication, and permissions.
Email security may also include SPF, DKIM, and DMARC , which can help businesses reduce email spoofing and improve protection against certain types of email abuse.
Backups Are Part of Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity is not only about preventing an attack. It is also about being able to recover when something goes wrong.
A cybersecurity assessment should consider whether important business information is being backed up, how often backups occur, where copies are stored, and whether the business has actually tested its ability to restore that information.
The 3-2-1 backup approach is one example of a strategy businesses can consider when planning how to protect important data.
Ransomware makes this especially important because attackers may attempt to encrypt both business files and accessible backup copies.
Do You Know Where Your Security Gaps Are?
A cybersecurity questionnaire can be a useful starting point for identifying areas that deserve additional attention.
Questions about accounts, backups, security software, email, employee practices, access, and other controls can help create a clearer picture of the organization's current security environment.
What Happens After a Cybersecurity Assessment?
The purpose of an assessment is not simply to create a list of problems. The goal is to understand which issues matter most and what should be addressed first.
Some businesses may need stronger backup protection. Others may need better account security, updated computers, improved network security, stronger email protection, or additional employee cybersecurity training.
The most useful assessment gives a business a practical picture of its current security position and helps prioritize improvements based on actual business needs.
Do You Know Where Your Business Security Stands?
JIT Systems can help businesses review their technology, cybersecurity, backups, accounts, network, and other security controls to identify potential weaknesses and determine what deserves attention first.
Take the Cybersecurity QuestionnaireCybersecurity Starts With Knowing What You Have
A small business does not need perfect technology to improve its cybersecurity. It needs to understand its systems, accounts, data, backups, employees, and potential weaknesses. A cybersecurity assessment can provide that starting point and help turn security concerns into a practical plan.
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