IT Audits

What is an IT Audit?

An IT audit is an evaluation of an organisation’s IT systems, applications, management, operations, data use, and other related processes. All modern businesses require a well-functioning IT system to run successfully. Consider the position your business would be in if the security of your computer systems were compromised.

Why is an IT Audit Important?

• The current IT infrastructure of your business
• Any security solutions that have been implemented within the system to protect it from malware and viruses
• Any improvements necessary to future-proof your IT infrastructure, ensuring it can withstand predicted changes

IT specialists will conduct an audit, using sophisticated tools to collate data from all the systems that make up the day-to-day infrastructure of your business. They will then use this information to put together a detailed report on all aspects of the business’s IT function.

This in-depth report will focus on the infrastructure’s strengths and the places where it is at risk of attack by malware, hackers attempting to steal data or any other potential vulnerability.

After the comprehensive report has been put together, the IT professionals will then put together a step-by-step list of recommendations to improve your IT security and the function of your business in the short, medium, and long term.

How often is an IT security audit needed?

Seeing as technology is an ever-evolving landscape and software is constantly updated, it is worth investing in an audit on an annual basis. Waiting until you think you have been attacked to get professional help in is no good, as by then the damage may have been done and on an irreparable scale.

It may also be worth commissioning an audit if you have recently undergone a major adjustment to your IT hardware or infrastructure or have integrated an all-new system into your network. Unlikely as it could be, a change of such a magnitude may have had unforeseen consequences that whilst not visible, has had a major internal impact which requires addressing.

What should you do after an IT security audit is completed?

Once your audit has been carried out and the subsequent recommendations are delivered, your next step should be determined by what this package of advice contains. If there are major and looming threats to your organisation, then – budget permitting – implementing measures to tackle these concerns should be of paramount importance.

It should be kept in mind that, on occasion, the cost of patching up your defences may in fact be greater than the level of risk you are exposed to. That is not to say that you shouldn’t be willing to make needed changes if they seem to be expensive, but if for example you find out that many other companies have had similar issues with a certain piece of technology, you may be better off looking for an alternative that can provide you with a better user experience.