As technology progresses companies from all industries are becoming more and more financially invested in their IT ecosystem. We rely on it daily for every business function you could think of. It makes sense then that time, energy and capital go into keeping our IT secure and operational.
It also makes sense to regularly inspect our information technology infrastructure and processes to evaluate cybersecurity posture and the functionality of tech processes. This inspection is known as an IT assessment, and it’s optimal for a business to perform one every year. It’s often done in conjunction with the end of the financial year, when financial statements produced can provide insight into the effectiveness of the investment into IT.
IT Assessment Categories
A well-executed information technology assessment is centred around an appreciation of the relevant industry environment, an understanding of the inherent risks and a knowledge of the resources required to fulfil the IT obligations. An assessment plan is essential, which ideally should incorporate the following five categories:
- Systems and applications: All equipment, systems and processes are examined to ensure they’re operating as intended and their security isn’t compromised in any way.
- Process Verification: Are all processes working correctly? Are they timely and accurate and able to withstand disruptive conditions?
- Systems Development: Are any systems being developed done so in accordance with the IT standards already put in place by the organisation?
- IT Management: Is the management hierarchy for IT structured appropriately? Do the procedures in place ensure a controlled and efficient environment?
- Telecommunications: Communications are the backbone of modern businesses, so your networks and servers must be protected against any kind of security breach.
Why Do You Need an IT Assessment?
The term ‘IT assessment’ has been known to inject some nerves into the IT departments of companies around Brisbane. They imagine their processes getting messed with, their structures realigned and so on. That might just happen too, if their processes and structures are found to be ineffective. But that’s the beauty of an assessment: it establishes where your IT ecosystem is lacking and exactly what effects this is having on your operational efficiency. Improvements and refinements can then be made.
Here are a few reasons why you should conduct regular IT assessments:
Cyber Security
Businesses are spending larger portions of their budgets every year on IT, which makes them more vulnerable to cybercrime. An information technology audit verifies that your cybersecurity is able to withstand hackers and keep your company and client data safe and protect your organization’s information. It determines potential risks to your physical and digital technology assets, and ensures your systems and processes are secure. Risk minimisation procedures can then be implemented.
Compliance
There are numerous IT-specific standards and regulations that need to be met. An IT audit will determine your compliance with all of them, and what is required if you aren’t.
Efficiencies
By closely examining all your IT processes and information systems, you’ll get an understanding of which areas of your systems and management are proving inefficient.
Cost Effective
While there will be costs associated with an IT audit, they’re much easier to handle than the multiple costs that could occur if you have a cyber security breach, or persist for many years with inefficient processes. It’s a budgeting win.
Stay up to Date
Technology is surging forward at an impressive rate. A regular IT assessment will pinpoint which areas of your technology ecosystem and information systems and applications need to be updated in order to maximise time and financial returns.
Protect Your Reputation
A data breach, an IT failure or a meltdown of your IT infrastructure could lead to significant reputation damage amongst clients and potential clients. An IT assessment helps safeguard you against such events.
Brisbane IT Assessment Objectives
When Smile IT undertakes an IT assessment for a business, we assess its IT processes against globally recognised security or technology frameworks. Following the policies, practices and procedures in these frameworks helps to identify the gaps in their system while implementing steps to establish and maintain security control. The appropriate measures can then be advised upon to protect critical assets and improve efficiency of IT processes and alignment with company objectives.
When we do an assessment, it would be against one or more of the following frameworks:
COBIT: This is a framework designed to improve the information system within an organisation. It’s concerned with the governance and management of IT, allowing for streamlined communication of IT goals, objectives, controls and outcomes.
NIST: NIST is a cybersecurity framework from the National Institute of Standards and Technology that’s designed to help organisations manage their cyber risk. It allows them to better understand, assess, prioritise, and communicate cybersecurity efforts
Essential Eight: The Essential Eight is a collection of eight risk mitigation strategies advocated for by the Australian Cyber Security Centre. They’re designed to improve the baseline of an organisation’s cybersecurity posture.
CIS: CIS controls are a set of cybersecurity controls designed to strengthen cyber posture by simplifying the approach to achieving essential cyber hygiene.
External or Internal Assessment?
Many companies choose to do their IT assessments internally, which gives them complete control over the process. Another option is to get an external IT assessor in, who’ll have experience in analysing your physical security controls as well as your overall business and financial controls. External assessors will generally also make recommendations based on their results to your company and all its stakeholders.
Whether you go internal or external, remember IT management, particularly when it comes to security, is an ongoing process. An annual assessment is a great way of ensuring you’re on the right track with your IT ecosystem and information systems, bringing security, efficiency, and alignment with your overall company goals. It also means peace of mind, knowing that the controls you have in place are working to protect your data integrity and your digital assets.
If you’re looking for an IT assessor in Brisbane, get in touch with Smile IT. We’re a Brisbane IT company and managed service provider who can help answer all your IT questions.
When he’s not writing tech articles or turning IT startups into established and consistent managed service providers, Peter Drummond can be found kitesurfing on the Gold Coast or hanging out with his family!