Protecting your critical data and information from malicious parties is a key responsibility for business owners. Companies need to budget for cybersecurity and have a rigorous framework in place to assess and address their vulnerabilities.
Here’s how a cybersecurity self-assessment for businesses works.
What is a Cyber Security Self-Assessment?
A self-assessment covers your organizational infrastructure, combing through your digital presence for vulnerable areas and outdated practices. It recommends improvement measures, including:
- Improved staff training
- Cybersecurity strategies
- Best response practices to an attack
- Better website support
Organizations with better technological maturity and greater awareness of threats can manage risks more effectively. You can protect your systems from external interference and ensure that appropriate guidance and safeguards are in place across your business by using a self-assessment tool based on the NIST (National Institute of Standards & Technology) framework.
How Do You Conduct a Cyber Security Assessment?
The critical measure of cybersecurity and data management is identifying risk. Self-assessments identify vulnerability not just in your business’s technology but in staff implementation and your company’s internal skills and competencies.
Staff knowledge of the NIST framework, control of information resources, and how carelessness can let malicious parties access essential parts of your organization is mandatory. A well-implemented cybersecurity program focuses on creating a secure, informed working environment as well as updating elements like your financial software and technical cybersecurity services.
The NIST framework offers good guidance, but the data management process must be tailored to your organization. Working with external risk management services to create a self-assessment tool can help you:
- Identify where you need to allocate resources
- Update your systems (e.g. your company site, programs your staff use, finance-related software)
- Build an effective answer to each vulnerability.
How Do You Write a Cyber Security Risk Assessment?
Your cybersecurity self-assessment should cover the following areas and put controls in place for each category. Remember that cybersecurity is never “complete” even with a comprehensive risk management strategy – it requires constant renewal and analysis once implemented.
1. List Your Assets
Determine which areas of your business are vulnerable. Who can access this data and how is it protected? Organizations need to understand that any data that could be monetized or held hostage if stolen is vulnerable.
It’s not just the obvious financial information – if a hacker takes over your website controls, they could seriously damage your company’s appearance and reputation. Your assets include everything you don’t want to lose control over.
2. Consider the Best Cybersecurity Practices
Put alerts in place when important information is accessed. Search through permissions and find out who can view critical data – are all associated user permissions still relevant? Sometimes someone was given access and they don’t need it anymore.
Discovering slack security areas is an integral part of cybersecurity self-assessments. Equally important is ensuring that your software is up-to-date and was developed by a leading company. The best cybersecurity software 5 years ago won’t protect your business today – assess whether it’s time for a change of service.
3. Map and Prioritize Vulnerabilities
You need to manage those areas of your business that seem weak. Software-related solutions might seem costly but are straightforward to implement – these can be addressed quickly. The staff training process needs a more intensive approach.
Poorly informed employees are one of the biggest risks to your organization’s cyber security infrastructure. Management needs to work with staff to discover weak areas and provide an answer regarding staff confusion or lack of information.
4. Devise a Watertight Risk Management Strategy
Your cybersecurity self-assessment leads up to putting controls in place across your business. This means:
- Developing an effective response plan if you’re hit by a cyber attack
- Teaching staff to identify areas of risk
- Using the most recent security software
- Routinely backing up essential information
- Removing outdated permissions for sensitive data
5. Review and Repeat
You should analyze your program frequently to ensure it’s still protecting your business. Managers should regularly update their knowledge of NIST guidelines and cybersecurity best practices so that the defense program can be adjusted for new types of threats.
How Do I Start a Security Assessment?
Working with an external cybersecurity strategist can help identify issues in your business that might’ve been difficult to see from the inside. An expert service can also create a bespoke risk assessment for your company that goes beyond general guidelines and prioritizes your most vulnerable areas.
Final Thoughts
Cybersecurity comes down to 3 essential areas:
- Staff knowledge
- Security software
- Having a plan
Conducting a routine self-assessment will address weaknesses in each area and protect your organization against malicious parties. It’s the best way to keep your business safe.
