subject: Security Audits [print this page] What is meant by security audits? What is meant by security audits?
There are different definitions for security audits. Security audit is a systematic evaluation of the security and safety of a companys information systems by measuring how well it conforms to a set of established security policies and other criteria.
Security audit is the scrutiny of an organization or businesss physical, financial and computer access control procedures and information systems to determine its level of vulnerability to attacks from unauthorized personnel or criminals.
A security audit is a specified process designed to assess the security risks facing a business and the controls or countermeasures adopted by the business to mitigate those risks. It is typically a human process, managed by a team of auditors with technical and business knowledge of the companys information technology assets and business processes. As part of any audit, these teams will interview key personnel, conduct vulnerability assessments, catalog existing security policies and controls, and examine IT assets covered by the scope of the audit. In most cases, they rely heavily on technology tools to perform the audit.
There are a number of service providers who provide services of security audits to the businesses. Corporate Business service providers have their specialties in security audits. The investigators need full information about your business and business related activities before the security audit. The security audit process involves some steps.
Steps involved in the process of Security Audits:
Define the physical scope of the audit: The audit team should define the security perimeter within which the audit will take place. The physical scope of the audit allows the auditors to focus on assets, processes, and policies in a manageable fashion.
Define the process scope of the audit: This step of security audit process describe how to effectively scope the security processes or areas that should be included in an audit. It is critical that any business, regardless of size, put limits on the security processes or areas that will be the focus of the audit.
Conduct historical due diligence: This step include an assessment of past audits. Furthermore, auditors should compile a complete inventory of the assets located within the physical scope of the audit and a complete list of specified security controls relevant to those assets.
Develop the audit plan: This step of security audit process includes a specific description of the scope of the audit, critical dates/milestones, participants, and dependencies.
Perform security risk assessment: Once the audit team has an effective plan in place, they can begin the core of the audit the risk assessment. The risk assessment also has to follow different steps.
Document the results of the audit: The sixth step of security audits process includes an executive summary, audit determinations, required updates/corrections, and supporting data in the form of exhibits.
Specify and implement new/updated controls: This is the last step of security audit process. The benefit of a security audit is that it yields specific recommendations for improving business security. These recommendations should take the form of controls that the business can adopt, the deadline for adoption, and the party responsible for adoption. Do not forget to specify deadlines and specific ownership responsibilities.
