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Cybersecurity Services

  • Information Security &
    Internal Audits

    Our Information Security Internal Audit service is meticulously designed to ensure compliance with industry standards and empower you to make informed strategic decisions.

Cybersecurity and Internal Audits

Internal audit plays a vital role in supporting firms in the continuous fight against cyber threats by offering an external and unbiased evaluation of controls that are in place or are required, as well as by assisting the board and audit committee in comprehending and addressing the wide range of risks associated with the digital age.


An internal audit, also called first party audit, is an audit “conducted by, or on behalf of, the organization itself”. This basically means that the internal audit is performed by your own employees, or you can hire someone from outside of your company to perform the audit on behalf of your company.


A Cybersecurity audit looks at the processes, policies, and controls an organization has in place to determine whether they are comprehensive and identify any gaps. Cybersecurity audits are typically performed against specific framework or regulatory requirements, such as ISO27001 or GDPR, but can also be performed in line with its own internal policies.

Why performing Internal Audits?

The main purpose of the internal audit is to help improve your management system in your company – this improvement is possible because the auditor is in a perfect position to see what’s going wrong, and by having this deeper insight, he or she can help resolve these problems. In addition, internal audit is a key source of information for the top management team while improving employee’s awareness on management system issues.

Internal vs External Auditor

The decision to engage a third-party auditor like Cyber-Management's certified Auditor, or to manage the auditing process internally will be contingent upon the complexity of your organization and the strength of your security personnel.

Internal auditor

If your business is straightforward and you possess adequately skilled IT or risk management personnel, opting for an employee to conduct the internal audit could be the most suitable decision for your organization.

Pros
  • Typically more cost-effective.
  • Greater oversight of the procedure.
  • Can be customized to fit your organization.
Cons
  • Employee time costs.
  • May not meet the requirements for regulatory or industry standards.  
  • There may be a potential learning curve, contingent upon the expertise of your security personnel.
  • Internal biases may influence decision-making processes.
  • There may be a lack of experience in defining the suitable scope.
External auditor

A more complex enterprise manipulating sensitive information may necessitate the involvement of highly skilled auditors. In cases where your organization is subject to particular regulations, it may be mandatory for your auditors to possess specific certifications.
Consequently, numerous companies opt to outsource their auditing processes to conserve time and ensure accuracy. Engaging an independent auditor guarantees that the evaluation is conducted impartially, thereby mitigating potential conflicts of interest.

Pros
  • Professionals with extensive experience and formal education.
  • Impartial.
  • Potentially more effective.
  • Capable of ensuring adherence to regulatory and industry standards.
Cons
  • Usually more expensive.
  • It may be more challenging to collaborate with external auditors.

Our Internal Audit Methodology

Phase 1: Defining the Internal Audit Procedure
  • What is the goal of internal audits, and what your company should achieve when performing those audits.
  • Who is responsible of the internal audit planning.
  • What are the mandatory steps and mandatory documents when performing the audit.
  • How to report the internal audit results, and who is in charge of the follow-up based on these results.
Phase 2: Write the Audit Program
  • When will the individual audits be completed? For a smaller business, one audit covering the entirety of your management system would suffice; if your firm is mid-sized and has ten major departments, you may wish to schedule ten separated audits.
  • Define precisely what each audit will cover (which locations, departments, processes, etc).
  • What are the audit criteria – Information Security related internal audits are typically performed against specific framework or regulatory requirements, such as ISO 27001 or GDPR, but the following could also be included: your own documentation, some third-party requirements for your management system and legal requirements.
  • Which methods will be used for auditing – typically these will be reviewing the documentation, interviewing the employees and observation of the activities.

It is crucial to prioritize the aspects of your business that carry the most risk and are more crucial to Information Security when developing this audit program. For instance, you may concentrate on the IT administrator as the one in charge of putting into practice and maintaining the information security-related technical controls.

Phase 3: Document review & Checklists creation

In this step, we review all your policies and procedures related to Information Security. In the case of the standard related internal audit, we check whether they are compliant with the requirements of the standard.

Based on the insight of reading all the documentation, we create multiple checklists which will help the auditor remember what needs to be checked during the main audit.

Phase 4: Write the Audit Plans

Writing an audit plan (or several if necessary) will help coordinate the actual hands-on audit with the different people within your company. This document will be shared with interested employees to help them planning their time for the auditor.

  • List of all elements of the management system you are going to audit in this individual audit. The audit can be organized department by department, process by process, or clause by clause of a standard related audit like ISO 27001.
  • Timing for each of these items.
  • Contact persons for each of these items.
  • Audit objective, criteria and method from the Audit program.
Phase 5: The Main Audit
Executing the Main Audit by following the Audit Plan(s) as well as the Checklists.
  • Interviews of employees.
  • Observation of the activities or facilities.
  • Reviewing Records and finding evidences.
  • Writing the Internal Audit Report.

Get Started Today!

Don’t wait until a cyber threat impacts your business. Make informed strategic decisions with our Cybersecurity Internal Audits.

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Benefits of Internal Audits

Continuous Compliance

Internal Audits are part of regulatory requirements, stay ahead of industry regulations and avoid costly penalties.

Informed Decision-Making

Gain insights into your cybersecurity landscape, empowering you to make informed strategic decisions.

Increased Customer Trust

Show your clients and partners that you take their data security seriously, fostering trust and loyalty.

FAQs

What is the difference between an IT audit and a Cybersecurity Audit?
An IT audit assesses the performance and efficiency of IT controls, encompassing both operational and financial aspects. Its scope is comprehensive, covering all IT systems and processes, which include hardware, software, networks, data management, and IT governance.

Conversely, a cybersecurity audit concentrates on the security and compliance dimensions of IT. It evaluates the effectiveness of cybersecurity protocols in detecting vulnerabilities, with particular attention to network security, data protection, threat management, incident response, and user access controls.
How long does a Cybersecurity Audit take?
The length of a cybersecurity audit can differ significantly based on the organization's size and complexity, the audit's scope, and the degree of preparation involved. Typically, a cybersecurity audit may span from a few weeks to several months. For small to medium-sized enterprises, the process may take approximately 3 to 5 weeks, whereas larger organizations might need 1 to 3 months or even longer.
How often should Cybersecurity Audits be done?
Cybersecurity audits ought to be performed at a minimum of once a year to maintain ongoing compliance and security. Nevertheless, the frequency of these audits may need to be increased based on the organization's risk profile, applicable industry regulations, and any alterations in the IT landscape. Organizations operating in high-risk sectors or those experiencing substantial changes, such as mergers, acquisitions, or significant updates to their IT infrastructure, may find it advantageous to conduct audits on a quarterly or semi-annual basis.