In this post, we will learn about IT security auditing based on ISO 27001 and NIST cybersecurity frameworks! 

​Assess IT security controls 

To reduce or mitigate security risks, you should evaluate your IT security controls according to the following best practices:

1. Assess asset criticality.

Assessing the criticality of your assets can help you determine the appropriate level of security measures needed to protect them. You should identify the assets that need to be protected and classify them according to their value and importance to the organization. 

2. Assess security awareness  

You need to understand the potential risks and threats your organization faces, including hacking, data loss, identity theft, and system compromise from internal employees or external sources. By identifying these risks and threats, you can assess whether countermeasures are in place to protect your organization. 

3. Assess security controls 

Assessing security controls includes evaluating policies and procedures, technical controls, and administrative controls. Technical controls can include firewalls, intrusion detection systems, access controls, and antivirus software, while administrative controls can include security awareness training, background checks, and incident response procedures. 

4. Vulnerability Testing

Vulnerability testing is critical to testing whether a company's controls are working. You can perform vulnerability assessments, penetration tests, or engineering tests to identify vulnerabilities and evaluate whether controls are working as intended.

5. Test the implementation of monitoring processes  

Regular security assessments and audits are critical to monitor the effectiveness of your controls and ensure they are being updated as needed to address new threats or issues. 

6. Test the implementation of incident response processes 

You should establish an incident response plan and test it regularly to assess whether it effectively handles security incidents. It should include procedures for identifying, containing, and resolving security incidents and notifying the appropriate parties.  

7. Mitigate security risks 

To mitigate security risks, the organization should develop a risk management plan, continuously update security controls, implement an incident response plan, and test that it provides security awareness training. 

Conclusion  

By following the best practices outlined in this post, you can ensure that your organization's IT infrastructure is secure and compliant with all applicable laws, regulations, and standards. Regular security assessments and audits, as well as ongoing monitoring and control updates, are key to keeping your organization's information systems secure.