How can you cost-effectively audit or assess your network security?

1 Identify your assets and risks

The first step in auditing or assessing your network security is to identify what assets and risks you have. Assets are anything that has value for your business, such as data, devices, software, services, or reputation. Risks are anything that can compromise, damage, or destroy your assets, such as hackers, malware, human errors, or natural disasters. You should make a list of your assets and risks, and prioritize them based on their importance and likelihood. This will help you focus your audit or assessment on the most critical areas of your network security.

2 Choose your tools and methods

The next step is to choose the tools and methods you will use to audit or assess your network security. There are many free or low-cost tools and methods available online, such as vulnerability scanners, penetration testing tools, and compliance checklists. Vulnerability scanners, like Nmap, OpenVAS, and Nessus, scan your network for known vulnerabilities. Penetration testing tools, like Metasploit, Kali Linux, or Burp Suite, simulate an attack to test how well your network can resist or respond to real threats. Compliance checklists are guidelines or standards that help you evaluate your network security against best practices or regulations, such as CIS Controls, NIST Framework, or PCI DSS. You should select the tools and methods that suit your network size, complexity, and goals. Additionally, it's important to consider the legal and ethical implications of using these tools and methods and obtain the necessary permissions and consents prior to conducting your audit or assessment.

3 Perform your audit or assessment

The third step is to perform your audit or assessment, using the tools and methods that you have chosen. You should follow a systematic and documented process, and record the results and findings of your audit or assessment. You should also be careful not to disrupt or damage your network operations or performance, or expose your network to unnecessary risks. You should perform your audit or assessment at regular intervals, or whenever there are significant changes to your network environment or requirements.

4 Analyze and report your results

The fourth step is to analyze and report your results, using the data and information that you have collected from your audit or assessment. You should identify and quantify the strengths and weaknesses of your network security, and the potential impact and likelihood of the risks that you have detected. You should also compare your results with your expectations and objectives, and with the industry standards or benchmarks. You should prepare a clear and concise report that summarizes your results, and highlights the main findings and recommendations.

5 Implement and monitor your improvements

The final step is to implement and monitor your improvements, based on the results and recommendations of your audit or assessment. You should prioritize and plan the actions that you need to take to improve your network security, such as patching vulnerabilities, updating software, changing passwords, or configuring settings. You should also monitor the effectiveness and impact of your improvements, and measure the changes in your network security level. You should also review and update your audit or assessment tools and methods, and repeat the process as needed.