What are the best ways to protect your network after a security assessment?

1 Implement the recommendations

The first and most obvious step is to implement the recommendations from the assessment report. These may include patching the software, updating the firmware, changing the passwords, configuring the firewall, encrypting the data, and so on. You should prioritize the most critical and urgent issues and fix them as soon as possible. You should also document the changes and track the progress of the implementation.

3 Review the backups

A network security assessment may also reveal the gaps and weaknesses in your backup strategy. You should review your backup plan and ensure that you have adequate and reliable backups of your network data and systems. You should also test your backups regularly and verify that they can be restored in case of a disaster or emergency. You should also consider using off-site or cloud-based backups for extra protection and redundancy.

4 Conduct a penetration test

A penetration test is a simulated attack on your network that aims to exploit the vulnerabilities and test the defenses. It is a more advanced and realistic way to evaluate your network security than a regular assessment. You should conduct a penetration test after you implement the recommendations from the assessment to verify that they are effective and sufficient. You should also hire a professional and ethical hacker to perform the penetration test and provide you with a detailed report and feedback.

5 Update the policies and procedures

A network security assessment may also expose the flaws and gaps in your policies and procedures for network security. You should update your policies and procedures to reflect the current standards and best practices for network security. You should also communicate and distribute them to all the stakeholders and users of your network. You should also review and revise your policies and procedures periodically and whenever there are changes in your network environment or requirements.

6 Repeat the assessment

The final step is to repeat the assessment regularly and consistently. Network security is not a one-time event, but an ongoing process. You should perform the assessment at least once a year or more frequently if there are significant changes or incidents in your network. You should also compare the results of the assessments over time and measure the improvement or deterioration of your network security. You should also use the assessment as an opportunity to learn and improve your network security skills and knowledge.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?