How do you conduct security architecture and design reviews and audits?

1 Define the scope

The first step is to define the scope of your review or audit, which means determining what aspects of your security architecture and design you want to evaluate, such as the security requirements, principles, patterns, models, controls, components, or documentation. You should also define the criteria, metrics, and tools you will use to measure and assess the security performance, effectiveness, and maturity of your architecture and design. The scope should be aligned with your security goals, risks, and stakeholders.

2 Collect the data

The second step is to collect the data that will inform your review or audit, which means gathering the relevant information and evidence about your security architecture and design from various sources, such as interviews, surveys, documents, diagrams, code, configurations, logs, or tests. You should also verify the accuracy, completeness, and consistency of the data, as well as document the sources, methods, and results of your data collection.

3 Analyze the data

The third step is to analyze the data that you collected, which means applying the criteria, metrics, and tools you defined in the first step to evaluate and compare your security architecture and design against your security objectives, policies, and standards. You should also identify and prioritize the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) of your security architecture and design, as well as the root causes, impacts, and likelihoods of any risks, vulnerabilities, or gaps.

4 Report the findings

The fourth step is to report the findings of your analysis, which means presenting and communicating your results, conclusions, and recommendations to your intended audience, such as your management, clients, or regulators. You should also provide the supporting data, evidence, and rationale for your findings, as well as the scope, limitations, and assumptions of your review or audit. Your report should be clear, concise, and actionable.

5 Implement the recommendations

The fifth step is to implement the recommendations that you made in your report, which means applying the changes, improvements, or enhancements to your security architecture and design that will address the issues, risks, or gaps that you identified. You should also document the actions, outcomes, and benefits of your implementation, as well as monitor and measure the effects and impacts of your recommendations on your security performance, effectiveness, and maturity.

6 Review the results

The sixth and final step is to review the results of your implementation, which means verifying and validating that your recommendations have been successfully executed and have achieved the desired outcomes and benefits. You should also evaluate and compare your security architecture and design after the implementation against your security objectives, policies, and standards, as well as identify and document any lessons learned, best practices, or feedback for future reviews or audits.

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?