Everything You Need To Know About IT Risk Assessment
A business should frequently assess the risks in its systems and IT infrastructure.

Everything You Need To Know About IT Risk Assessment

Table of Contents -

  • What Is An IT Risk Assessment?
  • What Are The Different Types Of IT Risks?
  • How Is An IT Risk Assessment Done?
  • Benefits Of IT Risk Assessment
  • Taking The Next Step
  • FAQs

What Is An IT Risk Assessment?

A thorough examination of your company's entire data security plan is an IT risk assessment. These evaluations are made to find any issues that might be dangerous to your systems, data, and digital infrastructure.

Key security controls in applications are found, evaluated, and put into place by a security/IT risk assessment. Additionally, it emphasizes avoiding application security flaws and vulnerabilities.

In order to prioritize and communicate the details of the assessment, including any risks to their information technology (IT) infrastructure, businesses can use a risk assessment framework (RAF). The RAF assists an organization in identifying potential risks, any company assets put at risk by these risks, as well as potential consequences should these risks materialize.

The Chief Risk Officer (CRO) or a Chief Risk Manager is typically in charge of conducting the risk assessment process in large businesses.

Information security management programs for all organizations must include the execution of IT risk assessments. Everyone is aware that a company's sensitive and important data, information assets, and facilities are subject to some level of risk.

But how do you estimate this cybersecurity risk and get ready for it? An IT security risk assessment's goal is this. It identifies the security risks that your company's critical assets face so that you can decide how much money and effort should be invested in securing them.

What Are The Different Types Of IT Risks?

Many businesses believe in the misconception that IT risk assessments are solely concerned with stopping cybercrime. While ensuring business continuity is a primary goal of IT risk assessments, they are actually created to address many distinct issues. The following are the three primary categories of IT risks, let's take a look at them:

Risk Of A Cyber Attack

The biggest risk to your company is from cyber attacks. Millions of consumer records are illegally obtained each year by hackers, who also successfully carry out hundreds of ransomware attacks. They also cripple the business operations of their targets.

Your business could lose thousands of dollars due to a single successful cyberattack. Not to mention, your brand's reputation would be permanently damaged. You can prevent these incidents by actively taking precautions in time, thanks to IT risk assessments.

Your IT auditing team will find areas where operational security can be improved and data can be better protected during an assessment. The IT audit team will assist you in putting more effective employee education protocols into place as well. Employee education is an essential part of cybersecurity and we have spoken about this in almost every blog post about cybersecurity.

(Related - How To Protect Your Business From Cyber Extortion)

Risk Of Non-Compliance

Businesses must take a variety of precautions to make sure their IT systems are compliant. Maintaining best practices for security and firewalls, adhering to industry-specific standards like the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) or the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and taking into consideration local and regional government regulations are some of these.

Any area of non-compliance in an IT system can make it vulnerable to a cyber-attack. In recent years, both state and federal governments have made an effort to combat cybercrime while also giving businesses new obligations. The healthcare, financial, and energy sectors are some of the most strictly regulated industries.

You must exercise due diligence when it comes to cybersecurity if your company routinely handles sensitive consumer data. If not, you might be subject to severe civil liability.

Risk Of Loss Of Data

Your assessment team will address both digital vulnerabilities and on-site security issues during a cybersecurity audit. For instance, they might advise switching to a cloud-based solution if you continue to store your backup data on local servers.

Additionally, your IT risk assessors will look over your document control and physical security policies. Employees should not be allowed to leave their desktops unlocked when they are not being used, per your policies. Additionally, the policies should require employees to lock up any physical documents before leaving their designated workspace.

You can reduce the likelihood of a data breach by filling in any gaps in your data management policy with the aid of an IT risk assessment.

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