The Top 5 Reasons Why an Internal Audit is Important

by Hannah Grace Holladay / December 20, 2023

People often ask: is an internal audit necessary? What if we're a smaller organization, should we be spending our already limited resources on an internal audit program? If your clients depend on you to provide efficient, compliant, and secure services, then the answer is a resounding "yes". Internal auditing is an important function of any information security and compliance program and is a valuable tool for effectively and appropriately managing…

Getting Executives on Board with Information Security Needs

by Hannah Grace Holladay / December 19, 2023

One of the most challenging parts of an audit can be getting the support you need to do it right. For any information security audit, assessment, or testing that our firm performs, it’s incredibly important that C-level executives and stakeholders understand and support the organization’s information security needs. Without their support, how can any policies or procedures be implemented? Who will approve funding? Who will assist in building an information…

Notes from the Field: CIS Control 13 – Network Monitoring and Defense

by Greg Halpin / December 15, 2023

“How would you know if your network or systems have been compromised?” That’s the question I often ask clients when discussing their networking monitoring and defense tools. An IT manager of a small company I worked with recently was honest and said he wasn’t sure. He was so busy putting out different fires every day, he didn’t know where to begin. The IT team consisted of four people, and he…

The Purpose of Policies and Procedures

by Shannon Lane / December 7, 2023

It finally happened.  One of your employees clicked on a phishy link and your company is experiencing a data breach.  They knew something wasn't right once they clicked it, but they didn't know where to turn.  They couldn't remember who to notify or what their next steps should be.  So they waited and hoped no one would notice.  Maybe it wouldn't be that big of a deal.  That only made…

Turning Audit Into Enablement

by Hannah Grace Holladay / May 7, 2024

Audits are hard, but when done well, they are always beneficial.    We understand if you don’t believe us.  We know that audits are overwhelming and complicated.  They can feel like daunting tasks that will only create fines or more work for your organization.  But that doesn’t have to be the case.  There are many benefits of an audit, and even more when you have a partner to help you.   If…