What is Included in a Security Assessment? Cyber Security Threat Assessment Tools and Techniques for SMBs

A cyber security assessment is a process that involves assessing what risks exist, what vulnerabilities are present, and what countermeasures are in place to protect against those risks. This process aims to produce an action plan for addressing the risks and vulnerabilities identified during the assessment. This article will discuss what is included in a security assessment, what tools should be used during the process’s IT security risk assessment phase, and what areas need to be covered in your IT Security Risk Assessment Checklist.

What is Included in a Security Assessment?

A cyber security risk assessment allows security assessors to dig deep to give you a comprehensive security assessment and a security assessment report. The security control assessment process includes going over any security requirements, current security posture, security documentation,  network diagrams, past security incidents, the effectiveness of security controls, a vulnerability assessment to develop a risk management plan, and risk acceptance. This could be applications, networks, IT assets, network vulnerabilities, or anything your organization would like to protect from common threats like cyber-attacks.

The key here is that the assessed items must have a value attached to them and contribute to achieving your business objectives. For example, if you want to ensure that all data stored on your servers have been encrypted, it must be part of your overall strategy. Suppose you do not encrypt sensitive information such as credit card numbers, social security numbers, etc. In that case, there is no point in having encryption software installed because it won’t help protect these types of data. In addition, any application that stores personally identifiable information also needs to be protected using appropriate controls.

 

The following list provides some examples of things that can be considered when conducting a security assessment:

 

• Applications – Applications include web-based email services and enterprise resource planning systems. These applications provide critical company resources, including financials, customer records, employee files, intellectual property, confidential documents, proprietary databases, trade secrets, and other valuable corporate information. They may contain back doors which allow hackers to gain unauthorized access to the system. It is crucial to assess whether existing applications meet current industry standards and best practices.
• Networks – A network consists of computers connected via cables or wireless connections. Network devices connect individual computer nodes within the network. Each device performs specific functions related to routing traffic between different parts of the network. An effective network design ensures that each node communicates only with its intended destination. Nodes communicate through protocols explicitly designed for their purpose. Examples of standard networking technologies include Ethernet, Token Ring, and FDDI.
• IT Assets – Information technology assets consist of hardware, software, firmware, documentation, training materials, licenses, patches, updates, backups, configuration settings, passwords, certificates, policies, procedures, guidelines, reports, audits, incident response plans, disaster recovery plans, and more. These components make up the foundation upon which organizations build their businesses. Without proper protection, these assets become vulnerable targets for malicious attacks.
• Network Vulnerabilities – Networks are comprised of many interconnected pieces of equipment. Some of these pieces of equipment are directly accessible to users, while others require authentication before gaining access. Hackers use various methods to penetrate secure networks. One process, knowledge of vulnerabilities, involves exploiting known weaknesses in an operating system or application program. Another technique exploits flaws in the way communications occur over the Internet. Both methods include compromising one component of the network to obtain control of another. Once inside the network, attackers search for ways to steal information or disrupt operations.
• Security Controls – Security controls are measures taken by individuals, groups, processes, programs, and automated tools to prevent unwanted activities. The goal of any organization’s security policy should be to protect against all types of threats without hindering legitimate business activity. This requires careful consideration of what constitutes acceptable risk versus unacceptable cost. For example, implementing every possible measure might not be feasible because they would add too much overhead to normal day-to-day operations. Instead, focus on implementing those controls that will have the most significant impact at minimal expense.
• Data Loss Prevention – Data loss prevention refers to monitoring data as it flows across a network so that sensitive content can be identified and blocked before reaching endpoints that could cause harm. In addition to preventing damage caused by malware, DLP solutions also help ensure compliance with HIPAA and Sarbanes Oxley regulations.
• Malware Protection – Malicious code is often referred to as “malware.” Common examples of malware include viruses, worms, Trojan horses, spyware, adware, crimeware, phishing kits, rootkits, keyloggers, botnets, ransomware, scareware, spyware, trojans, rogues, bots, backdoors, spamming scripts, denial of service attack tools, and other forms of malicious software.

 

What Cyber Security Threat Assessment Tools and Techniques Should be Used?

A cyber security risk assessment aims to understand what risks exist, make a list of present vulnerabilities, impact analysis, determine what countermeasures you have in place to protect operational systems against those risks, and make a plan of action. The tools required for the assessment will depend on what needs assessment, such as what cyber security threat assessment techniques you should use or what tools are available. Several different approaches may be used depending on your requirements:

 

Cyber Risk Management Framework – A framework developed by NIST that guides how organizations can manage their cybersecurity posture through several steps, including identifying potential threats, developing strategies to mitigate them, measuring progress toward achieving goals and evaluating results. Core RMF documents provide a structured approach to managing cybersecurity risk based on best practices and lessons learned. It consists of four phases:

 

• Phase 1: Identify Risks  – identify the current state of vulnerability; assess existing mitigation efforts; determine if there are new risks that need addressing; develop a plan to address each risk.
• Phase 2: Develop Strategies  – create a plan of action to reduce exposure to risks; prioritize actions; select appropriate technologies; establish metrics to track effectiveness.
• Phase 3: Implement Mitigation Actions  – take action to reduce exposures; monitor outcomes; evaluate success; adjust strategy accordingly.
• Phase 4: Evaluate Results  – review performance indicators; analyze trends; make adjustments; report findings.

 

Risk Analysis Methodology – RAM was initially designed to support decision-making during the development phase of an information system project. However, its methodology has been adapted to assist with the planning and managing of IT systems throughout their lifecycle. RAM uses a three-step process to define and classify risks associated with a particular technology or application. This includes defining the scope and analyzing the impact and likelihood of occurrence. Once these factors are defined, they must be combined into one single number called a “risk score” using a formula provided within the tool.

 

Vulnerability Scanning Tool – A vulnerability scanner extension allows companies to use an integrated vulnerability scanner to scan internal computers for known weaknesses. They also help detect unknown flaws before hackers do. A vulnerability assessment extension may offer remote access capabilities, so employees don’t have to leave their desktops.

 

Penetration Testing Software – Penetration testing involves simulating attacks from outside sources to test defenses. These software programs simulate real-world conditions like viruses, worms, phishing attacks, spyware, etc., and attempt to break into protected areas. The goal is to determine whether those devices have been appropriately configured and protected.

 

Network Security Assessment Tools – NSATs are commonly used to discover and document all aspects of a company’s network infrastructure. In addition to finding problems, NSATs often include recommendations for improving overall security.

 

Network Inventory – You can collect helpful information about your organization’s computer infrastructure, including IP addresses, operating system versions, installed programs, user accounts, passwords, email messages, web browsing history, etc. Network inventory allows you to identify potential risks before they become problems.

 

Security Policy Development – Once you know how vulnerable your assets are, you must develop appropriate countermeasures to protect them. It is essential to understand what kind of data is stored on your company’s network and who may access it. Then, determine what actions must be taken to prevent unauthorized users from accessing confidential information.

 

Data Loss Prevention – Data loss solutions help organizations monitor employee activity across mobile devices, desktops, laptops, tablets, and smartphones. They also provide visibility into file-sharing activities and block inappropriate content.

 

Cybersecurity Training & Awareness Programs – Employees play a crucial role in protecting against cybersecurity breaches. Therefore, training employees on best practices related to cybersecurity awareness and understanding of basic concepts is critical. Human threats and errors are the most common way security issues arise and cyber criminals gain access to business networks.

What is the IT Security Assessment Scope?

The scope of what you’re assessing should include what items need protecting (e.g., assets, data). What could attackers do if they got past your security defenses? How often can cyber threats or someone with malicious intent try to attack what you’re protecting? What the potential business impacts are of a successful attack, and what defenses exist? These questions will help determine what items need to be assessed to be compared against your risk criteria and level of risk for prioritizing them.

 

What are the Cyber Security Risk Assessment Criteria?

The risk criteria will depend on what needs assessment, such as what cyber security threat assessment techniques you should use or what available tools. Commonly, a positive result from an assessment would be identifying what needs to be protected, what controls are already in place, and the next steps. A negative result could mean that no threats were identified, but this does not necessarily mean that nothing bad happened. It may indicate that your organization did not find anything worth protecting against. The most common way to interpret results is to look at them relative to other organizations that have performed similar assessments. If many others found something significant, then perhaps yours didn’t.

What Are Some Of The Risks You Should Be Aware Of During An IT Security Risk Assessment?

There are many different types of threats out there today. These include viruses, worms, Trojans, spyware, phishing attacks, denial-of-service attacks, distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, botnets, ransomware, malware, spam email, spear phishing, social engineering, etc. These can pose a significant risk to your organization’s information systems. It is important to understand how each works to assess their impact on your network correctly. For example, do they require physical access to your system or just remote access? Do they use exploits like buffer overflows, stack overflow, heap corruption, format string bugs, integer/pointer arithmetic errors, etc.? How easy would it be for someone to compromise your system?

How can I Assess My Organization’s Cybersecurity Risks?

There are several ways your security team can assess cybersecurity risks:

1. Conducting a Threat Modeling Exercise
2. Performing a Network Inventory
3. Using a Pen Test
4. Analyzing Log Files
5. Reviewing Public Sources
6. Interviewing Employees
7. Evaluating Your Current Controls
8. Identifying Weaknesses in Existing Systems through security testing
9. Developing New Policies & Procedures

 

Threat modeling exercises involve identifying vulnerabilities within systems and determining which ones pose the most significant risk. This process helps prioritize resources when developing new policies and procedures. For example, if multiple servers are running different applications, each has vulnerabilities. By performing a threat model exercise, we can see which server poses the highest risk because it contains the most sensitive information.

 

Common IT Security Assessment Questions to Ask

The questions you should ask during your IT security risk assessment will depend on what needs assessment, such as what cyber security threat assessment techniques you should use or what tools are available. Commonly a few of the common questions asked include:

1. What Assets Need Protection?
2. Who Needs To Protect Them?
3. How Likely Is An Attack On Those Items?
4. What Impact Would A Successful Attack Have On My Organization, And What Counter Measures Exist  That Mitigate This Risk?
5. Are There Any Other Risks I’m Not Aware Of?
6. Do We Already Have Controls For Each Asset/Item Being Protected?
7. Does Our Current Control System Work As Intended?

 

How Can I Prevent Attacks From Happening?

There are many ways to prevent attacks from happening. These methods range from simple to complex. Below are just a few suggestions:

 

1. Use strong password policies – Use multifactor authentication when possible. Multifactor authentication requires two factors instead of only one factor. This means something physical or something you know, such as a username and password combination. Two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of protection because it makes hacking more difficult.
2. Keep up with patching – Patch management systems allow administrators to apply patches to fix any issues found during scans quickly. If not applied immediately, these fixes could expose your business to attackers.
3. Monitor suspicious behavior – Suspicious behaviors should always be reported to your internal team members. For example, if someone has logged onto your network without authorization multiple times within a short period, report that person to IT so they can be investigated further.
4. Keep track of changes made to sensitive files – File monitoring tools keep tabs on which people make changes to specific documents. When there is evidence of tampering, notify the proper authorities.
5. Implement encryption technology – Encryption technologies like SSL encrypt communications between clients and servers. Using encryption helps secure online transactions and prevents eavesdroppers from intercepting private conversations.

 

Wrapping Up

 

The goal of a successful penetration test isn’t necessarily to find vulnerabilities; instead, it’s to identify potential risks and implement effective mitigation strategies before hackers do. The sooner you start implementing countermeasures, the better off your organization will be. There is no one size fits all security solution for every situation. However, following some general guidelines outlined above will give you a good starting point for developing a comprehensive plan to defend your business’ digital infrastructure. Furthermore, we’re here to assist you in conducting a thorough vulnerability scan! Contact us today!