Why should my business do an IT Audit?

An IT audit is a thorough review and assessment of an organization’s information technology (IT) infrastructure, policies, and practices. The primary goal of an IT audit is to identify potential risks and vulnerabilities that could compromise an organization’s IT systems, data, and operations. In this article, we will discuss the reasons why you should consider doing an IT audit for your organization.

Identify and Mitigate Risks

The primary objective of an IT audit is to identify potential risks and vulnerabilities in an organisation’s IT systems, policies, and procedures. An IT audit can help an organization identify security gaps, such as weak passwords, outdated software, and a lack of data encryption, which could expose the organization to cyber threats. By identifying and mitigating these risks, an IT audit can help an organization protect its data and operations from potential security breaches.

Improve Efficiency

An IT audit can help an organization identify areas where it can improve its IT infrastructure and processes. By streamlining processes, automating tasks, and eliminating redundant systems and applications, an organization can improve its operational efficiency and reduce costs. For example, an IT audit might reveal that an organization is using multiple software applications that perform similar functions. By consolidating these applications, an organization can reduce licensing costs, training time, and maintenance expenses.

Ensure compliance

Organizations are subject to various regulations and industry standards, such as HIPAA, PCI-DSS, and GDPR. An IT audit can help an organization ensure that its IT systems, policies, and procedures are compliant with these regulations and standards. By identifying gaps in compliance, an organization can take corrective action to avoid fines, legal issues, and damage to its reputation.

Protect Against Cyber Threats

Cyber threats, such as hacking, phishing, and malware attacks, are a significant concern for organizations of all sizes. An IT audit can help an organization identify potential vulnerabilities in its IT systems and develop strategies to protect against cyber threats. For example, an IT audit might reveal that an organization’s employees lack training on how to identify and respond to phishing attacks. By providing training and implementing policies and procedures to prevent phishing attacks, an organization can reduce the risk of a cyber attack.

Increase Confidence

An IT audit can provide an organization’s management, stakeholders, and customers with confidence that the organization’s IT systems, policies, and procedures are secure and reliable. By demonstrating a commitment to IT security and compliance, an organization can build trust with its stakeholders and customers, which can improve its reputation and business relationships.

What is included in an IT Audit from SouthEast IT?

We have a tailored IT Audit that is specifically designed for small to media businesses that have questions regarding their IT. You get a customised report specific for your business that identifies issues in these 6 ares:

1. Email System, Cloud based (ie Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace) or on-premise (ie Microsoft Exchange)
2. Networking, Including internet connections, switches, routers and wireless
3. Hardware including workstations, servers, network attached storage (NAS) and video conferencing devices
4. Security software
5. Backup and Disaster recovery

SouthEast IT will then provide you with a customised report for your business with a summary of what you have. Any recommendations we suggest to improve these areas and a timeframe that indicates urgency around the timing of these changes so you can budget for any procurement and we can quote you if you require.

The IT Audit has a fixed cost of $499ex and includes an a comprehensive report around the items mentioned above and a meeting to discuss these items.

In conclusion, an IT audit is a valuable tool for organizations to identify potential risks and vulnerabilities in their IT systems, policies, and procedures. An IT audit can help an organization improve efficiency, ensure compliance, protect against cyber threats, and increase confidence among stakeholders and customers. If you are responsible for managing an organization’s IT systems, it is essential to consider conducting an IT audit to ensure that your organization’s IT infrastructure is secure, efficient, and compliant.