In November 2021, the payroll provider of South Australia was hacked, exposing the personal information of more than 90,000 public servants. While such cyber-attacks are becoming commonplace, cyber-security awareness is also increasing.
One study found that 77% observed better cyber-threat awareness among their leaders, while 70% saw improved willingness to invest in cyber protection strategies. One strategy a business or agency can invest in is information technology reviews, which can provide protection in advance.
How can an IT review help your organisation? Here’s some information that can help – read on or jump ahead to:
- What is an IT review?
- Why you MUST do an IT review
- What your IT audit checklist should include
- Be proactive: Take the first step to an IT review
What is an IT review?
An IT review is an overall audit of a company’s information technology systems, processes, and security measures. It aims to assess the effectiveness and efficiency of an organisation’s IT operations and to identify areas for improvement.
The audit may cover all aspects of the company’s entire technology infrastructure, including hardware, software, network security, data management, and IT governance.
What’s involved in IT audits?
The audit process typically includes a review of policies and procedures, risk assessments, and testing of system controls. The findings and recommendations from the audit are used to improve the company’s overall IT management and to minimize risks associated with the use of technology.
When should you do a technology review?
The frequency of IT audits depends on an organisation‘s size and complexity, nature of business operations, and current needs. Some conduct IT reviews annually, while others do them every two to three years.
A business may also conduct an information technology audit to respond to a specific need or event, such as a security breach, significant change to their IT infrastructure, or the introduction of new technology.
Why you MUST do an IT review
An IT review is a crucial step to making sure that your technology is aligned with your business goals. The over-arching reason for an audit is to ensure that your IT systems are secure, reliable, and efficient. Here are three specific reasons to conduct an IT review:
Reason #1: You want to ensure all ducks are in a row.
Your organisation must have a tech inspection to make sure everything is running smoothly and securely. The audit will also help you prepare for the unexpected by identifying any security holes or vulnerabilities in the system.
You can only check that all holes are plugged via a thorough check-up of all hardware, software, networks, and other IT components used by your organisation. It is best to use an IT audit checklist to ensure that nothing is overlooked.
If vulnerabilities are found, then you can fix the issues so you’re sure that all bases are covered going forward.
Reason #2: You want to toe the line of compliance.
An IT review can help you check if your organisation is complying with IT-related laws and regulations. These govern the use of information technology in businesses and government agencies:
- Privacy Act 1988
- Spam Act 2003
- Electronic Transactions Act 1999
- Computer Fraud and Misuse Act 1986
- Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act 1979
- The Essential Eight of the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD)
Your business may also have internal controls and governance related to information management. A tech review could ensure that they are still effective and aligned with the company’s overall business objectives.
Reason #3: You want to stay on top of the game.
Reviewing your IT can help identify areas where technology can be further optimised. An audit may recommend upgrades to hardware or software or suggest ways to streamline processes and workflows to increase efficiency.
An IT audit can also be a chance to look at how technology is being optimised within your industry and by competitors. You can then map out how to keep up or get ahead of the game by utilising new technologies, tools, and apps.
Moreso, in case gaps are identified in your security policies and measures, necessary steps may be implemented to improve the security of your data and systems. This can allow your business to prevent data breaches, cyber-attacks, and other security incidents.
What your IT audit checklist should include
An effective review should help ensure that all aspects of your IT are aligned with your business goals. An ideal IT audit should include:
- IT Infrastructure
- IT Processes and Procedures
- IT Strategy and Planning
- Vendor Management
- IT Budgets and Expenses
- Compliance
- Data Security
- Hardware
- Back-ups
- Business Continuity
- Cloud and mobile
Too much for you to handle? The good news is there’s an easier way to approach an IT review.
Be proactive: Take the first step to an IT review
Performing your own IT audit can be overwhelming and time-consuming. The easy way to do it is by partnering with a true-blue IT expert that can manage your audit, such as Future IT Services.
To know more about how we can do your IT review, contact us now at 07 4058 5700 or email [email protected]. Future IT Services can then help you with an IT audit that can empower, connect, and protect your business.
Get ahead and stay ahead of the game by doing an IT audit today.