Information Security Assessment - New Approach is Needed

The United States is seeing a dramatic increase in cyber threats. Most recently Walmart, Orbitz, the City of Atlanta, CDOT, various Healthcare facilities and many more have fallen victim to cyber attacks. To do business in the modern age, businesses must be connected and the speeds at which data is transferred and networks communicate have pushed limits; however, cyber security and data protection have not kept pace. This is mainly due to complexity, lack of talent, and lack of awareness.

At the core of the issue is cyber awareness or lack thereof, and the awareness system is riddled with complacency. Businesses are slow to react and many smaller businesses opt out all together, hoping to fly under the radar. Information Security Assessment methods that once were considered best practice are now critically outdated, slow and complex, not taking into consideration that cyber security is a moving target. 3rd Party Risk Managers have the greatest challenge of ensuring their world of connected vendors/ suppliers are implementing modern, up-to-date cyber security strategies.

Earlier this year, the IRS issued a warning to tax professionals to “step up” their cyber security to prevent sensitive taxpayer information from being stolen. CPA firms, large and small, are being targeted by hackers and identity thieves.

For an accounting firm or any firm for that matter to truly “step up” their cyber security, it requires 3 key components. The first and most important is becoming aware. The mentality that “we are all set” is not the right perspective in today’s world, but unfortunately prevalent. The second element is being able to identify gaps and vulnerabilities quickly. The third is the ability and the desire to fix the problems-developing ongoing management of the issues. Some of the smaller firms will no doubt opt out of cyber security awareness all together. For the companies that decide cyber security is a priority, complexity and broken legacy methods still prevail.

Redbot Technologies has developed a fast-paced, cost-effective multi-tiered information security assessment that works with the client in stages, removing the complexity of discovery and outdated service modules, making awareness less painful.

Redbot Technologies is able to identify a client’s vulnerabilities immediately as well as throughout the life-cycle of the information security assessment. After completing initial discovery and vulnerability stage with Redbot Technologies, the information security assessment moves to a deeper dive, alongside with remediation management and support.

The typical legacy approach assessment can last 3 to 6 months until the tested environment receives any useful data. Redbot Technologies’ assessment is agile, taking into account that the threat landscape is continuously evolving and a client’s network must have real-time vulnerability information or they risk exploits of the system.

Redbot Technologies provides initial external vulnerability and comprehensive compliance checks throughout the assessment life-cycle, so companies can see results instantly, keeping pace with the current threat landscape. Compliance controls measured in the process include GDPR, HIPAA, PCI, NIST, SOX, and COBIT.

Maturity tracking, IT Security Policy Review, Critical Security Controls, Internal Active Vulnerability and Advanced Manual Penetration Testing are delivered in a tiered security assessment. Complete Remediation Support and Vulnerability Management, One-click Disaster Recovery-as-a-Service (DRaaS) and Security Information and Event Management (SIEM-as-a-Service) are delivered to clients looking for improved, next-generation solutions to protect and defend their networks, data, and clients.

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