Information Security Assessment
We should have qualified the question.
Why do ALL organizations need EFFECTIVE information security assessments?
This question just begs for a cliche. The one that comes to mind is, "You are only as strong as your weakest link." In this case, you are only as secure as your greatest vulnerability. Do you know where your vulnerabilities are in your organization?
A vast majority of information security breaches (87% in 2008) could have been prevented by simple, low-cost controls and weren't. - What makes this statistic so troubling is the fact that most of these victimized organizations had no idea that they were so easily exposed to compromise.
There are many cases to be made for objective, third-party information security assessments. Here are just a few:
- Lack of dedicated skilled staff
Securing an organization's information assets requires specialized skill, education and experience. A good information security management professional may command as much as $120,000 in annual salary; not to mention bonuses, benefits, insurance, and other typical human resource costs. These costs of hiring dedicated and skilled information security personnel is sometimes cost prohibitive for organizations. FRSecure only employs highly-skilled, proven information security leaders who have managed and assessed dozens of organizational information security programs.
- Objectivity
Just the facts. As any good business person knows, basing decisions upon factual data is always preferred. Internal information security assessments are important to a well-managed information security program, but equally as important are independent third-party assessments. Based on our experience as past information security management personnel; we know that internal assessment results are almost always skewed by political motivations and other internal company dynamics. In order for information security to be as cost-effective as possible it must be maintained as objectively as possible.
- Credibility
Has your information security program ever been audited or "assessed" by your business partners, vendors, or industry regulators? Most organizations have, and those who have not will soon. Organizations which have been through the process know that business partners, vendors and regulators rarely take your word when it comes to information security. It isn't that these people don't believe you (they may not), but it's usually do to the fact that too many people have too many definitions of adequate information security.
- Preparation
An objective, third-party information security assessment helps organizations prepare for a multitude of events such as audits, incidents, budget planning, etc.
- Augmentation
Third-party information security assessments are a critical element of all information security programs, even those which could be classified as "mature". Let's face it; a business is in business to make money, not to secure information.
If you are convinced that you need an information security assessment, use the contact form below or read Why Choose FRSecure?
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