Easy Steps to Evaluate and Enhance Security Readiness

July 12, 2023
Blogs, Cybersecurity, IT Advising

Organizations are becoming more vulnerable to cyber threats due to the increasing reliance on computers, networks, programs, social media, and online data. Cyber breaches and data theft have massive negative financial and operational impacts arising from a lack of a well-formulated security posture.

In 2021, 70% of IT and cybersecurity professionals said that security hygiene and security posture management had become increasingly challenging over the past two years. In 2023, more than one-third (36%) of professionals said securing their networks is even more difficult today than two years ago.

What is security readiness?

Security readiness measures your organization’s overall security strategies, policies, procedures, and technologies implemented to protect against and mitigate security risks. It is often referred to as your security posture.

Security covers various services, from managed firewalls and IDPS to DDoS mitigation and SIEM. Leading solutions analyze behavior to detect ever-changing threats, communicate with multiple systems to provide a comprehensive view into the environment, and include: 24/7/365 Security Operations Center (SOC) support for event notification and remediation.

This blog addresses the steps needed to evaluate and enhance security readiness. Don’t wait until you have respond to security concerns. The time to evaluate your security readiness is now.

Essential Steps to Security Readiness

1. Take a hard look at your existing security posture or state of readiness.

What security products, services, and solutions do you have in place?
Do you have a dedicated security specialist in place, or do you leverage outside MSSP/ SOC providers?
Do you have a proactive Incident Response Retainer to access expert help during a cyber threat?
How long ago was your last penetration or security assessment?
Do you have any primary issues or concerns with your existing security system?

2. Define your organization’s desired state of security.

What goals or outcomes do you wish to achieve with a security readiness plan?
Your desired security state represents the optimal condition where your systems, data, and assets are protected from potential threats and vulnerabilities.

3. Determine the required security measures needed to achieve your security goals.

These could include compliance assessments, gap analysis, intrusion detection monitoring, response plans, and internal security workshops. Meeting compliance standards is often crucial for companies, and your team needs to understand and adhere to these requirements for complete compliance. You can identify areas that need improvement by conducting assessments and gap analysis. Implementing intrusion detection monitoring helps detect and respond to potential threats, while response plans outline the steps to handle incidents effectively. Internal security workshops educate employees about best practices and their role in maintaining a secure environment. These services collectively contribute to strengthening your security posture and ensuring regulatory compliance.

4. Assess your current IT environment.

What is your current IT stack comprised of? How many servers (physical and virtual), offices, users, and data centers do you have in place?
What comprises your existing cloud infrastructure, and which cloud services are in place?
What is the current design of your existing network, including VPNs, SD-WAN, MPLS, and other internet connections?

5. Seek out a Technology Advisor who can help you reach your goals faster.

The Security as Service marketplace is more confusing and crowded than ever. Trying to assess your organization’s needs, identify gaps and vulnerabilities, and find suitable security solutions and vendors on your own, can be a time-consuming and complicated job.

Alternatively, you can simplify the process by working with a security advisor who can minimize risk and potential points of failure by providing expert guidance and expertise. A security advisor helps assess your security needs, pinpoint weaknesses, and identify appropriate security solutions and vendors at competitive prices. As a result, you can streamline the security readiness planning process and improve your security posture more efficiently.

Packet Fusion Security Readiness Assessment

To what extent is your network and data secure and prepared? That is the question that deserves your immediate attention.

Packet Fusion, a trusted cloud and security advisor, is here to help. We collaborate with IT and business leaders to evaluate your current security posture. Our proprietary methodology enables us to assess, identify, source, and implement a tailored security solution that perfectly aligns with your specific requirements. With Packet Fusion, you can proactively address your security needs and ensure comprehensive protection for your network and data.

How the Packet Fusion Security Assessment works:

A Packet Fusion security consultant walks you through the Security Assessment.
Using our proprietary Cyber Defense Matrix, we identify gaps and vulnerabilities within your network and assess the level of exposure to potential cyber threats.
You receive a detailed review of your security landscape, highlighting vulnerabilities and gaps to address. This report will also enable key stakeholders to stay informed about your organization’s cybersecurity status, which can facilitate better decision-making regarding integrating security measures into daily operations.