Network Audit Case Study

Network Audit Case Study

This study focuses on a comprehensive list of top ten tips of network and business continuity audit. These tips might lead businesses to survive and thrive in their audits without the need to overhaul their entire infrastructure.

Top ten network and business continuity-auditing tips

Segmentation of tasks distinctively: It depends on the principle of drive and conquers. It involves brainstorming about the organization's security tasks in terms of pieces and separating them into logically and physically segments. For instance, security tasks depend on ensuring people are kept on the outside by using both physical and firewall security (Bergmann & Pamplin, 2013). However, other components are safely kept on the inside using antivirus. Security does not solely imply that people should be kept from the outside. Obviously, companies have lost information from within the business. In this case, each piece must be documented and prioritized.

Documenting all things on the network: A business is only able to manage what it knows exists. Companies must collect all relevant information connected to its networking. This includes switches, routers, servers, portable computing devices, and desktops. A company can use software to draw its network automatically because it permits the company to verify everything belonging to the network (Gregory, 2010).

Automation: A company is required to automate tasks so that they can be easily repeated with little effort. Mistakes must be made, particularly when conducting manual procedures, repetitive tasks and inaccurate procedures. Computers tend to be more cost effective and excel at repetitive tasks in the long-term. The selected software must provide ease of presenting auditors with the changes from the previous inspection (Gregory, 2010). Automating things enable the IT department to concentrate on delivering value to the company to improve products, services, and results.

Step-by-step information verification: After segmenting the tasks into distinct pieces, they must be prioritized. The company must identify key elements on each segment verified to confirm initial findings. After the spot-checking, internal audits must be performed on the systems beginning with components with first priority. Verification must be integrated within the system. Checks and balances must be incorporated into the processes.

Maintaining equipment: Companies must protect their employees' information using frequent software updates. Patch levels and operating systems must be checked regularly and must not be left so that employees can update.

Maximizing current resources: Most companies have failed to use existing in-company skills through utilizing unnecessary contractors. By increasing investment in IT employees, companies will be investing more in their infrastructure. This will result in appropriate benefits and capable employees (Gregory, 2010).

Identifying and protecting critical systems, mission, and their components: Companies must anticipate disasters and initiate plans for disasters. Identifying mission and critical components will help incorporate a continuity plan. Whether it is an off-site data loss or a full-scale disaster caused by an employee, protecting business functionality is of immense importance, and not just for the division (Bergmann & Pamplin, 2013).

Communicating the company's continuity plan across the departments: The continuity plan must be shared with leaders of the company ensuring it is widely spread adoption. While this tip appears direct, it is a secondary priority to the continuity plan's logistics.

Incorporating the preparation of audit into MBOs: After the fourth step, it is important to include all these steps into the MBO; Managed by Objectives plan. These steps must be repeated when significant changes are introduced or every new quarter. This process continues (Gregory, 2010).