Find out everything you need to know about IT diagnostics – an essential step in ensuring your organisation’s cybersecurity!
What is IT diagnostics?
IT diagnostics aims to identify vulnerabilities, inefficiencies and potential risks that could compromise the security or performance of digital infrastructures. This process includes a detailed analysis of the networks, operating systems, applications and security policies that are in place.
Diagnostics can include penetration tests, vulnerability analyses, and assessments of compliance with security standards such as GDPR or ISO/IEC 27001. In addition to identifying weak points, an IT diagnostic process can detect early warning signs of security flaws, such as obsolete software, incorrect configurations, or risky user practices.
Following this assessment, a detailed report is usually provided, including recommendations for strengthening security, optimising performance and ensuring regulatory compliance. It is essential to carry out this diagnosis in order to anticipate cyberthreats, improve the resilience of IT systems and ensure that sensitive company data is protected against cyber attacks.
Why is this important?
An IT diagnosis enables us to take stock of the existing situation and draw up remediation proposals and an action plan. This process will reveal potential flaws, misconfigurations and unsecured access attempts that could put sensitive data at risk.
As well as identifying vulnerabilities, IT diagnostics helps assess the compliance of systems with current security standards, such as GDPR or ISO standards. It allows organisations to ensure that they comply with legal requirements, while protecting the data of their customers and partners. In addition, this diagnostic helps prioritise various security actions to be undertaken on the basis of identified risks, thus optimising resource allocation.
In brief, regular IT diagnostics are crucial for preventing cyberattacks, maintaining customer confidence and ensuring the continuity of an organisation’s operations in an increasingly complex and threatening digital environment.
Is this compulsory?
In the absence of a strict obligation, certain sectors, particularly those handling sensitive data (such as healthcare, finance or public administration), may be subject to regulations imposing regular audits or cybersecurity assessments. In addition, international standards such as the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) in Europe, indirectly require regular diagnostics to ensure that data protection measures are adequate. An IT diagnostic identifies potential vulnerabilities, assesses the risks involved and implements corrective measures to guard against cyberattacks. It also helps companies comply with current standards, anticipate threats and strengthen the resilience of their systems. In an environment where cyberthreats are becoming increasingly sophisticated, regular diagnostics are becoming a strategic necessity, even if they are not strictly mandatory, to avoid potentially disastrous consequences.
6 steps to a cybersecurity diagnosis
1. Preparation
This phase consists of defining the objectives, the scope to be analysed and the resources required. It is important to identify stakeholders, understand the company’s technological environment and set evaluation criteria.
2. Information gathering
In this stage, data is collected on the systems, networks, applications and security policies in place. This may include configuration audits, staff interviews and review of security documents.
3. Risk analysis
This involves assessing identified vulnerabilities and measuring the associated risks. This analysis takes into account potential threats, possible impacts in the event of compromise and the probability of occurrence. The aim is to prioritise risks according to their criticality.
4. Evaluation of existing controls
This stage involves checking the effectiveness of security measures currently in place. As part of this, the following take place: assessing firewalls, antivirus systems, access management policies, as well as staff awareness of good security practices.
5. Report and recommendations
The diagnosis concludes with a report detailing the weaknesses discovered and the recommendations for remedying them. This report must be clear, prioritised, and accompanied by a realistic action plan to strengthen cybersecurity.
6. Monitoring and continuous improvement
Finally, a follow-up plan is put in place to ensure that recommendations are implemented and to adapt the security strategy as threats evolve. Diagnosis is not a one-off exercise, but must be integrated into a continuous improvement process to guarantee optimum security.
How much does a cybersecurity diagnosis cost?
Factors to be taken into consideration in the cost of a cybersecurity diagnostic are the size of the organisation, the complexity of its IT infrastructure, the scope of the diagnostic and the chosen service provider. For small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the cost of a basic diagnosis can start at around a few thousand euros. This type of diagnosis generally includes a vulnerability assessment, a risk analysis and recommendations for improving security.
For larger companies or organisations with more complex systems, the cost can rapidly increase to the point of reaching tens of thousands of euros or more. In these cases, diagnostics can include in-depth penetration testing, regulatory compliance audits, as well as a detailed assessment of security policies and procedures.
It’s also important to note that some providers may charge for diagnostics on a time-spent or flat-rate basis, while others may offer annual subscriptions that include regular diagnostics and ongoing monitoring.
In addition to the direct costs of diagnosis, indirect costs need to be taken into account, such as the internal resources that are mobilised to collaborate with the auditors and to implement the recommendations. However, investing in a cybersecurity diagnostic is crucial to identifying vulnerabilities and avoiding potentially costly incidents, such as data breaches or cyberattacks. Ultimately, the cost of a diagnostic process should be seen as investing in corporate protection, with significant returns in the form of reduced risk and enhanced resilience to digital threats.
Can we do it in-house?
Carrying out cybersecurity diagnostics in-house presents both challenges and limitations. Companies making this choice must have a dedicated IT security team with sufficient expertise to identify vulnerabilities, assess risks and recommend corrective measures. This team needs to be trained in the latest threats and best practices, which requires constant investment in training and security tools.
However, objectivity can be a problem: in-house teams may lack hindsight, or fail to detect certain flaws in systems they deal with on a daily basis. What’s more, without access to specialised resources or information on emerging threats, it can be difficult to identify certain risks.
One of the advantages of an internal diagnostic is the in-depth knowledge of the company’s specific systems and processes, enabling a contextualised assessment. However, for more comprehensive and impartial audits, it may be beneficial to complement this diagnosis with external expertise, such as an independent third-party audit. Ultimately, an in-house cybersecurity diagnostic can be effective, but it needs to be well structured and at times, needs to be supplemented by external resources to ensure complete coverage.
What should you do after a cybersecurity diagnostic?
The first step is to prioritise the vulnerabilities identified during diagnosis. This involves assessing the severity of the risks and targeting the most critical vulnerabilities first – in other words, those that could have a major impact on sensitive data and critical systems.
Next, it’s crucial to implement the recommended corrective measures. This may include updating obsolete software, applying patches, improving security configurations, or implementing stricter access management policies. Raising staff awareness and training is also a key step in this process since human error often sits at the root of cybersecurity incidents.
Once these measures have been implemented, it is important to continue monitoring the environment for any anomalies or new threats. This can be achieved by setting up automated monitoring systems and regular audits. Finally, an incident response plan must be prepared and tested regularly to ensure that the organisation is ready to react quickly and effectively in the event of a new threat. These actions will help reduce risk and ensure ongoing protection against cyberattacks.
How do you choose a service provider to carry out a cybersecurity diagnostic?
Choosing the right service provider to carry out a cybersecurity diagnostic is a crucial step in ensuring the security of your data.
Industry experience
Risks and threats can vary considerably from one industry to another. A service provider who understands the particularities of your field will be better equipped to identify specific vulnerabilities.
Methodology
The methodology used by the service provider is also a criterion of choice. Make sure they use state-of-the-art techniques to identify security flaws, such as penetration tests or vulnerability scans. A good provider should offer a detailed report with clear, actionable recommendations for improving your security.
Reputation and references
Take a good look at customer reviews and ask for references to assess their reliability. By combining these criteria, you can choose a provider capable of delivering an accurate cybersecurity diagnosis tailored to your specific needs, enabling you to better protect your digital assets.
What can Qim info offer you for your cybersecurity diagnosis?
Qim info can help you ensure the security of your IT systems, because while digital technology represents new opportunities, it also introduces new risks. Our mission is to identify and protect you against these threats, so that you can focus on your core business. Ensuring optimal cybersecurity involves 4 key stages: diagnosis, protection, detection and incident response. For each of these steps, our experts are there to support you and implement them within your organisation.
