Businesses looking to refine their IT infrastructure and fortify cybersecurity should be familiar with network and security assessments. These evaluations examine your IT environment and help you identify vulnerabilities to prepare for cyber threats more proactively.
Fortifying your digital resilience promotes healthy brand reputation. One of the best ways to strengthen client relationships, empower employees, and attract new partners comes with a network and security assessment.
Understanding Network And Security Assessments
While network assessments focus primarily on performance and security assessments examine cyber health, both are vital processes tailored for specific industries, needs, and business sizes.
Network assessments are primarily concerned with optimizing performance, ensuring compliance, and identifying any/all vulnerabilities within the environment. On the other side of the coin, security assessments focus on boosting data protections, guardrails against cyber threats, and upholding industry-specific standards.
While there is overlap between the two assessment types, there are also aspects unique to each. These are important when considering which evaluation to address first.
Elements Of Network Assessments
There are several reasons to consider a network assessment. Anytime you are looking to expand services or capabilities, you need to evaluate the age and status of your network.
Before a major transition, such as cloud migration, businesses should run a network assessment to have a clear understanding of their systems and processes.
The process includes:
- LAN review
- WAN review
- Status of hardware (age, capabilities)
- Documented review & recommendations
Network assessments evaluate your network for a comprehensive understanding of your infrastructure. This includes a review of network hardware and documentation to support data and recommendations.
Elements Of Security Assessments
Your cybersecurity is only as strong as your weakest link. Once a cybercriminal finds a crack, they’re in and will do serious damage.
Security assessments are designed for proactive measures. Guardrails shouldn’t always go up in response to an attack, but rather in preparation. A crucial player in risk management, security assessments help businesses identify vulnerabilities.
The process includes:
- Security & policy review
- Administrative policy review
- Operations & Security evaluation
- Documented review & recommendations
With a strong cyber defense strategy, organizations can further bolster their capabilities, as well as solidify their reputation.
The Benefits Of Network And Security Assessments
Network and security assessments are two sides of the same coin. Each evaluation is designed with the end goal of improved efficiency, reputation, and competitiveness.
Addressing industry-specific challenges, network and security assessments are valuable tools to incorporate into your IT strategy.
Network assessments are most directly beneficial for:
- New IT initiatives or equipment refresh
- Incoming IT Management to analyze, understand their new environment
- Identifying what may be outdated or end-of-life
Security Assessments work best for:
- Cyber Insurance renewal
- New/added IT Management
- Ensuring current cyber services are working
These assessments are beneficial for Finance, Healthcare, Retail, and the IT industry, because they are tailored to address unique challenges for each sector.
A Combined Approach To IT Assessments
Network and security assessments each offer unique facets depending on your company’s status. If the threat of cybercriminals leaves you even the slightest bit concerned, security assessments are crucial for a deep examination of your organization’s cyber strength.
Is your company looking to grow in capacity; intake-wise or expanding workforce? Before scaling up, network assessments identify performance and current capabilities, ensuring smooth expansion.
For many, a combined infrastructure assessment ensures a secure and efficient IT environment. Worldnet agents help you understand which assessments to prioritize by understanding your unique business needs, immediate goals, and future plans.
