Security Assessments
Security is the business of every person in an organization. Every individual who uses a network should understand the role they play in keeping the network secure. In these days of terror alerts, client confidentiality, Internet scams, viruses and hackers it is especially important to verify that security policies are "evolving" with the needs of the organization. Internal security assessments can also be useful in determining the security of a network compared to what industry standards dictate.
During one security assessment, a Montgomery County manufacturer was presented with 200 pages of recommended security changes. This audit was performed after the discovery of a security breach where proprietary company information may have been compromised. Security standards provided by the National Security Agency and the SANS institute were quickly implemented to remedy the situation.
A 2002 study conducted by Griggs Anderson/Gartner Group found that security investments resulted in an average annual savings of $426,000. The costs of connectivity, telecommunications infrastructure, and maintenance were reduced in nearly 90% of companies. The Griggs Anderson/Gartner Group study also found an average employee productivity improvement of more than three hours per week.
High Gear Consulting, Inc. conducts security assessments by:
- Analyzing an organization's written security policy
- Comparing the policy to the current security status of the network
- Recommending changes to the written policy and to the network based on established security protocols and best practices
- Documenting changes and presenting them in a clear format
