What are the key cybersecurity controls that IT auditors must know for IT operations management?

IT auditors need to check the organizational IT governance framework and contextualize it with the cybersecurity controls, including training and user awareness, identity and access controls, incident response management, business continuity and disaster recovery procedures, patch management procedures, and effective and sound IT infrastructure setup.

First of all IT/Infosec auditor must define the EAL established by IT governance of your organization. How much can you trust? EAL will define cyber security controls and its priorities. Only after defining of EAL IT/Infosec auditors will have clear understanding of the audit purpose.

IT auditors should tailor their approach to the specific risks and requirements of the organization they are auditing, and these controls should be considered within the broader context of a comprehensive cybersecurity program

Access control in IT security regulates resource access. In an IT audit, key details include: User Access Management: Verify role-based access and proper onboarding/offboarding. Authentication: Evaluate password policies and multi-factor authentication. Authorization Controls: Confirm least privilege principles are in place. Audit Trails: Review logging mechanisms for tracking user activities. Physical Access Controls: Assess measures to prevent unauthorized physical access. Network Access Controls: Check firewalls and intrusion detection systems. Third-Party Access: Evaluate management of vendor/contractor access.

As an experienced IT auditor, I believe that access management as part of an IT audits should cover five key areas. These include testing new joiners, movers, and leavers, conducting user access reviews, logging of login attempts to applications, and monitoring access. This approach provides a comprehensive end-to-end view of the access management process.

Uno de los aspectos más importantes de las copias y respaldos, son los respaldos fríos o Cold Backoops, donde se asegura que ese respaldo fuera de línea no puede ser atacado o infectado con algún tipo de ramsonware o ataque. Y es un muy buen punto de recuperación de información en caso de que la organización así lo necesite

Backup controls in IT security are crucial for data protection. In an IT audit, focus on: Backup Policies: Review and ensure comprehensive backup policies are in place. Frequency and Retention: Assess backup frequency and retention periods. Data Integrity: Verify mechanisms to ensure the integrity of backed-up data. Offsite Storage: Confirm offsite storage to mitigate against physical threats. Encryption: Assess whether backups are encrypted to safeguard sensitive data. Restoration Processes: Ensure efficient and tested restoration processes. Monitoring and Logging: Check for monitoring of backup processes and logs.

Here, the most important aspect for an IT auditor perspective is to check the type of backups being performed whether it is incremental, full, and their frequency of backup. Need to ensure backup completions check are performed. Additionally, IT auditors should verify whether restorations are tested to ensure backups are available when needed. Finally, auditors should confirm the storage location of these backups, which should typically be separate from the current production site.

Patch management is vital for IT security. In an audit, focus on: Policy Framework: Review policies governing patch management procedures. Vulnerability Assessment: Assess the effectiveness of vulnerability assessments. Patch Deployment: Evaluate the timeliness and efficiency of patch deployment. Testing Procedures: Verify testing processes to ensure patches don't disrupt systems. Prioritization: Confirm a systematic approach to patch prioritization based on risk. Automation Tools: Assess the use of automation tools for patch deployment. Monitoring and Reporting: Check for monitoring systems and reporting mechanisms. Rollback Plans: Confirm the existence of rollback plans in case of issues post-patch.

An IT auditor should take a sample of patches implemented in production and request the associated approvals, testing documentation, and ensure compliance with established policies and standards. Additionally, the auditor should verify the frequency of patch management for applications, operating systems, and databases within the scope and when was these layers lastly patched. Sometimes you may have some observations to raise here. 🙂

La gestión e implementación de parches es una operación crucial para una organización ya que con ellos garantiza la protección de vulnerabilidades de ciberseguridad, además de que se asegura de que la eficiencia de los sistemas están al día para las demandas de la operación de cada organización

In incident response management, key controls for IT audit include: Incident Response Plan: Assess the existence and adequacy of a comprehensive incident response plan. Roles and Responsibilities: Verify clear assignment of roles and responsibilities during incidents. Communication Protocols: Review communication plans for efficient incident reporting and escalation. Incident Classification: Ensure incidents are classified appropriately based on severity. Containment Measures: Assess the effectiveness of measures to contain and prevent further damage.

Risk management controls are vital for identifying and mitigating potential threats. In an IT audit, focus on: Risk Assessment: Review the process of identifying and assessing potential risks. Risk Mitigation Strategies: Evaluate the effectiveness of strategies to mitigate identified risks. Risk Monitoring: Confirm ongoing monitoring of risks and adjustments to mitigation measures. Incident Response Plans: Assess the preparedness for handling and recovering from security incidents.

IT auditors ensure effective compliance management through a systematic evaluation of an organization's adherence to regulatory requirements and internal policies. They establish controls by meticulously reviewing and validating documentation, assessing the implementation of security policies, and confirming that processes align with relevant industry regulations. Additionally, IT auditors may conduct periodic assessments, monitor ongoing compliance activities, and provide recommendations to strengthen controls and mitigate risks.

Since the question is very succinct about key controls, the answer is very simple: access control, change control, and business continuity. There are others, but these are KEY.

Por mi experiencia, los 6 controles mencionados son altamente relevantes en una Auditoría de Ciberseguridad, sin embargo la prioridad o profundidad es la que marca la diferencia en un ambiente donde generalmente tienes pocos recursos (tiempo y personas)Entonces, mi orden de prioridad sería: 1.Gestión de riesgos -Identifica lo importante (1) 2.Gestión de Parches -Enfocado en lo importante (1) 3.Control de Acceso -Enfocado en lo importante (1) 4.Cumplimiento -Identificar lo aplicable y de mayor riesgo 5.Respaldos y recuperación -Enfocado en lo importante (1) 5.Respuesta a incidentes -Basado en la metodología que se elija