Reliable Cybersecurity Risk Assessments Will Reduce Vulnerabilities

A cybersecurity risk assessment helps an organization expose and prioritize issues that could damage your brand and cripple your operations. The risk assessment process starts with a series of interviews conducted by a Brockton Point Solutions representative and key members of your organization to analyze your policies, procedures, and controls. We will tailor the assessment to your organization’s size, industry, business operations, and other special considerations. You will work through scenarios to forecast the consequences of vulnerabilities that are common in businesses like yours.

Risk is complex and detailed; it can be measured by examining the associated factors: threats and vulnerabilities. A Risk Assessment combines a unique understanding of your business operations with a broader understanding of today’s security landscape to identify your most significant threats, vulnerabilities, and risks.

How should companies conduct cybersecurity risk assessments? 

Step 1: Review Assets. Anything that is valuable is compiled for review, such as your critical business processes, current systems, your sensitive data and technology etc.

Step 2:Assess Business Impact: Determine the operational and financial impact of your critical business operations and data being taken down or made unavailable due to a cyber incident. This ensures the right initiatives are being worked on to reduce your organization’s cyber-risk.

Step 3: Assess Vulnerabilities. Brockton Point looks for any way your assets could be exploited.

Step 4: Asses the Threats. Every vulnerable asset is matched with its potential threat.  For instance, a flaw in your website’s code is your vulnerability, and the threat is someone who will exploit that.

Step 5: Forecast Probability. How likely is it that this threat could happen? Assess how many times it could happen and project the impact of the exploitation.

Step 6: Outline a Resolution Program. At Brockton Point it is not only about identifying your vulnerabilities, but we will also support you in creating a plan and taking the necessary steps to reduce your exposure to threats.

Benefits of Conducting a Cybersecurity Risk Assessment

#1: Identify Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities

Risk is the potential loss when a threat exploits a vulnerability. You can think of vulnerabilities as opportunities for negative outcomes. For example, a weak password policy invites the risk of unauthorized network access and sensitive data exposure.  Your organization should implement a longer character requirement or block commonly used passwords to mitigate the risk associated with this vulnerability.

#2: Get Security Documentation

After Brockton Point conducts your cybersecurity risk assessment, we create a report to document your current security posture and any relevant risks. We will meet with you to securely deliver the report and answer any questions you have.

We highly recommend conducting annual cybersecurity risk assessments to track your progress year over year as you close gaps and strengthen your cyber risk strategy.

#3: A Trusted Partner

The risk assessment process forces you to think about every aspect of your business operations and question: What would you do if something bad happened? As a trusted partner we have the unique perspective to catch gaps that may be overlooked internally.  You may come to realize that some of your documented procedures are outdated or lacking detail. We can identify those gaps in your environment and will help you understand that environment more fully.

#4: Meet Compliance Regulations

Depending on your industry and the types of data you store, your organization could be subject to compliance requirements.  At Brockton Point we are well-versed in various compliance standards, and a risk assessment will clearly identify where your organization meets compliance and where you do not.

#5: Prioritized List of Risks

The risk assessment process will provide you with the insight and tools to create an informed risk-mitigation plan. Your final report will include a detailed list of risks that are most likely to affect your business and recommendations for mitigating those risks so that you can take action immediately.

#6: Your Ability to Address a Security Threat

Does your organization obtain the skills and infrastructure to resolve the risks identified?  At Brockton Point we can validate or support you by taking the necessary steps to reduce your exposure and maintain business operations.