10 Questions Every Organisation Should Be Asking About Cybersecurity
As a business owner, CTO or other director of your business, it’s important that you are well-informed about your organisation’s cybersecurity posture.
But cybersecurity is such a huge and all-encompassing field that it’s difficult to know where to start. So in this article, we have distilled a list of the top 10 most important questions most business directors need to be asking about their current cybersecurity posture.
If the answer to one or more of these is “not sure” then you need to be reaching out to a member of our team about your IT Security.

10 questions you need to be asking about your Cyber Security
What data and systems are most critical to our business, and how are we protecting them?
- What data and systems are most critical to our business, and how are we protecting them?
It’s important to identify the critical data and systems that your business relies on and to implement appropriate security measures to protect them. This could operational systems such as your Microsoft365 estate, financial information, personal data of customers, intellectual property and sensitive HR files. The protection measures could involve access controls, encryption, endpoint security monitoring and backup and recovery strategies.
2. How regularly are our systems and applications updated with security patches?
Security patches are released regularly by software vendors to address known security vulnerabilities or to apply feature updates. It’s important to keep your systems and applications up to date with the latest security patches to protect against known threats. If you use Alliance Solutions to manage your IT systems, you will already have a regular patching schedule in place.
3. What measures do we have in place to detect and respond to a cyberattack?
It’s important to have measures in place to detect and respond to cyber attacks, which could include network and system monitoring, incident response plans, and employee training. This could also involve utilizing third-party security tools and services to monitor and respond to threats.

4. Have we conducted a vulnerability assessment and penetration testing to identify potential weaknesses?
Vulnerability assessments and penetration testing can identify weaknesses in your IT infrastructure and help you address them before they are exploited by attackers. It’s important to conduct these assessments regularly and to take action on identified vulnerabilities.
5. How do we ensure that our employees are trained and aware of cybersecurity best practices?
Employees can be a weak link in your cybersecurity defenses, so it’s important to provide them with regular training on cybersecurity best practices. This could include training on how to identify phishing scams, the importance of strong passwords, and the risks associated with using personal devices on corporate networks.
6. How do we manage access to sensitive data and systems, and who has access to them?
Access to sensitive data and systems should be restricted to only those who need it to perform their job functions. This could involve implementing access controls such as multi-factor authentication and role-based access control, as well as monitoring and auditing access to sensitive data and systems.
7. What third-party vendors do we work with, and how are they vetted for cybersecurity?

Third-party vendors can introduce cybersecurity risks to your organization, so it’s important to vet them for cybersecurity. This could involve reviewing their security policies and procedures, conducting background checks, and including cybersecurity requirements in contracts.
8. How do we handle incident response and disaster recovery in the event of a cyber attack?
Incident response plans should be in place to ensure that your organization can quickly and effectively respond to a cyber attack. This could involve isolating affected systems, preserving evidence, and notifying law enforcement or regulatory agencies. Disaster recovery plans should also be in place to ensure that critical business functions can continue in the event of a cyber attack or other disaster.
9. What cybersecurity standards and frameworks are we following, and how do we stay up to date with emerging threats?
It’s important to follow industry-recognized cybersecurity standards and frameworks, such as ISO 27001 or NIST Cybersecurity Framework, to ensure that your organization has a strong cybersecurity posture. Staying up to date with emerging threats could involve participating in industry groups and attending relevant training and conferences.
10. How do we balance cybersecurity risks with business objectives and customer needs?
Cybersecurity risks must be balanced with business objectives and customer needs to ensure that the organization can continue to operate effectively. This could involve conducting risk assessments and implementing controls that mitigate risk while still allowing the organization to achieve its goals. It’s important to involve all relevant stakeholders in these decisions, including IT, legal, and business leaders.
Speak to an expert about your IT Security
Protect your business today by speaking to a member of our expert team at Alliance Solutions. We can help you understand the steps you need to take in order to protect your business against cyberattacks in an ever-changing IT environment, please contact us on 0800 292 2100 or email contactus@alliancesolutions.co.uk.