Start the New Year Secure
Annual security audits are essential, not optional. Use year-end planning season to assess your security posture and budget for the protection you need.
What Your Annual Audit Should Uncover
Common security gaps a year-end review often turns up
Orphaned User Accounts
Former employees, contractors, and vendors who still have active access to your systems and data.
Missing Patches and Updates
Critical security patches that were missed by automated systems or skipped due to time constraints.
Outdated Security Policies
Policies that do not reflect current threats, technology changes, or regulatory requirements.
Backup Failures
Backup systems that are misconfigured, incomplete, or have never been tested for actual recovery.
Weak Authentication
Missing multi-factor authentication, weak passwords, or shared credentials across systems.
Third-Party Risks
Vendors and integrations with excessive access or unknown security practices.
11-Point Security Audit Checklist
Key areas every small business should review annually
Asset Inventory
Document all devices, software, and cloud services in use. You cannot protect what you do not know about.
User Access Review
Audit all user accounts. Disable inactive accounts, verify permissions match current roles, remove departed employees.
Patch and Update Status
Verify all systems are current on security patches. Check for any that were missed by automation.
Backup Verification
Test your backup systems by performing actual restores. Verify backup frequency and retention meet your needs.
Security Policy Review
Update security policies to reflect current threats, technology changes, and any regulatory updates.
Employee Training Assessment
Review when employees last received security training. Schedule refreshers for the new year.
Multi-Factor Authentication
Verify MFA is enabled on all critical systems, especially email, financial systems, and admin accounts.
Third-Party Access Audit
Review vendor access, integrations, and API connections. Remove unused access and verify security practices.
Incident Response Plan
Review and update your incident response plan. Verify contact information and procedures are current.
Compliance Check
Verify compliance with relevant regulations (HIPAA, PCI, SOC 2, etc.) and document any gaps to address.
Security Budget Planning
Identify security investments needed for the new year based on audit findings and threat landscape.
Year-End Security Services
Professional assessment and planning support
Comprehensive Security Audit
Full assessment of your security posture covering all 11 checklist areas with detailed findings report.
- Asset and access inventory
- Vulnerability assessment
- Policy and procedure review
- Prioritized recommendations
Compliance Gap Analysis
Review of your compliance status against relevant frameworks and regulations with remediation roadmap.
- HIPAA, PCI, SOC 2 review
- Gap identification
- Remediation priorities
- Documentation templates
Backup and Recovery Test
Comprehensive testing of your backup systems including actual restore tests and gap analysis.
- Backup configuration review
- Test restore execution
- Recovery time assessment
- Improvement recommendations
Phishing Simulation
Test your employees with realistic phishing attempts to identify training needs.
- Customized test campaigns
- Results by department
- Individual training flags
- Benchmark comparison
Security Budget Planning
Help translating audit findings into a prioritized security investment plan for the new year.
- Cost-benefit analysis
- Priority recommendations
- Vendor comparison support
- Implementation roadmap
Policy Update Package
Review and update of your security policies to reflect current best practices and requirements.
- Policy gap analysis
- Template updates
- Employee handbook sections
- Training materials
Why Choose Wisetechy Solutions
Local to the San Fernando Valley
Based in the San Fernando Valley. On-site visits by appointment throughout the Valley and surrounding areas.
Small Business Focus
We work exclusively with small businesses. Enterprise-grade security sized for your business, with a written quote after a free assessment.
Direct Access
You work directly with the founder, a CISSP-certified security professional, not a call center. You always know who is handling your IT and security needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should we conduct a security audit?
At minimum, conduct a comprehensive audit annually. More frequent reviews (quarterly) are recommended for businesses handling sensitive data or in regulated industries. Significant changes like new software, acquisitions, or remote work policies should also trigger a review.
What is the difference between a vulnerability scan and a security audit?
A vulnerability scan is a technical test that identifies known software vulnerabilities. A security audit is broader, covering policies, procedures, access controls, compliance, employee practices, and business processes in addition to technical vulnerabilities.
How long does a security audit take?
For a typical small business with 10-50 employees, expect 2-5 days for a comprehensive audit including interviews, technical assessment, and report preparation. The timeline depends on the complexity of your environment and scope of the audit.
What should we do with the audit findings?
Prioritize findings by risk level and address critical issues immediately. Create a remediation roadmap for medium and lower priority items. Use findings to inform your security budget for the coming year. We can help create an actionable plan from the results.
Do we need a security audit if we use cloud services?
Yes, absolutely. Cloud services shift some security responsibilities to the provider, but you remain responsible for access controls, data protection, configuration, and user behavior. Audits should cover your cloud security practices and verify provider compliance.
How much does a year-end security audit cost?
Pricing depends on your users, devices, systems and requirements, so we do not publish a price list. After a free assessment or short scoping call you get a written quote with no obligation. Call (818) 574-8240 or use our contact form to request one.
Official Security Resources
Trusted government and industry resources for staying informed
NIST Cybersecurity Framework
The official NIST framework for improving critical infrastructure cybersecurity.
FCC Small Business Cyber Planner
Free cybersecurity planning tool designed specifically for small businesses.
CISA Cyber Essentials
Actionable guidance for small business leaders to develop a culture of cyber readiness.
CIS Controls
Prioritized set of actions to protect organizations from known cyber attack vectors.
SBA Cybersecurity Resources
Small Business Administration cybersecurity resources and best practices.
SANS Security Policy Templates
Free security policy templates from the SANS Institute for organizations of all sizes.
Schedule Your Year-End Security Audit
Start the new year knowing exactly where you stand and what you need to address.