detailed infosec audit checklist

1. Governance and Compliance

Review information security policies and procedures.

Verify compliance with relevant laws and regulations (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA).

Assess the effectiveness of the information security governance framework.

Evaluate the roles and responsibilities of the information security team.

2. Risk Management

Identify and categorize information assets.

Conduct a risk assessment to identify vulnerabilities and threats.

Evaluate the risk management strategy and its effectiveness.

Review risk mitigation measures and their implementation status.

3. Physical Security

Inspect physical access controls (e.g., locks, badges).

Assess surveillance and monitoring systems (e.g., CCTV).

Evaluate the security of data centers and server rooms.

Review visitor access policies and procedures.

4. Network Security

Conduct a review of firewall configurations and rules.

Evaluate intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDPS).

Assess network segmentation and isolation practices.

Review remote access policies and technologies (e.g., VPNs).

5. Endpoint Security

Verify the deployment of antivirus and anti-malware solutions.

Review patch management processes for operating systems and applications.

Assess the security configurations of devices (e.g., laptops, smartphones).

Evaluate mobile device management (MDM) policies and practices.

6. Data Protection

Review data classification and labeling practices.

Assess data encryption methods for storage and transmission.

Evaluate data backup and recovery procedures.

Review data retention and disposal policies.

7. Incident Response

Evaluate the incident response plan and its accessibility.

Review incident response team roles and responsibilities.

Assess incident reporting and escalation procedures.

Analyze previous security incidents and responses for lessons learned.

8. Security Awareness and Training

Review security awareness training programs for employees.

Assess training effectiveness through testing and feedback.

Evaluate onboarding processes for new employees regarding security practices.

Review ongoing security communication strategies (e.g., newsletters, alerts).

9. Third-Party Risk Management

Assess the security posture of third-party vendors and partners.

Review contracts for security and compliance requirements.

Evaluate the monitoring and management of third-party risks.

Conduct due diligence for new vendors and ongoing assessments.

10. Continuous Improvement

Review the audit findings and recommendations from previous audits.

Assess the implementation status of corrective actions.

Evaluate the overall effectiveness of the information security program.

Plan for future audits and continuous monitoring practices.