IT SECURITY CHECKLIST

1. Governance and Policy

Define IT security policies and procedures

Establish roles and responsibilities for IT security

Conduct regular security awareness training for employees

Review and update policies regularly

2. Risk Assessment

Identify assets and their value

Assess potential threats and vulnerabilities

Analyze the impact of risks on the organization

Prioritize risks and develop a mitigation plan

3. Access Control

Implement least privilege access principles

Use strong password policies and multi-factor authentication

Regularly review user access rights

Disable accounts for terminated employees immediately

4. Network Security

Deploy firewalls and intrusion detection/prevention systems

Segment networks to limit access to sensitive information

Regularly update and patch network devices

Monitor network traffic for anomalies

5. Data Protection

Encrypt sensitive data at rest and in transit

Implement data loss prevention (DLP) solutions

Regularly back up data and test restore processes

Ensure secure disposal of sensitive information

6. Incident Response

Develop and maintain an incident response plan

Establish an incident response team with defined roles

Conduct regular incident response drills

Review and update the incident response plan after incidents

7. Compliance and Audits

Identify applicable regulatory requirements (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA)

Conduct regular security audits and assessments

Maintain documentation of compliance efforts

Address findings from audits in a timely manner

8. Physical Security

Secure physical access to IT infrastructure (e.g., servers, data centers)

Implement surveillance and monitoring systems

Control access to sensitive areas with locks and badges

Train staff on physical security protocols

9. Monitoring and Logging

Enable logging on all critical systems

Monitor logs for suspicious activities

Retain logs for a defined period

Analyze logs regularly for compliance and security incidents

10. Continuous Improvement

Stay informed about emerging threats and vulnerabilities

Regularly review and update security practices

Solicit feedback from staff on security measures

Conduct regular security training and awareness sessions