You’ve got a great organization with all the right boxes checked:
Good people. CHECK
Focused mission. CHECK
And, of course, you’ve got cybersecurity. CHECK
So, you’re looking at a pretty rosy picture, right?
But wait. Let’s go back to cybersecurity. Before you check that box, do you have evidence? What proof do you have that you’ve got that completely covered?
You already know how quickly and dramatically the cyber landscape is changing. One important element of that is compliance. If your organization is going to survive, it has to have strong security and proof that security exists.
That’s right – you need to be able to prove it! In the event of a cybersecurity incident, whether it’s a ransomware attack, business email compromise, or even a minor data breach, you need to be prepared with solid evidence that your organization has taken the necessary steps to protect itself and its clients.
The Blame Game
When attackers hit, people look for someone to blame. Clients, regulators, and legal teams will ask questions, all of which revolve around accountability. The only way to survive is to make the best case. That’s right. It all comes down to who can present clear evidence that their security measures were in place, functional, and properly managed. If you don’t have this level of documentation and validation, you may find yourself in a vulnerable position facing fines and legal action, even if the incident wasn’t directly your fault.
Why Evidence-Based Compliance Matters
The likelihood of facing a cybersecurity incident has skyrocketed. Business email compromises, ransomware attacks, and data breaches are no longer hypothetical—they’re common. The question isn’t “if” something will happen; it’s “when.” And when something does go wrong, the finger pointing starts.
Judges, especially those who are not technical experts, will not be interested in deep dives into cybersecurity jargon. They’ll be looking for evidence that you’ve done your due diligence. Have you put the right controls in place? Have you regularly tested and validated that these controls work? If you don’t have the answers—and the proof—you’re exposing yourself to serious legal and financial risk.
The Importance of Regular Security Assessments
One of the key aspects of maintaining compliance is performing regular security assessments. These assessments, ideally done quarterly, should not only evaluate whether your security measures are in place but also validate that they are working as intended. A policy is only as good as its execution, and that’s where validation becomes critical.
Here’s what you'll need:
- Documented Security Controls: Every security measure you’ve put in place needs to be documented thoroughly. This includes not only policies but also technical controls like firewalls, encryption, multi-factor authentication, and more. Your documentation should show when these controls were implemented, how they are maintained, and who is responsible for them.
- Validation of Working Systems: It’s not enough to have security measures in place—they need to be tested regularly to ensure they are functioning as intended. Are your firewalls actually blocking malicious traffic? Is your email filtering system catching phishing attempts? These are the kinds of validations that will save you when questions arise about your security.
- Proactive Incident Response Planning: If you haven’t already, develop a comprehensive incident response plan, and make sure you test it regularly. An incident response plan that sits on the shelf gathering dust is useless in a real-world scenario. Regularly practice response drills so that you and your team know exactly what to do when something goes wrong. This will not only help you mitigate the impact of an attack but also provide further evidence that you’ve been proactive in your approach to security.
Protecting Yourself from Legal and Financial Fallout
Let’s say your organization experiences a cybersecurity incident. Maybe a client’s email is compromised, or sensitive data is leaked due to a vulnerability. As the incident unfolds, everyone involved—clients, legal teams, regulators—will be looking for someone to hold accountable. They’ll ask, “Who didn’t do their job?” and “Who should have prevented this?”
That’s when you’ll want to pull out documentation because without it, you could be found liable. It won’t matter if you weren’t directly responsible—the fact that you can’t provide proof of your security efforts could leave you exposed to significant financial and reputational damage.
Risk Management
To protect yourself, you need an IT security provider that goes beyond basic compliance. They should not only implement security controls but also regularly assess and validate that these controls are working. If you’re not getting regular evidence from your provider—at least quarterly—that your security program is both enabled and functioning, you’re taking on unnecessary risk. Even if you’ve followed all the rules, without proof, you’re leaving yourself open to being blamed.
Take Control of Your Security
The takeaway is simple: compliance is no longer just about following the rules. It’s about building a case that proves your organization has done everything in its power to prevent an incident. Documentation, validation, and regular oversight are the key ingredients to a strong compliance program.
If your current IT security provider isn’t offering you regular, detailed assessments of your security controls, it’s time to re-evaluate your partnership. In today’s threat landscape, you can’t afford to be reactive. You need to be proactive—ready to provide evidence that not only have you implemented a strong security program, but that it’s working. Protect your business, protect your clients, and protect yourself by partnering with a provider who understands that compliance is about more than just following the rules—it’s about proving you’ve done everything right.
Contact us to find an auditor today.
