Cyberattacks are rising. It’s now a part of doing business.
Statistics show that smaller businesses are just as vulnerable as big businesses.
- 46 percent of all security breaches impact businesses with fewer than 1,000 people
- 82 percent of ransomware attacks in 2021 were against businesses with fewer than 1,000 people
- 87 percent of small businesses have customer data that could be compromised in an attack
Your cannabis business is no exception. We cover a wide range of security tactics on our blog you should bring into your practice. Like: What’s Your IT Strategy? or The Role Of Employee Training In Cannabis Business Security.
Security is about protecting business and personal assets, data, and information. It’s something we all should be taking seriously. But what that means varies from person to person, business to business.
You can have top-rated tools and systems in place and still be vulnerable.
Security audits are critical in this regard. They help you assess potential threats and allow you to make changes before you’re impacted by criminal behavior. Yet, if you’ve never performed a security audit, you might not know where to begin.
You need to start with your goals:
- What audit should I perform?
- What am I looking for?
- What is the purpose of this audit?
- How will the results help me to move forward?
There are many different types of security audits, each with its own goals and objectives. As you’re building your cannabis business and starting to grow, three central security audits to include:
Risk assessment
Every business has risks. You can’t build a security system for protection if you aren’t aware of where your risks are. Risk assessments analyze where you currently sit, the measures you have in place, and identify weaknesses to give you a strategy to move forward.
Penetration testing
Hacking is a big part of cybersecurity. Cybercriminals are always looking for easy ways in. Penetration testing allows IT to act as a hacker and find various ways it can bypass your current systems. They can work from many angles, looking for vulnerabilities in a variety of places. Once they find a way in, you’ll better understand the security you need to build for enhanced protection.
Compliance audit
Cannabis is a heavily regulated industry with rules and regulations changing continuously. You must meet local, state, and federal laws, as well as watch ever-changing HIPAA guidelines if you sell medicinal marijuana. Compliance audits work to figure out if the business meets the rules or not. This is something that shouldn’t be ignored, as penalties can be severe.
Security audit best practices
There is no doubt that awareness is vital to making improvements in your security practices. That can mean long checklists, hours of strategic planning, and even more time devoted to testing.
All of that can be difficult for an operational team already stretched for time.
Thankfully, you don’t have to go it alone. Strategy and fractional CIO services allow you to get expert help without taking on additional staff to meet your needs. You gain insight and solutions when you need it most.
For IT Strategy, Security and Compliance, or Help Desk Services, reach out to us at Cannabis Technology Partners 360-450-4759.
