Cybersecurity Auditing and Assurance

Introduction:

 The Cybersecurity Auditing and Assurance training course is designed to provide auditors with the skills and knowledge needed to assess and assure cybersecurity practices within organizations. With the rise of cyber threats and regulatory requirements, cybersecurity auditing has become a critical component of risk management and compliance efforts. This course covers best practices in cybersecurity frameworks, risk assessment, controls testing, and audit reporting. Participants will learn to evaluate cybersecurity policies, identify vulnerabilities, and provide assurance over cybersecurity controls, preparing them to protect organizational assets and data in a rapidly evolving digital environment.

Objectives:

• Understand the principles of cybersecurity auditing and assurance, and their role in risk management.
• Gain knowledge of cybersecurity frameworks and standards, including NIST, ISO 27001, and CIS Controls.
• Develop skills to assess cybersecurity risks, evaluate controls, and conduct cybersecurity audits.
• Use tools and techniques for vulnerability assessment, penetration testing, and incident response evaluation.
• Enhance the ability to communicate cybersecurity audit findings effectively to stakeholders.

Who Should Attend? This course is ideal for:

• Internal auditors, IT auditors, and cybersecurity professionals.
• Compliance officers and risk managers responsible for overseeing cybersecurity practices.
• IT and information security managers looking to strengthen their cybersecurity audit capabilities.
• Business leaders and managers seeking a better understanding of cybersecurity assurance.
• Professionals who want to learn about cybersecurity risk management and controls assessment.

Day 1: Foundations of Cybersecurity Auditing and Assurance

• Introduction to Cybersecurity Auditing: Objectives, scope, and key components of cybersecurity audits.
• Cybersecurity Threat Landscape: Overview of common cyber threats, including malware, phishing, ransomware, and insider threats.
• Cybersecurity Frameworks and Standards: Introduction to NIST, ISO 27001, CIS Controls, and other frameworks.
• Key Cybersecurity Concepts: Confidentiality, integrity, and availability (CIA) triad, and their relevance in audits.
• Workshop: Case study on setting objectives and scope for a cybersecurity audit of a sample organization.

Day 2: Cybersecurity Risk Assessment and Control Evaluation

• Cybersecurity Risk Assessment: Techniques for identifying and assessing cybersecurity risks.
• Evaluating Cybersecurity Policies and Procedures: Assessing cybersecurity governance, policies, and risk management practices.
• Identity and Access Management (IAM): Auditing access controls, including authentication, authorization, and privileged access.
• Network and Infrastructure Security: Evaluating firewall, intrusion detection, and network segmentation controls.
• Practical Exercise: Conducting a cybersecurity risk assessment for a hypothetical organization.

Day 3: Vulnerability Assessment and Testing Techniques

• Vulnerability Assessment Basics: Tools and techniques for identifying system and network vulnerabilities.
• Introduction to Penetration Testing: Fundamentals of penetration testing for simulating cyber attacks.
• Incident Response and Cyber Resilience: Auditing incident response policies, including detection, response, and recovery.
• Data Protection and Privacy Controls: Evaluating data security, encryption, and privacy practices.
• Hands-on Lab: Conducting a basic vulnerability assessment using sample data and identifying potential gaps.

Day 4: Using Cybersecurity Tools and Analytics in Audits

• Cybersecurity Auditing Tools: Overview of tools like Nessus, Wireshark, and Splunk for auditing and monitoring.
• Data Analytics for Cybersecurity Audits: Leveraging data analytics to detect anomalies and assess risk.
• Continuous Monitoring in Cybersecurity: Implementing real-time monitoring and alert systems for proactive auditing.
• Third-Party Risk Assessment: Assessing the cybersecurity posture of vendors and third-party partners.
• Practical Exercise: Using a cybersecurity tool to monitor and analyze simulated network traffic and detect anomalies.

Day 5: Reporting, Communicating Findings, and Cybersecurity Assurance

• Cybersecurity Audit Reporting: Structuring reports to effectively communicate cybersecurity risks and recommendations.
• Presenting Cybersecurity Findings: Techniques for presenting findings to non-technical stakeholders, including management and boards.
• Best Practices for Cybersecurity Assurance: Developing recommendations for improving cybersecurity resilience.
• Emerging Trends in Cybersecurity Auditing: AI, machine learning, and automation in cybersecurity audits.
• Final Workshop: Preparing and presenting a cybersecurity audit report based on a simulated business case.

Conclusion and Assessment: Participants will complete a final assessment to demonstrate their understanding and application of cybersecurity auditing techniques. A feedback session will allow for discussion, reflection on key takeaways, and identification of actionable steps for implementing cybersecurity audits in their organizations.