Most businesses wouldn’t go a year without reviewing their finances. Your IT security deserves the same level of attention. While budgets are reviewed and operations are tracked, cybersecurity is often left on autopilot until something breaks.
At Deerwood Technologies, we’ve seen that regular IT risk and vulnerability assessments create a clear difference between assuming everything is fine and actually knowing it. If your IT security posture hasn’t been reviewed recently—or ever—now is the time to treat it like the business priority it is.
You Can’t Fix What You Don’t See
IT risks rarely come with flashing lights or sirens. Many security gaps remain invisible until they cause real consequences: a data breach, a failed compliance audit, or unexpected downtime. These issues are more common than many business owners realize.
- According to the 2024 Data Breach Investigations Report by Verizon, 77% of breaches involved known vulnerabilities that had not been patched. These are not advanced, untraceable exploits—they are everyday oversights.
- According to IBM’s 2024 Cost of a Data Breach Report, the average breach now costs $4.88 million, representing the highest annual increase ever recorded.
These figures are not exaggerated edge cases—they reflect the state of IT security at businesses that assumed their basic protections were enough. A risk assessment makes these unknowns known and helps you turn risk into action.
What an IT Security Assessment Actually Covers
At Deerwood Technologies, we approach IT assessments as practical tools to help businesses operate with clarity. These reviews are not theoretical. They result in measurable outcomes that help protect your team, your clients, and your reputation.
Vulnerability Scanning
Outdated software, misconfigured systems, and missed patches are some of the most common and most dangerous threats to any IT environment. We use scanning tools to locate those weaknesses before cybercriminals do.
Dark Web Monitoring
If your credentials are circulating online, your organization may be vulnerable without even realizing it. We scan dark web sources for exposed passwords and sensitive company data that could be used in phishing or ransomware attacks.
Access Control Review
One of the simplest ways to reduce risk is by ensuring users only have access to what they need. We evaluate how permissions are structured and help you eliminate excessive privileges that could be abused or exploited.
Authentication and Password Practices
Passwords alone are no longer enough. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is a baseline standard in 2024. We assess current practices, identify risks, and recommend ways to reinforce authentication and identity management without disrupting productivity.
Backup and Recovery Readiness
Your backup strategy determines how quickly your business can recover after a disruption. We review your existing procedures, identify gaps, and ensure your backup systems are aligned with your business continuity goals.
Employee Security Awareness
No firewall can stop a user from clicking the wrong link. We assess the security awareness level across your team and provide guidance on how to improve it through cybersecurity awareness training. The goal is not perfection—it’s progress.
Why Regular Assessments Matter
Security is not something you do once. Business models change. Threats evolve. Team members come and go. The systems you put in place a year ago may no longer reflect how your business operates today.
Routine risk assessments help you:
- Address known vulnerabilities before they are exploited
- Validate your compliance with industry regulations
- Strengthen your internal processes and documentation
- Allocate budget based on real-world risk
- Reduce exposure to threats caused by routine changes
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has shown that businesses that assess and adjust regularly can reduce their security risk by up to 78%.
An IT assessment should not be viewed as a reactive response to a threat. It should be built into your operational planning.
When and How Often to Assess
There is no universal schedule that fits every business, but there are strong guidelines. Most organizations benefit from an assessment at least once a year. Businesses in highly regulated fields or those with complex networks should consider assessments every six months or after any major system changes.
You should also reassess your security posture following any of the following events:
- Migration to new cloud services or platforms
- Expansion of remote or hybrid work
- Changes in compliance frameworks or industry regulations
- Growth that significantly increases the number of users or endpoints
These reviews do not need to interrupt your operations. They are designed to complement the work your internal team is already doing and give you a clearer view of where to focus next.
What Happens After the Assessment?
A security review is only valuable if it leads to clear action. At Deerwood Technologies, we don’t just hand over a report and move on. We walk through the results with you, help prioritize the findings, and develop a plan that fits your goals and available resources.
That plan might involve adjusting access controls, rolling out MFA, updating backup schedules, or conducting team-wide training. Our approach is always aligned with your business—not just best practices on paper.
Our goal is to help you eliminate guesswork and make decisions rooted in what’s actually happening in your environment.
Know Where You Stand
Uncertainty is the biggest risk in cybersecurity. If you aren’t sure where your vulnerabilities lie, or whether your current tools are enough, now is the time to find out.
A professional IT risk and vulnerability assessment gives you a complete picture of your current security posture. It helps you make informed decisions, protect your reputation, and stay ahead of the risks that can quietly grow in the background.
Deerwood Technologies makes the process simple, approachable, and tailored to your business. Schedule your cybersecurity health check today and take the guesswork out of IT security.
FAQs
What is an IT security risk assessment?
An IT security risk assessment is a process that identifies vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, and security gaps in your technology environment to reduce the risk of breaches.
2. How often should a business conduct a cybersecurity assessment?
Most businesses should assess their IT security at least once a year. Companies in regulated industries or undergoing major changes may need assessments quarterly.
3. What does a cybersecurity assessment include?
A comprehensive assessment typically includes vulnerability scanning, access control reviews, dark web monitoring, authentication checks, and employee awareness analysis.
4. Why is patch management important in a risk assessment?
Unpatched software is one of the most exploited entry points for attackers. A risk assessment identifies outdated systems so they can be updated and secured.
5. How does a security assessment help with compliance?
Regular assessments ensure your systems align with industry regulations, helping avoid fines and audit failures while keeping sensitive data protected.