What are technical security assessments?

- The purpose of technical security assessments is to determine the security posture of a system, network, or organization. In addition, a successful technical security assessment identifies security gaps and recommends remediation steps to make the organization more secure. Technical security assessments follow a consistent methodology, which I describe in another video in chapter one. Technical security assessments can be used to find security weaknesses and technical vulnerabilities, as well as determine compliance with internal and external security standards or benchmarks, such as PCI or ISO/IEC 27001.

Technical security assessments are not a substitute for security. These assessments should be conducted after security controls are implemented to measure the security status. Security assessments are most effective when conducted periodically, whether that's quarterly, semi-annually, or annually. Conducting security assessments regularly should be part of a well-managed organizational security program. If done properly, security assessments will give you a valuable insight into your organization's current security posture periodically.

In addition, doing these assessments on a regular basis allows you to compare multiple results to identify trends and determine if security gaps are being remediated in a timely manner. In summary, a well-run security assessment is one of the best ways to understand the current state of your organization's security.