Let’s get something straight: running a vulnerability scan and calling it a “security audit” is like checking your oil and calling it a full vehicle inspection. It’s not the same thing. Not even close.
A real security audit is a structured, methodical review of your entire environment: your people, your devices, your data, and the policies that connect them all. It’s designed to find the gaps before attackers do. Before your cyber insurance carrier does. Before a regulator shows up asking uncomfortable questions.
If you’re running a business in Phoenix: especially in healthcare, legal, or finance: this isn’t optional anymore. It’s table stakes for staying operational and insurable.
Here’s exactly what we look at, why it matters, and what you’ll actually get when we’re done.
Why Your Insurance Carrier Cares More Than You Think
Here’s a fun fact that keeps CFOs up at night: over 40% of cyber insurance claims get denied. The number one reason? Inadequate or missing security controls.
Your carrier isn’t just asking if you have MFA. They’re asking if it’s enforced. They’re asking for proof. They’re asking about your backup testing schedule and your access control policies.
A security audit isn’t just about finding problems. It’s about producing the documentation and evidence that proves you’re actually doing what you say you’re doing. When (not if) something goes wrong, that documentation is the difference between a paid claim and a denial letter.
For businesses seeking HIPAA IT compliance in Phoenix or cybersecurity support in Arizona, this is non-negotiable.
The 6 Domains We Actually Check
We don’t just run a scan and hand you a PDF full of jargon. We review six critical domains that cover the full spectrum of your security posture:
| Domain | What We Check (In Plain English) |
|---|---|
| MFA Enforcement | Where MFA is actually on, where it’s missing, and how recovery options are protected |
| Identity & Access Management | How accounts are created and removed, who has admin access, whether shared accounts exist |
| Role-Based Access Control | Whether users can only see and do what their job actually requires |
| Work Computer Enforcement | Device inventory, disk encryption, patching status, antivirus/EDR coverage |
| Cyber Insurance Readiness | The specific controls your carrier looks for, plus evidence for questionnaires and audits |
| Compliance & Governance | Policies, audit logs, backups, disaster recovery, and industry-specific requirements (HIPAA, PCI, etc.) |
Let’s break these down.
MFA Enforcement
Multi-factor authentication is the single most effective control against account compromise. But “we have MFA” isn’t the same as “MFA is enforced everywhere it matters.”
We check:
- Is MFA enabled on all admin accounts?
- Is MFA required for remote access and critical SaaS apps?
- Are recovery options (backup codes, security questions) properly protected?
- Are there any accounts bypassing MFA requirements?
If an attacker can compromise a single admin account without MFA, everything else you’ve built becomes irrelevant.
Identity & Access Management (IAM)
How do people get access to your systems? More importantly, how do they lose access when they leave?
We look at:
- User provisioning and de-provisioning processes
- How quickly terminated employees are removed from systems
- Whether admin access is limited to people who actually need it
- Shared account usage (spoiler: it’s almost always a problem)
For IT support for law firms in Phoenix, this is critical. Client confidentiality depends on knowing exactly who can access what: and proving it.
Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)
The principle of least privilege isn’t just a security buzzword. It’s the difference between a contained incident and a catastrophic breach.
We verify:
- Whether users only have access to what their role requires
- If sensitive data is properly segmented
- Whether there’s been any access creep (people accumulating permissions over time)
Work Computer & Device Enforcement
Every unmanaged device is a potential entry point. Every unencrypted laptop is a breach waiting to happen.
We audit:
- Complete device inventory (do you actually know what’s connected to your network?)
- Disk encryption status on all laptops and workstations
- Antivirus/EDR deployment and health
- Patch status (are critical updates installed within reasonable timeframes?)
Cyber Insurance Readiness
This is where the rubber meets the road. We map your current controls against what your carrier actually requires: and we identify gaps before renewal season.
We review:
- Your ability to answer insurance questionnaires with actual evidence
- Documentation of security controls and testing
- Alignment between what you claim and what you can prove
Compliance & Governance
Policies without enforcement are just expensive wallpaper. We verify that your security documentation actually reflects reality.
We check:
- Are security policies documented, current, and communicated?
- Are audit logs retained and accessible?
- Are backups tested regularly (not just “scheduled”)?
- Are industry-specific requirements (HIPAA, PCI-DSS) mapped and tracked?
What You Actually Get
Every audit produces three deliverables:
1. Executive Summary
The top 5-10 risks in plain English. Risk levels (Critical / High / Medium / Low). Suggested next steps with rough effort estimates. This is what you share with leadership.
2. Detailed Findings Report
One section per domain. For each issue: what it is, why it matters, what’s affected, and how to fix it. Screenshots and evidence where helpful.
3. Prioritized Action Plan
- Short-term “must do now” items (30-60 days)
- Medium-term improvements (3-12 months)
- Optional roadmap aligned with insurance renewals or compliance deadlines
We also schedule a review call to walk through findings, answer questions, and help with budget planning.
When Should You Audit?
Not every business needs the same cadence. Here’s our recommendation:
| Business Type | Recommended Frequency |
|---|---|
| Standard business environments | Every 6-12 months |
| Regulated / high-risk (healthcare, finance, legal, 50+ users) | Quarterly |
| After major changes | Any migration, merger, or substantial growth |
If you’re a healthcare practice in Phoenix dealing with HIPAA requirements, or a law firm handling sensitive client data, quarterly reviews aren’t overkill: they’re due diligence.
The DIY Snapshot: How Ready Are You?
Before you call anyone, here’s a quick self-assessment. Be honest.
MFA & Identity
- MFA enabled on all admin accounts
- MFA enabled for remote access and key SaaS apps
- No shared admin accounts
- Terminated users removed within 24-48 hours
Devices
- All work devices onboarded into management tools
- Disk encryption enforced on laptops
- Antivirus/EDR installed and reporting healthy
- Critical updates installed within 30 days
Backups & Recovery
- Email and key datasets backed up off-site
- Restore tests run within the last 6 months
- Documented recovery process exists
Cyber Insurance & Compliance
- Can answer insurance questionnaire with evidence
- Basic security policies documented and communicated
- Industry-specific requirements mapped and tracked
If you checked everything, congratulations: you’re ahead of 90% of businesses. If you have gaps, you now know where to focus.
From Chaos to Roadmap
Most businesses aren’t insecure because they don’t care. They’re insecure because nobody ever gave them a clear, prioritized roadmap. They’ve been handed scan results full of jargon, or worse, they’ve just been guessing.
A proper security audit changes that. It tells you exactly where you stand, what matters most, and what to do next: in plain English, with clear priorities.
For managed IT services in Phoenix and cybersecurity across Arizona, that’s the standard we hold ourselves to. No mystery. No jargon. Just clarity.
Stop guessing and start knowing. Book your Security & Compliance Audit fit call and let’s find out where you actually stand: before your insurance carrier or an attacker does it for you.
