Cyber Security Readiness Checklist: Essential Business Guide
A comprehensive cyber security readiness checklist is essential for businesses of all sizes in today’s threat landscape. With cyber attacks becoming increasingly sophisticated and prevalent, organizations must systematically evaluate their security posture to identify and address vulnerabilities before they can be exploited. At Velocity Solutions, we’ve developed this actionable cyber security readiness checklist based on industry best practices and our extensive experience helping businesses strengthen their security foundations.
This checklist is designed to guide your organization through the critical components of a robust security program. By working through each section methodically, you’ll be better positioned to protect sensitive data, maintain business continuity, and meet compliance requirements. Remember that cyber security is not a one-time project but an ongoing process that requires regular reassessment and adjustment as your business and the threat landscape evolve.
Governance and Leadership Foundations
Executive Oversight and Accountability
Designate a dedicated cyber security leadership role (CISO or equivalent)
Establish clear security responsibilities for all leadership positions
Implement a privacy management program with designated leadership
Create an operational technology (OT) security leadership position (if applicable)
Collect security-relevant logs from all critical systems
Implement centralized log storage and management
Establish log retention periods based on policy
Protect logs from unauthorized access or modification
Configure alerts for critical log sources being disabled
Monitor OT network traffic and communications
Establish log review procedures and responsibilities
Document logging gaps and compensating controls
Threat Detection
Document relevant threats and attack vectors
Implement detection capabilities for critical threats
Deploy intrusion detection/prevention systems
Monitor for unauthorized login attempts
Configure alerts for suspicious account activity
Deploy network traffic analysis tools
Implement endpoint detection and response
Establish 24/7 monitoring capabilities or services
Incident Response and Recovery
Incident Response Planning
Develop comprehensive incident response plan
Document roles and responsibilities during incidents
Establish communication protocols for incidents
Create incident classification framework
Document external reporting requirements
Test incident response plan annually
Update plan based on lessons learned
Create playbooks for common incident scenarios
Recovery Capabilities
Develop business continuity and disaster recovery plans
Identify recovery time objectives for critical systems
Document recovery procedures for key assets
Test recovery processes at least annually
Establish post-incident review process
Document lessons learned from incidents
Update recovery plans based on tests and actual incidents
Maintain offline copies of recovery documentation
Security Awareness and Training
Employee Training
Implement security awareness training for all staff
Conduct specialized OT security training where applicable
Provide role-specific security training
Conduct regular phishing simulations
Train staff on incident reporting procedures
Educate employees on data handling requirements
Document training completion and effectiveness
Update training content based on emerging threats
Assessing Your Cyber Security Readiness
After completing this cyber security readiness checklist, assess your organization’s overall security posture by examining the percentage of items implemented in each section. Areas with lower implementation rates should be prioritized for improvement. We recommend revisiting this checklist at least annually, or whenever significant changes occur in your business operations, technology infrastructure, or the threat landscape.
Remember that cyber security is not a “set and forget” proposition—it requires ongoing attention, investment, and adaptation. The most secure organizations approach security as a continuous process of improvement rather than a final destination.
How Velocity Solutions Can Help Improve Your Security Posture
At Velocity Solutions, we understand that completing this cyber security readiness checklist may reveal gaps in your security program that require specialized expertise to address. Our team of security professionals can assist with:
Conducting comprehensive security assessments based on this checklist
Developing customized remediation roadmaps to address identified gaps
Implementing critical security controls and technologies
Providing ongoing security monitoring and management
Delivering specialized training for your technical teams and end users
Testing your defenses through penetration testing and simulated attacks
Don’t wait for a security incident to expose weaknesses in your cyber defenses. Contact Velocity Solutions today to schedule a consultation and take the first step toward a more secure and resilient organization.
Note: This cyber security readiness checklist is designed to provide a framework for assessing and improving your organization’s security posture. It is not exhaustive and should be adapted to your specific business context, compliance requirements, and risk profile. We recommend consulting with security professionals to develop a tailored approach for your organization.
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