How Often Should Businesses Perform Security Audits?
'How often should we audit our security?' is one of the most common questions we get from owners. The honest answer: security posture drifts constantly, so 'audit' is really shorthand for a set of activities at different cadences. This article breaks down what to review daily, monthly, quarterly, and annually, plus the specific triggers that should force an off-cycle review.
Daily and continuous (automated)
- EDR alerts triaged as they arrive
- Microsoft 365 identity risk alerts monitored (impossible travel, atypical location, leaked credentials)
- Firewall and email security logs monitored for anomalies
- Backup job success/failure monitoring
Monthly
- Patch compliance report: anything unpatched over 30 days investigated
- Failed login attempts and account lockouts reviewed
- New Microsoft 365 admin role assignments verified
- Phishing simulation results reviewed
Quarterly
- Microsoft 365 tenant configuration re-audited against baseline
- MFA coverage report: 100% of accounts confirmed enrolled
- User access review: everyone still has appropriate access, no dormant accounts
- Backup restore test on a real workload
- Vendor and third-party access review
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- Full security assessment against a documented baseline
- Incident response plan reviewed and tabletop-tested
- Cyber insurance renewal questionnaire completed with fresh evidence
- Password rotation for shared and service accounts
- Written information security policy reviewed and reissued to staff
Trigger-based (off-cycle) audits
Some events should force an unscheduled review regardless of when the last one happened.
- Any suspected or confirmed security incident
- Departure of an IT administrator or senior finance role
- Major software or infrastructure change (new ERP, cloud migration, office move)
- Merger or acquisition
- New line-of-business software with access to sensitive data
- New regulatory obligation (PHIPA, PIPEDA change, industry-specific requirement)
- Cyber insurance policy renewal or claim
The one-time assessment vs. an ongoing program
A one-time security assessment is valuable for identifying gaps and creating a roadmap, especially before a first managed IT engagement or a cyber insurance renewal. But security is a moving target: tenant configurations drift, staff turn over, and new threats appear. Ongoing managed security with quarterly reviews is how you stay secure, not just get secure.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between an audit and a penetration test?
An audit reviews configurations, policies, and controls against a baseline. A penetration test simulates a real attack to see what a determined attacker could actually do. Most SMBs need audits first; penetration testing becomes relevant once fundamentals are in place.
How much does a security audit cost?
A one-time SMB security assessment is typically a fixed-fee engagement in the low four figures. Ongoing quarterly reviews are usually included in managed security agreements.
Do we need an audit if we've never had an incident?
Yes. Most SMBs we assess find at least one or two gaps that would materially change their exposure, usually before they've had a serious incident.
Who should perform the audit: our IT provider or an independent firm?
For most SMBs, an audit by an independent cybersecurity partner works well and delivers actionable improvement. Larger or regulated organizations sometimes require third-party independent audits for compliance reasons.
Joshua Arimoro
Joshua Arimoro is the Principal Consultant at Nickel City Tech Solutions, a managed IT and cybersecurity provider based in Lively, Ontario, serving businesses across Greater Sudbury and Northern Ontario. He works hands-on with Microsoft 365, server and network infrastructure, endpoint management, and backup and recovery for small and mid-sized organisations.
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Related services
- Cybersecurity Services
Endpoint protection, MFA, email filtering, and M365 hardening.
- Managed IT Services
Proactive monitoring, patching, and predictable monthly support.
- Microsoft 365 Support
Exchange, Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive, and licensing.
- Backup & Disaster Recovery
Backup strategy, monitoring, and recovery testing.
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