Information Security GAP Analysis

As an information security consultant at SMT, one of the most interesting tasks we carry out is conducting an information security gap analysis. This analysis provides a comparison between an organization’s security program’s current state versus the overall best information security practices. By benchmarking against best practices, we can shed light on areas where vulnerabilities and risks are lurking, and build to succeed.

Benefits of Gap Analysis:

• Quite possibly that most important benefit of conducting a gap analysis is the identification of a beginning point from which an organization can measure its an improvement over time.
• A gap analysis can identify what the organization already does well, thus saving time and money by not fixing something that, as the saying goes, “ain’t broke.”
• Gap analysis can frequently identify capabilities that already exist within an organization, offering the ability to promote these capabilities rather than adopt new ones.
• Moreover, it can diagnose problems and provide recommendations on how to solve these problems. Since it enables long-term planning by setting goals and outlining changes and practices. The ultimate goal of a gap analysis is to outline a list of prioritized activities that an organization can complete to move closer to its vision.
• Getting a clear picture of the prioritized activates, you are more easily able to estimate the resources and budgetary needs of the information security project. By translating cyber risks into business terms, you can ensure your organization’s leadership makes well-informed decisions by clearly demonstrating how the information security will help the organization avoid risks and/or reduce costs.