A cybersecurity risk assessment identifies where your business is most exposed, so you can prioritise your time and budget on the risks that matter most, rather than guessing. This guide walks through the same framework our team uses when assessing a new client's environment.

Risk is generally assessed across three areas: the systems and data you have, the threats that could affect them, and the safeguards you already have in place. Use the questions below to guide your own internal review.

1. Identify Your Critical Assets

• What systems would stop your business from operating if they went down?
• Where is your most sensitive data stored, and who can access it?
• Do you have a documented inventory of servers, applications, and devices?

2. Evaluate Likely Threats

• Has your business, or others in your industry, been targeted by phishing or ransomware?
• Do you handle regulated data such as health, financial, or legal records?
• Are any systems accessible directly from the internet without additional protection?

3. Assess Existing Safeguards

• What technical controls are in place today: MFA, EDR, firewalls, email filtering?
• How recently were your systems patched, and is that process consistent?
• Do written policies exist for acceptable use, data handling, and incident response?

4. Prioritise & Plan

• Rank identified gaps by likelihood and potential business impact
• Address quick wins first: MFA, patching, and backup verification typically offer the best return
• Build a realistic timeline and budget for larger initiatives like MDR or formal policy development