Complete Guide to The Whitlock Co.’s Business Technology Consulting Services

Is your business upgrading its technology stack? Do you find your current computer systems lacking? The Whitlock Co. offers an objective third-party analysis of your business technology, how it’s used, and how you can improve it with our technology consulting services.

Technology Needs Assessment

A technology needs assessment evaluates your company’s current technology infrastructure and identifies areas for improvement. The Whitlock Co. will work with your internal teams to perform this assessment and align technological capabilities with business goals as much as possible. The process includes analyzing hardware, software, network systems, and user needs.

We will compare existing tools and processes to see if they align with your company’s goals, workflows, and pain points to understand how technology supports operations. The goal is to see if your technology meets strategic requirements for growth.

Then, we assess gaps between the current state and desired outcomes. They examine factors like system performance, security vulnerabilities, and scalability issues. This analysis provides insights into what upgrades or changes will enhance efficiency.

For example, a manufacturing company may need more automation in its production line. The technology needs assessment might reveal outdated software that causes delays. In response, the company would upgrade to a more efficient enterprise resource planning (ERP) system.

Cybersecurity Assessments

A cybersecurity assessment identifies vulnerabilities and evaluates your company’s IT infrastructure and its ability to fend off a cyber attack. The goal is to proactively address risks and prevent breaches.

The Whitlock Co. will work with your team to create a thorough review of existing security protocols and technologies. We will examine firewalls, access controls, encryption practices, and software updates. This initial analysis highlights potential gaps or weaknesses in the system.

Next, the team conducts penetration tests, vulnerability scans, phishing tests, and downstream tests. These tests simulate real-world cyberattacks to assess how the organization’s defenses hold up. It also looks at your software partners to see if their systems are safe. These tests are designed to detect vulnerabilities.

If you have an e-commerce business, you may discover during a cybersecurity assessment that the payment processing system lacks encryption for sensitive customer data. One solution could be implementing end-to-end encryption, reducing the risk of data breaches and increasing customer confidence.

Risk Assessment Identification for IT Assets

Your organization must be able to withstand a cyberattack from many possible angles. One top security practice involves identifying, analyzing, and prioritizing potential threats and vulnerabilities. The goal is to implement effective security measures to safeguard your valuable digital resources.

The Whitlock Co. can identify the IT assets that need protection. This includes hardware, software, networks, data, and applications. Once identified, we’ll analyze each asset to determine its criticality and potential impact in the event of a security breach. Factors such as the asset's value, sensitivity, and accessibility influence its risk rating. We will categorize high, medium, and low risks.

For example, a high risk might be outdated software that no longer has tech support or updates because a newer, more advanced version of the software has been released. An example of a medium risk could be an employee’s laptop or mobile device because your organization cannot control where that device goes or what network it connects to. A low risk might be your company website (that doesn’t have a payment portal) used for potential customers to browse for more information.

Next, we’ll evaluate potential threats and vulnerabilities associated with each asset. Threats can range from malicious attacks like hacking and phishing to accidental errors and natural disasters. Vulnerabilities, on the other hand, are weaknesses in the system that can be exploited by threats. Our team can accurately assess the likelihood and potential consequences of a security incident based on these factors.

The Whitlock Co. will help you prioritize risks based on their severity and likelihood by creating a comprehensive mitigation strategy. This helps you allocate resources effectively and focus on mitigating the most critical risks. We might recommend solutions such as firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and encryption to reduce the risk of breaches and protect your valuable IT assets.

Vulnerability and Penetration Scans

Vulnerability scans systematically examine internal and external systems and IT assets for weaknesses, such as outdated software, misconfigurations, or open ports. These scans compare the asset's current state against known vulnerabilities, identifying potential entry points for attackers.

Vulnerability scanning works in four steps:

1. The robust software identifies devices, systems, and applications on the network.
2. It collects data on each identified asset, including software versions, open ports, and configurations.
3. The tool compares the data it collects against a comprehensive database of known vulnerabilities.
4. It generates a report and assesses a risk level while suggesting remediation steps.

Penetration testing, or pen testing, takes a more aggressive approach by simulating real-world attacks. Our team will employ a variety of techniques to exploit vulnerabilities and gain unauthorized access to systems. These techniques mimic the tactics of malicious actors, allowing you to identify and address security gaps before they can be exploited by threat actors. The Whitlock Co. can help you prioritize remediation efforts and bolster your overall security posture.

A penetration test works like this:

1. We work with you to define the scope of the test by gathering information about the network, IP addresses, domain names, and software.
2. Specialized software scans the targeted assets for known vulnerabilities gathered during the vulnerability scan.
3. The software then explains what exploitation can occur with a vulnerability.
4. Our team documents the findings, shows possible exploitations, and what data could be accessed.

Vulnerability scans and penetration testing complement each other. Vulnerability scans offer a broad overview of potential weaknesses, while penetration testing delves deeper to assess the severity and exploitability of those vulnerabilities. The goal is to identify network weaknesses. It will also allow us to revise any mitigation strategies we previously identified in the initial risk assessment.

Business Continuity Planning

Business continuity planning (BCP) involves a comprehensive approach to mitigating the impact of cyberattacks. The first step is to identify high-impact systems, which is done through vulnerability and penetration scans.

A business continuity plan has a two-fold structure. It assesses who must take action after a cyberattack occurs and how to bring your company back from the cyberattack. The plan includes both people and IT assets.

Next, we will help you create a business succession plan designed to minimize the impact of a cyberattack should one occur:

1. Identify critical roles related to your IT assets, including a CTO, IT security analysts, incident responders, and network administrators.
2. For each critical role, create a detailed succession plan that outlines potential successors and their qualifications. Consider cross-training employees to ensure redundancy and flexibility.
3. Provide ongoing training and certifications to employees in critical roles to enhance their skills and knowledge. This helps ensure that successors are prepared to step into roles seamlessly.
4. Develop effective communication channels to facilitate rapid information sharing and decision-making during a crisis. This includes both internal and external communication protocols.
5. Conduct regular tabletop exercises and simulations to test your organization’s response capabilities and identify areas for improvement. These drills should involve key personnel and simulate various cyberattack scenarios.
6. Ensure that all relevant documentation, including standard operating procedures, emergency contact information, and recovery plans, is up-to-date and easily accessible.
7. Regularly review and update the business succession plan to reflect changes in personnel, technology, and threat landscapes. This ensures that the plan remains relevant and effective.

Finally, The Whitlock Co. will help you create a business resumption plan. A comprehensive plan is tailored to your business, typically with these elements:

A comprehensive BRP for cyberattacks typically includes the following components:

• An incident response plan outlines the procedures to be followed in the immediate aftermath of a cyberattack, including containment, damage assessment, and notification of relevant authorities.
• A data recovery plan details the strategies for recovering lost or corrupted data, including backups, data restoration procedures, and data recovery tools.
• A system recovery plan highlights the steps needed to restore IT systems and infrastructure, including hardware, software, and network configurations.
• The business continuity plan addresses the broader impact of the cyberattack on business operations, including alternative work arrangements, supply chain disruptions, and customer communications.
• A communication plan showcases the communication strategy for internal and external stakeholders, including employees, customers, partners, and regulators.
• Regular testing and training exercises are essential to ensure that the BRP is effective and that employees know their roles and responsibilities.

Talk to The Whitlock Co.

Does your company need assistance to mitigate possible cyberattacks? The Whitlock Co.’s team of experts can help.

Contact our team. to request a consultation today.