Question 1

What exactly is an IT security audit?

Accepted Answer

An IT security audit is a methodical examination of your organization's technology systems, security policies, operational practices, and technical controls — measured against established frameworks like NIST 800-53, SOC 2, ISO 27001, or CMMC. The purpose is to identify the gaps between where your security stands today and where it needs to be, then deliver a concrete plan to close those gaps. Unlike a penetration test that focuses on exploiting specific technical vulnerabilities, an audit evaluates your security program as a whole.

Question 2

How long does the audit take from start to finish?

Accepted Answer

We deliver the complete audit — all six deliverables — within two weeks of the kickoff call. This covers all 20 security domains across your on-premise infrastructure, cloud environments, and operational procedures. Organizations with multiple subsidiaries, data centers, or heavily regulated divisions may require three to four weeks.

Question 3

What's the difference between a security audit and a penetration test?

Accepted Answer

A penetration test answers the question: can an attacker break in? It targets specific systems and attempts to exploit technical vulnerabilities. A security audit answers: is our security program adequate and complete? It evaluates the full range of controls including policies, procedures, access management, physical security, and compliance posture. Most organizations benefit from both: the audit establishes a baseline and program, while penetration tests validate specific technical controls.

Question 4

Do you cover cloud platforms like AWS, Azure, and Microsoft 365?

Accepted Answer

Yes — cloud security is integrated into every audit. We review Microsoft 365 across all security configuration surfaces, AWS security settings, Azure and Entra ID controls, and GCP environments. Cloud security is assessed alongside traditional on-premise controls within our 20-domain framework.

Question 5

What deliverables will I receive?

Accepted Answer

Six deliverables: (1) Security Control Assessment across all 20 NIST 800-53 domains, (2) Information Security Program Plan with a month-by-month remediation roadmap, (3) Executive Summary designed for board and investor presentations, (4) Technical Findings Report with step-by-step remediation instructions, (5) Compliance Gap Matrix mapping your current state against target frameworks, and (6) Consulting Sessions where we walk through findings and share implementation guidance.

Question 6

What's included in the Information Security Program Plan?

Accepted Answer

The Program Plan is the primary deliverable. It organizes every audit finding into a 12-month implementation timeline. Each finding is assigned a severity level (Critical, High, Medium, Low), a specific remediation action, a target implementation month, and an effort estimate. Organizations that follow this plan typically eliminate their highest-risk items within the first 60 days.

Question 7

Can this audit help us achieve SOC 2 or ISO 27001 certification?

Accepted Answer

Yes — this is one of the most common reasons organizations engage us. The Compliance Gap Matrix maps your controls to the specific requirements of SOC 2, ISO 27001, or whichever framework you're targeting, identifies every gap, and provides a clear remediation path. Organizations that follow the full Program Plan consistently achieve certification on their first attempt.

Question 8

Which compliance frameworks does the audit cover?

Accepted Answer

We cover SOC 2 (Type I and Type II), NIST 800-53, NIST 800-171, CMMC (all levels), ISO 27001:2022, HIPAA Security Rule, and PCI DSS. We map findings against all frameworks relevant to your organization simultaneously, so a single audit addresses multiple compliance requirements without redundant effort.

Question 9

How much does an IT security audit cost?

Accepted Answer

Pricing depends on your organization's size, the number of systems in scope, the frameworks you need coverage for, and whether cloud environments are included. We provide fixed-price, scope-defined proposals within 24 hours of the scoping call. No hourly billing and no scope creep. Contact us for a precise quote.

Question 10

What happens after the audit is complete?

Accepted Answer

We conduct a live walkthrough session with your technical team and executive stakeholders, reviewing every finding and clarifying priorities. You also receive 30 days of follow-up access to ask questions as implementation begins. Many organizations subsequently engage us for ongoing advisory services to oversee implementation of the remediation roadmap.

Question 11

Will the audit disrupt our daily operations?

Accepted Answer

No. Our evidence collection process is designed to minimize disruption. The majority of the audit involves documentation review, configuration exports, and structured interviews with key personnel (typically 30–60 minutes per person). We do not require production system downtime, do not run active exploits, and work around your team's schedules.

Question 12

What industries do you work with?

Accepted Answer

We've conducted IT security audits across financial services and fintech, healthcare and medical technology, SaaS and software companies, government contractors, private equity portfolio companies, wealth management and family offices, manufacturing, legal and professional services, and non-profit organizations. Our framework-based approach adapts to any industry's regulatory and operational requirements.

Question 13

What differentiates Pentestas from other audit firms?

Accepted Answer

Three things. First, depth: we assess all 20 NIST 800-53 domains against every relevant framework simultaneously — most firms audit a single framework or use a checklist approach. Second, the deliverable: our Information Security Program Plan is a genuine month-by-month implementation roadmap, not a generic recommendations list. Third, the expertise: every engagement is led by senior practitioners with both offensive security and compliance backgrounds, delivered in two weeks with a fixed-price guarantee.

Question 14

Do you review Microsoft 365 security settings?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We review Microsoft 365 security settings comprehensively, including Exchange Online, SharePoint, Teams, Entra ID configuration, Intune policies, and Defender settings. This is integrated into our 20-domain audit framework.

	IT Security Audit	Penetration Test	Vulnerability Assessment
Core question	Do our security controls provide sufficient and comprehensive protection?	Could a motivated attacker compromise our systems?	Which known weaknesses are present in our environment today?
Scope	Full security program: governance, procedures, technical controls, physical safeguards	Defined targets: networks, web applications, or human vectors	Targeted systems: servers, workstations, network infrastructure
Output	Security Improvement Roadmap + comprehensive findings report	Attack narrative with exploitation evidence	Prioritized weakness inventory with risk scores
Duration	2-4 weeks	1-3 weeks	1-5 days
Best for	Regulatory readiness, board oversight, due diligence, security baseline	Validating defenses once controls are operational	Routine health monitoring, rapid spot checks
Pentestas	Our core service	Available as add-on	Included within audit scope

Map Every Vulnerability. Receive Your Remediation Roadmap in 14 Days.

The Majority of Organizations Discover Their Weaknesses Only After a Breach

Defining an IT Security Audit

Security Audit vs. Pen Test vs. Vulnerability Scan - Key Differences

IT Security Audit

Penetration Test

Vulnerability Assessment

20 Security Control Families Under Review

Access Control

Identification & Authentication

Audit & Accountability

Configuration Management

Incident Response

Media Protection

Personnel Security

Physical Protection

Risk Assessment

Security Assessment

System & Communications Protection

System & Information Integrity

Awareness & Training

Maintenance

Planning

Program Management

Cloud Security

Secure Software Development

DevSecOps Pipeline

Supply Chain Risk Management

Our IT Security Audit Methodology

Discovery Session

Data Gathering & Inspection

Risk Scoring & Framework Alignment

Deliverable Handover

Five Actionable Deliverables From Every Audit

Full-Spectrum Security Control Assessment

Prioritized Security Improvement Roadmap

Leadership-Ready Summary Brief

Detailed Technical Findings Dossier

Regulatory Compliance Gap Analysis

Regulatory Standards We Benchmark Against

Is an IT Security Audit Right for Your Organization?

Financial Services & Fintech — Organizations subject to SEC, GLBA, PCI-DSS, or SOC 2 requirements. We work with payment processors, digital banks, lending platforms, and insurance technology providers that need to demonstrate robust security controls to regulators and partners.

Healthcare & Life Sciences — HIPAA Security Rule audits for organizations handling protected health information. Hospitals, medical device companies, health technology startups, and pharmaceutical firms that need to validate their security program against regulatory requirements.

SaaS & Software Companies — Cloud-focused audits covering AWS, Azure, M365, development practices, and CI/CD pipeline security. Built for SaaS platforms scaling to enterprise customers who require SOC 2 reports, security questionnaire responses, and evidence of a mature security program.

Government Contractors — CMMC readiness assessments, NIST 800-171 compliance validation, and SPRS score verification. Required for defense contractors, federal subcontractors, and any organization handling Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI).

Private Equity & Portfolio Companies — Cybersecurity due diligence for acquisitions, standardized risk evaluation across portfolio companies, and board-ready reporting on security posture. Used for pre-acquisition diligence and ongoing portfolio oversight.

Family Offices & Wealth Management — Institutional-grade security assessment for high-net-worth family offices and wealth management firms. Ensuring that sensitive financial data, estate information, and investment strategies are protected with controls that match the value of the assets.

Measurable Outcomes Our Clients Achieve

Security Audit Investment Tiers

Essentials Audit

Comprehensive Audit

Enterprise Audit

Client Perspectives on Working with Pentestas

Common Questions About Our IT Security Audit Process