TECHNOLOGY & SECURITY CHECKLIST

Cybersecurity Readiness Checklist

A high-level self-assessment designed to help organizations understand their current security posture and identify areas that may require further clarification.

Purpose

This checklist helps organizations gain a high-level understanding of their security posture and identify areas where clarification may be needed.

This is not a compliance checklist or formal audit. It is designed as a self-orientation tool to support more informed discussions.

How to Use

For each item answer:

Yes
No
Not Sure

“Not Sure” often reveals the most useful insight — it highlights where visibility or ownership may be unclear.

01

Access & Identity Awareness

  • Do we know who has access to our systems, applications, and data?
  • Are user accounts reviewed when roles change or people leave?
  • Is access based on what people need to do their jobs?
  • Do we understand how login security such as MFA is enforced?
02

Device & Environment Visibility

  • Do we know what devices access company systems?
  • Are devices managed and kept reasonably up to date?
  • Do we have visibility into where company data is accessed?
03

Backups & Recovery Readiness

  • Do we know what data is backed up and how often?
  • Have backups been tested for restoration?
  • Do we understand how long recovery would take?
  • Are backups protected from deletion or misuse?
04

Monitoring & Response Awareness

  • Do we know how security issues would be detected?
  • Is it clear who is notified when incidents occur?
  • Do we know who coordinates response across systems?
05

Ownership & Accountability

  • Is it clear who oversees security?
  • Do we understand internal vs external responsibilities?
  • Are security decisions made intentionally?
06

Assumptions & Confidence Check

  • Does our security approach reflect how we actually operate?
  • Do we rely on assumptions such as “the cloud is secure”?
  • Could we clearly explain our security approach if asked?

How to Interpret Your Answers

This checklist is not about scoring.

  • Multiple “Yes” answers suggest foundational awareness exists.
  • “No” or “Not Sure” answers highlight areas where clarity may help.

Many organizations discover that uncertainty — not lack of effort — is the biggest gap.