Question 1

What is an IT security audit?

Accepted Answer

An IT security audit is a systematic evaluation of your organization's information technology systems, security policies, operational procedures, and technical controls - measured against an established framework such as NIST 800-53, SOC 2, ISO 27001, or CMMC. The goal is to identify gaps between your current security posture and the standard you need to meet, then produce a concrete, prioritized remediation plan. Unlike a penetration test which focuses on exploiting specific vulnerabilities, an audit evaluates your entire security program holistically.

Question 2

How long does an IT security audit take?

Accepted Answer

Atlant Security delivers the complete IT security audit - all five deliverables - within 14 days of the kickoff call. This covers all 20 NIST 800-53 security domains across your on-premises infrastructure, cloud environments (AWS, Azure, M365), and operational procedures. For large, complex environments with multiple data centers or regulated subsidiaries, the timeline may extend to 3-4 weeks.

Question 3

What is the difference between an IT security audit and a penetration test?

Accepted Answer

A penetration test asks: 'Can an attacker break in?' - and tests specific targets like a network perimeter or web application. An IT security audit asks: 'Are our security controls adequate and complete?' - and evaluates your entire security program including policies, procedures, access management, physical controls, and compliance posture. Most organizations need both: the audit first to establish a baseline and program, then penetration tests to validate specific technical controls.

Question 4

Do you audit cloud environments like AWS, Azure, and Microsoft 365?

Accepted Answer

Yes - cloud security is an integral part of every Atlant Security IT security audit. We audit Microsoft 365 across its 280+ security settings, AWS security configurations, Azure and Entra ID controls, and GCP environments. Cloud security is evaluated alongside traditional on-premises controls as part of our comprehensive 20-domain framework.

Question 5

What deliverables do I receive?

Accepted Answer

You receive six comprehensive deliverables: (1) a Comprehensive Security Control Review across all 20 NIST 800-53 domains, (2) an Information Security Program Plan with month-by-month remediation roadmap, (3) an Executive Summary Report designed for board presentations and investor due diligence, (4) a Technical Findings Report with step-by-step remediation instructions, (5) a Compliance Gap Matrix mapping your current state to target frameworks, and (6) Interactive Consulting Sessions where we walk through every finding and share implementation best practices.

Question 6

What does the Information Security Program Plan include?

Accepted Answer

The Information Security Program Plan is the primary deliverable of every Atlant Security audit. It is a month-by-month implementation roadmap covering a 12-month period. Every finding from the audit is assigned a criticality level (Critical, High, Medium, or Low), a specific remediation action, an implementation month, and an effort estimate. Most clients eliminate 50% of their risk within the first 60 days by following this plan.

Question 7

Can your IT security audit help us pass a SOC 2 or ISO 27001 audit?

Accepted Answer

Yes - and this is one of the most common use cases. Our audit produces a Compliance Gap Matrix that maps your current controls to the specific requirements of SOC 2 or ISO 27001, identifies every gap, and provides a remediation path. Clients who follow the full Information Security Program Plan consistently achieve their compliance certification on the first attempt.

Question 8

What frameworks does your IT security audit cover?

Accepted Answer

Atlant Security IT security audits cover SOC 2 (Type I and Type II), NIST 800-53 (20 domains), NIST 800-171 (110 requirements for government contractors), CMMC (all levels), ISO 27001:2022, HIPAA Security Rule, and PCI DSS. We typically map findings against all frameworks relevant to your organization simultaneously, so you get a single audit that addresses multiple compliance needs.

Question 9

How much does an IT security audit cost?

Accepted Answer

IT security audit pricing varies based on the size of your organization, the number of systems in scope, the frameworks you need to audit against, and whether cloud environments are included. Atlant Security provides fixed-price, scope-defined proposals within 24 hours of the free scoping call - no hourly billing or scope creep. Contact us to receive a precise quote for your organization.

Question 10

What happens after the audit is delivered?

Accepted Answer

After delivering all audit deliverables, we conduct a live review session with your IT team and executive stakeholders - walking through every finding and clarifying priorities. You also receive 30 days of follow-up access to ask questions as implementation begins. Many clients subsequently engage Atlant Security for a virtual CISO or part-time CISO service to oversee ongoing implementation of the remediation roadmap.

Question 11

Is the audit disruptive to our operations?

Accepted Answer

No - our evidence collection process is designed to minimize operational disruption. Most of the audit involves document review, configuration exports, and structured interviews with key personnel (typically 30-60 minutes per person). We do not require production system downtime, do not conduct live exploitation, and work around your team's availability.

Question 12

What industries do you audit?

Accepted Answer

Atlant Security has conducted IT security audits across fintech and financial services, healthcare and medical technology, SaaS and software development, government contractors, private equity portfolio companies, family offices and wealth management, manufacturing, legal and professional services, and non-profits - spanning 14 countries. Our framework-based approach adapts to any industry's unique regulatory and operational requirements.

Question 13

How is Atlant Security different from other audit firms?

Accepted Answer

Three differences matter most. First, depth of methodology: we audit all 20 NIST 800-53 domains against every relevant framework simultaneously - most firms audit against a single framework or use a checklist approach. Second, the deliverable quality: our Information Security Program Plan is a genuine month-by-month implementation roadmap, not a generic list of recommendations. Third, our pedigree: Atlant Security was founded by a former member of Microsoft's security consulting team, and every engagement is led by senior-level expertise with a 14-day turnaround and fixed-price guarantee.

Question 14

Do you review Microsoft 365 security settings?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We review all 280+ Microsoft 365 security settings as part of our cloud security domain, including Exchange Online, SharePoint, Teams, Azure AD / Entra ID configuration, Intune policies, and Defender settings. This is integrated into our comprehensive 20-domain audit framework.

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