Phase 1: Preparation
Define Scope and Objectives
- Identify assets and systems to be assessed
- Determine assessment timeframe and resources
- Select appropriate framework (NIST, ISO 27001, etc.)
- Identify stakeholders and their requirements
Gather Information
- Collect existing security documentation
- Review previous assessment reports
- Identify regulatory requirements
- Document business processes and data flows
Phase 2: Asset Identification
- Create comprehensive asset inventory
- Classify assets by criticality and sensitivity
- Map data flows between systems
- Identify asset owners and custodians
- Document dependencies and interconnections
Phase 3: Threat Identification
- Identify relevant threat sources (internal, external, environmental)
- Consider industry-specific threats
- Review threat intelligence sources
- Document potential threat scenarios
Phase 4: Vulnerability Assessment
- Conduct technical vulnerability scanning
- Review security configurations
- Assess physical security controls
- Evaluate administrative controls and policies
- Review access control effectiveness
Phase 5: Risk Analysis
- Calculate likelihood of threat exploitation
- Determine potential impact (financial, operational, reputational)
- Assign risk ratings using consistent methodology
- Prioritize risks based on organizational context
Phase 6: Recommendations & Reporting
- Develop remediation recommendations
- Assign risk owners and timelines
- Create executive summary for leadership
- Document detailed technical findings
- Schedule follow-up assessments