FAQs
Have Questions?
What domains does the IT security audit cover?
Eight domains: identity and access management, endpoint protection, network controls, email security, backup and recovery posture, vendor risk management, user training, and incident response readiness. Each domain has a checklist mapped against common compliance frameworks and cyber insurance questionnaires, so the output is useful for both technical and business purposes.
How is this different from a penetration test?
A penetration test tries to break in and find what works. A security audit reviews the controls that should be in place and verifies they are. The two are complementary. Most Houston SMBs need the audit first to close known gaps, then the penetration test once the basics are solid. Running a pentest against a misconfigured environment mostly tells you what you already knew.
Can the audit help with cyber insurance?
Directly. CinchOps maps the audit findings against the common questions on cyber insurance applications, so the firm can answer the questionnaire with verified controls. The audit documentation supports the application and protects against the kind of 'we said yes but it was not really true' finding that drives claim denials.
How long does the audit take?
A typical 50-seat SMB audit runs three to four weeks from kickoff to fix list. The first week is discovery and tool access. Weeks two and three are domain reviews and evidence collection. The final week is the summary, the fix list, the insurance crosswalk, and the leadership briefing. Remediation work follows in two-week sprints.
What if we already have an MSP?
CinchOps runs audits as an independent review for firms that have an MSP in place, including ones that are not switching providers. The audit is delivered without conflict and with the current MSP visible to the conversation. The fix list goes to the firm's leadership; the MSP can run the remediation, or CinchOps can, depending on what the firm wants.
