Cyber Security Audit Services
It’s easy to build controls. It’s smarter to build a compliance management system.
What Gridware's Cyber Security Audit Covers
An independent cyber security audit gives boards, internal audit teams, compliance leads, and IT leaders a clear picture of where their security program actually stands. Gridware’s audit spans three areas: your cyber program, your cloud environments (AWS, Azure, and GCP), and your overall risk exposure. You get a prioritised findings report with recommendations aligned to ISO 27001, NIST CSF, PCI DSS, and the ASD Essential Eight where applicable.
Understanding your security position starts with three questions:
- What assets and data are we trying to protect?
- What control systems are in place to protect that information?
- What proactive mitigation strategies exist to prevent a breach?
These aren’t IT questions. They’re business questions, and Australian boards are increasingly expected to answer them.
The Three Audit Streams
1. Cyber Program Review
Most organisations have controls. Fewer have a program that’s been tested against where threats are actually heading. Gridware assesses your cyber security program against ISO 27001:2013, PCI DSS, NIST CSF, and the ASD Essential Eight. We measure your maturity against a CPM road-map and identify gaps across policies, procedures, and implemented controls, so you know what’s working, what isn’t, and what needs attention first.
2. Cloud Security
Misconfigured cloud environments are one of the most common entry points for attackers. AWS, Azure, and GCP each carry their own security configuration requirements, and public cloud introduces shared-responsibility complexity that internal teams often underestimate. Data breaches from misconfigured cloud settings, ransomware, and denial-of-service attacks are among the most prevalent threats to cloud infrastructure.
Gridware reviews your cloud configuration across all three major platforms, assesses your threat detection and incident response readiness, and checks compliance against regulatory standards. Because the audit is run externally, you get zero organisational bias and current knowledge of exploits, attack patterns, and both international and industry standards.
3. Cyber Risk Assessment
Risk appetite varies. A mid-size financial services firm carries different exposure than a healthcare provider or a start-up scaling toward its first enterprise customers. Gridware maps your risk appetite, assesses your exposure across architecture, operations, and awareness, and reviews your position against the CPM Framework. Early-stage organisations benefit from understanding their risk profile before a breach forces the issue.
The CPM Framework
- Gridware's Cyber Program Management (CPM) Framework structures the audit around three pillars. Each aligns with ISO 27001 compliance and regulatory requirements including CPS 243.
- Architecture covers technology protections across networks, hosts, data, and software.
- Operations covers access management protocols, threat management, and day-to-day operational vulnerabilities.
- Awareness covers security monitoring, business continuity planning, and incident response management.
- The framework gives Gridware a consistent basis for assessing maturity and benchmarking your program against comparable organisations in your sector.
Your Lines of Defence
Australian organisations in education, healthcare, and financial services are disproportionately targeted in cyber attacks. Organisations that supply or service those sectors face the same exposure. Third-party risk compounds the picture: many breaches trace back to misaligned governance between business units and IT functions, rather than to weak technology.
Security works in layers.
First Line of Defence
The integrity of your security architecture. A strong technical foundation is necessary but rarely sufficient on its own.
Second Line of Defence
Your information and technology risk management leaders, who establish governance and oversight, monitor security operations, and act when required.
Third Line of Defence
A regular, independent review by a qualified external provider. Your internal governance team has a duty to inform the board that controls are in place, functioning correctly, and complying with the law. That assurance requires external verification. An independent auditor is the only check that operates without organisational interest in the outcome.
- Gridware has nationally recognised cyber security auditors based in Sydney, Melbourne, and other major Australian capitals.
- Our consultants maintain deep working knowledge of regulatory developments and sector-specific cyber risks across Australia.
- We treat cyber security as a business risk issue, not an IT one, which changes how we engage with boards and compliance teams.
- Engagements are scoped to deliver practical outcomes without unnecessary overhead.
What You Get from a Cyber Security Audit
- Independently verify your security program against ISO 27001, PCI DSS, NIST, and the Essential Eight.
- Find gaps in your cloud environments before attackers do.
- Map your risk exposure and define a clear remediation roadmap.
- Avoid data breach costs, regulatory fines, and reputational damage from non-compliance.
- Validate your security investments and know what’s working and what isn’t.
- Give your board and leadership team the evidence they need to make informed security decisions.
Regular Audits, Not One-Off Reviews
Cyber security frameworks evolve. Cloud environments change. Threat actors adapt. Organisations that treat an audit as a one-time compliance exercise tend to find their controls drifting out of step with the risks they face.
Regular, scheduled audits are how organisations stay ahead, not just compliant. If you want an independent view of where your security program actually stands, talk to Gridware.
Request a tailored cybersecurity assessment.
Cyber Insights Newsletter
Your digest of cybersecurity expertise and analysis from our team of experts, served up quicker than typing ‘password’ – get up to speed in no time.
FAQs about Cyber Security Audit
What is a cyber security audit?
A cyber security audit is an independent assessment of an organisation’s security program. It tests the integrity of controls, identifies gaps in policies and procedures, and benchmarks the program against recognised frameworks. The output is a prioritised findings report with specific remediation recommendations. Gridware’s audit covers cyber program review, cloud environments, and risk exposure.
What is the difference between a cyber security audit and a penetration test?
A penetration test is a technical exercise that attempts to exploit vulnerabilities in your systems. A cyber security audit is a governance assessment of your business processes, policies, and security maturity against recognised frameworks. Both are useful but they answer different questions. An audit shows how your program is structured; a penetration test shows whether specific controls can be broken.
What does Gridware's cyber security audit cover?
Gridware’s audit covers three areas: cyber program review (alignment to ISO 27001:2013, PCI DSS, NIST CSF, and the ASD Essential Eight), cloud security (configuration and compliance across AWS, Azure, and GCP), and cyber risk assessment (risk appetite mapping and exposure across architecture, operations, and awareness). The audit uses Gridware’s CPM Framework, which aligns with ISO 27001 and regulatory requirements including CPS 243.
How much does a cyber security audit cost?
Audit cost depends on the size of the organisation and the scope of what needs reviewing. A targeted review of specific areas takes one to five consulting days. Larger organisations requiring a detailed assessment of proactive and reactive controls against regulatory standards typically need 10 to 25 days. Contact Gridware for a scoped quote.
How often should a cyber security audit be conducted?
At least every two years. More frequent audits are worth considering if your organisation is growing quickly, launching new products, undergoing a cloud migration, or operating in a regulated sector. Security programs drift if they’re not reviewed regularly.
Should a cyber security audit be done internally or by an external provider?
External. Internal teams can assess risks but cannot provide unbiased assurance. An external provider brings independence, current threat intelligence, and benchmarks from working with comparable organisations. Boards and audit committees need that independence to have confidence in the findings.
What standards does Gridware audit against?
Gridware audits against ISO 27001:2013, PCI DSS, NIST CSF, and the ASD Essential Eight. Assessments use Gridware’s CPM Framework, which also aligns with CPS 243 and other regulatory requirements. The applicable standards depend on your industry and engagement scope.
Do you audit AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud Platform environments?
Yes. Gridware audits all three major cloud platforms: AWS, Azure, and GCP. Cloud audits cover configuration review, threat detection readiness, incident response capability, and compliance against regulatory standards. Gridware also consults on upcoming cloud migration projects.
At Gridware, we work with a wide range of companies across Sydney, Melbourne, and beyond, delivering tailored adversary simulation services to meet their unique needs. From large enterprises safeguarding critical assets to government agencies navigating strict compliance requirements, our clients trust us to strengthen their cybersecurity posture.
No matter the industry, Gridware’s adversary simulation services empower organisations to build resilience, stay ahead of evolving cyber threats, and protect what matters most.
Your Cybersecurity Experts
Ahmed Khanji
Chief Executive Officer
Hassan Zaatar
Chief Customer Officer
Lachlan Wright
Head of DFIR
Jawad Khan
Chief Information Security Officer
Khalid Ebrahimi
Senior Penetration Tester | Team Lead
Similar services
We partner deeply with clients to understand their needs, working closely and iteratively to provide robust, best-in-class security solutions
