Are you preparing for the merger or acquisition?
Here's what you should know
Cyber Due diligence is particularly crucial during business activities such as mergers and acquisitions (M&A) or establishing new partnerships, where the security of digital assets and processes is a paramount concern.
>40%
of acquiring companies uncovered a cybersecurity issue with the acquired entity after completing a deal
Why is Cybersecurity Due Diligence Important?
You understand 360 cybersecurity posture of the target company
Due Diligence for Informed Decision-Making
A thorough cybersecurity due diligence approach becomes indispensable for private equity and infrastructure funds, ensuring comprehensive risk assessment and management.
By seamlessly integrating cyber risk assessment into overall due diligence processes, investment teams gain valuable insights for informed decision-making.
You minimize the technical integration time
Holistic Integration Planning
For organizations involved in M&A transactions, cybersecurity due diligence is a critical factor in the success of deals. Research indicates that over half of M&A participants encounter cybersecurity risks that jeopardize deals. Organizations can prevent deal collapse by thoroughly assessing and addressing cybersecurity risks before finalizing transactions.
You know
whom you deal with
Strategic Risk Management and Reputation Protection
Cybersecurity due diligence provides organizations with a strategic advantage in managing and mitigating risks associated with cyberattacks. By proactively assessing vulnerabilities, companies safeguard their financial results, share value, brand integrity, and customer trust.
This strategic approach protects not only current assets but also shields the organization's reputation from potential damage.
You know the target company compliance status
Regulatory Compliance and Legal Safeguarding
By conducting due diligence, organizations reduce the likelihood of regulatory fines and lawsuits stemming from data breaches.
It’s critical as disclosure requirements to regulators, shareholders, and customers continue to evolve, making compliance a key element in safeguarding against legal repercussions.
You know what you pay for
Regulatory Compliance and Legal Safeguarding
Organizations can prevent deal collapse by thoroughly assessing and addressing cybersecurity risks before finalizing transactions.
How Do We Do It?
Each Cyber Due Diligence engagement has a unique set of services (audits and assessments), but the overall structure of such engagements has been systematized and tested.
ASSESSMENT METHODS
Cybersecurity Due Diligence involves the strategic use of three distinct assessment methods:
Examination
Interview
Testing
Flexibility Customization
Depending on your unique requirements and risk landscape, assessments may encompass a combination of these three methods or focus on a single method.
Examination involves checking, inspecting, reviewing, observing, studying, or analyzing one or more assessment objects. The results help determine the existence, functionality, correctness, completeness, and potential for improvement of security and privacy controls over time.
Examples:
Configuration assessment
Documents studying
Security control trace studying
Assessment Objects:
Specifications (policies, plans, procedures, system requirements)
Mechanisms (implemented in hardware, software, firmware)
Activities
(system operations, administration, usage)
Telemetry and Artifacts (log data, configuration files, system artifacts).
Assessment Types
Evaluating the cybersecurity benchmark and compliance GAP
The common benchmarking best practices include CIS Controls, NIST CSF, ISO27001/2
To complement the Cybersecurity Benchmark, a comprehensive Compliance Gap Assessment could be conducted upon the specification of a particular scope, encompassing the following components:
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Risk Management Process Maturity Assessment
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ISMS (Information Security Management System) Gap Assessment
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PIMS (Personal Information Management System) Gap Assessment
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Cybersecurity Framework Controls Implementation Assessment
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Industry-Specific Compliance or Regulations Assessment
Valuable software assets security assessment
The Cybersecurity Assessment of In-House Developed and Custom Software is integral to our cyber due diligence process. This assessment rigorously evaluates the security posture of software developed internally, focusing on code integrity, compliance with secure coding practices, and vulnerability management as well as a tailored software development delivered by third parties.
The assessment will leverage established frameworks and best practices in software security to identify potential risks and weaknesses.
The common software tests are:
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Static Security Application Assessment
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Dynamic Application Security Tests
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API Penetration Testing
Infrastructure technical risk assessment
The Infrastructure Technical Risk Assessment (ITRA) is conducted to systematically identify and evaluate technical risks within the organization's IT infrastructure.
The ITRA process will utilize best practices in risk assessment methodologies to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the infrastructure's security posture, aiding in the development of robust security strategies.
The common ITRA types include:
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Compromise assessment
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Security configuration assessment
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Security architecture review
Hacker’s View and Attack Surface Discovery
Our approach, mirroring a hacker's perspective, provides invaluable insights into system susceptibilities. Implementing various types of penetration testing evaluates the robustness of systems and networks against emerging cyber threats. Executed by qualified professionals using industry-standard methodologies and advanced tools, this process not only uncovers vulnerabilities but also explores the broader attack surface.
By examining potential entry points and weak links, we fortify defences against known threats and proactively address areas susceptible in the future.
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Internal Pentest
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External Pentest
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Social Engineering Tests
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Red Teaming
What Do You Get?
Executive Briefing
A concise presentation highlighting key cybersecurity risks and maturity levels, enabling informed decision-making at the executive level.
Cybersecurity Maturity Report
A detailed assessment of the target company's cybersecurity maturity, benchmarked against industry standards, revealing strengths and areas for improvement.
Cybersecurity Risk View
A comprehensive analysis providing a clear overview of potential threats and vulnerabilities, offering an understanding of the risk landscape to guide strategic decision-making and resource allocation.
Security Program Improvements Roadmap
A strategic roadmap outlining prioritized, actionable steps to enhance the target company’s security program, complete with key performance indicators for progress tracking.
Technical Recommendations
Tailored, practical suggestions to address identified vulnerabilities and weaknesses in systems and networks, aligning with the target company's unique environment and overall cybersecurity strategy.
Ready to elevate your cybersecurity posture? We are here to help!
Tell us a little about yourself, and we'll be in touch right away!