Beyond Box-Ticking: Real-World IT & Information Security Audits That Actually Matter
In an era where data breaches and ransomware attacks are daily news, it's no longer enough for organisations to say, "We have Cyber Essentials," or "We're ISO27001 certified." While those certifications have their place, many companies are waking up to a hard truth: compliance does not equal security.
At 365labs, we're often asked by clients who want more than a certificate for the wall: "How do we know we're actually secure, not just compliant?" Here's our take on what a real-world security audit should look like — and the frameworks that help get you there.
Why Traditional Certifications Often Fall Short
Frameworks like Cyber Essentials, IASME, or even ISO27001 are built around ensuring certain controls are present. But they often:
Assume static threats rather than evolving ones.
Focus heavily on documentation rather than implementation.
Allow companies to pass with vulnerabilities still in place.
That doesn’t mean they’re useless — far from it — but they’re starting points, not destinations.
So What Does Real Security Look Like?
A meaningful audit digs deeper:
It looks at actual configurations, not just policy documents.
It challenges the effectiveness of controls, not just their existence.
It maps real-world attacker behaviour to your environment.
To do that, you need frameworks built for practical risk reduction, not just compliance.
Here are the top frameworks we recommend for any organisation that wants to take security seriously:
1. CIS Controls (v8)
The CIS Critical Security Controls are arguably the most pragmatic framework out there. They prioritise controls based on what actually prevents breaches — not just what looks good in an audit report.
Start with Implementation Group 1 (IG1) — designed for small to medium organisations — and work your way up. You’ll be addressing:
Asset Inventory
Secure Configuration
Account Management
Log Collection & Review
Incident Response
Why we love it: It's actionable, prioritised, and mapped to NIST, ISO27001, and even the UK’s NCSC guidance.
➡️ https://www.cisecurity.org/controls/cis-controls-list
2. NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF)
NIST CSF gives you the high-level structure to manage cyber risk across 5 pillars:
Identify
Protect
Detect
Respond
Recover
This framework is less about specific controls and more about creating a mature, ongoing security strategy.
Why we love it: It’s great for board reporting, risk management, and aligning IT with business objectives.
➡️ https://www.nist.gov/cyberframework
3. MITRE ATT&CK Framework
If CIS and NIST tell you what to protect and how, MITRE ATT&CK shows you what the enemy actually does.
It maps real-world adversary behaviour — techniques like lateral movement, credential dumping, and privilege escalation — to your systems. You can test your own resilience using simulations or red-teaming based on MITRE’s dataset.
Why we love it: It brings threat intelligence into the real world.
4. Microsoft Secure Score (and Defender Recommendations)
If you’re a Microsoft 365 or Azure-heavy organisation, Secure Score is a fantastic starting point. It gives you an evolving, prioritised list of actions you can take to improve:
Identity hygiene
Endpoint protection
Data security
Cloud app control
Why we love it: It’s already in your Microsoft tenant — no extra cost, and high impact.
5. NCSC 10 Steps to Cyber Security
This UK-centric framework is simple but effective. Developed by the National Cyber Security Centre, it outlines 10 key areas:
Risk Management
Secure Configuration
Network Security
User Education
Incident Management
Why we love it: It’s plain English, made for British businesses, and ideal for SMEs.
➡️ https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/collection/10-steps
Putting It All Together
At 365labs, we recommend layering your approach:
Layer Framework Governance NIST CSF or NCSC 10 Steps Controls CIS Controls v8 Threat Simulation MITRE ATT&CK Platform-specific Microsoft Secure Score / Defender / Azure Recommendations
This approach gives you the best of all worlds:
Strategic alignment
Practical control implementation
Threat-driven defence
Real-time remediation guidance
Final Thoughts
Security isn't something you set and forget. It's a living, breathing discipline — and the companies that do it well are the ones that treat it that way.
If you want to move beyond compliance theatre and actually reduce risk, start by adopting a real framework, not just a badge. And if you want help designing or delivering a no-nonsense audit tailored to your infrastructure, get in touch with 365labs.
Let’s make your security posture something to be proud of — not just something to pass.
