A critical component of any organization’s security operations is the ability to automatically generate reports that offer valuable insights into the effectiveness of security measures. These reports help identify potential threats and vulnerabilities and play a crucial role in meeting compliance requirements.

This proactive approach enables security teams to quickly address issues, make informed decisions, and enhance the organization’s security posture, ultimately saving valuable time when reporting to leadership during incidents.

This blog details recommended key reports to share with your board and leadership team along with ways to make the most of your cybersecurity solution.

7 Key Reports Your IT Team Should Use

Being able to grab reports instantly plays a crucial role in saving time and ensuring that when the latest ransomware or breach headlines hit, your leadership team has the answers they need. Below are examples of compliance, board, admin, and IT reports that your IT team should regularly review and incorporate into your security program:

1. One-Touch Compliance Reporting: Ensuring that security measures align with industry standards and regulatory requirements, such as GDPR or HIPAA, is crucial for maintaining data privacy and protecting against legal repercussions. Below are a few examples:

• National Credit Union Association, Automated Cybersecurity Evaluation Toolbox (NCUA ACET)
• Federal Financial Institutions Examinations Council (FFIEC)
• FBI’s Criminal Justice Information Services Division (FBI CJIS)
• Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS)
• Ransomware Self-Assessment Tool (R-SAT)
• Information Technology Risk Examination Program (InTREx CU)
• Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)

2. Detection Analysis: By analyzing detection reports, IT teams can identify trends, patterns, and anomalies in network activity that may signify a breach or potential threat.

3. Darknet Monitoring: Monitoring the darknet for any compromised credentials or sensitive data belonging to the organization can help preemptively address potential security risks.

4. Privileged Account Activity: Tracking and analyzing privileged account activities can help detect unauthorized access or unusual behavior that may signal a security breach.

5. VPN Activity Report: Examining VPN usage and access logs can provide insights into who is accessing the network remotely and identify suspicious or unauthorized activities.

6. Network Health Report: Regularly assessing the overall health of the network, including performance metrics, system vulnerabilities, and security gaps, is important for maintaining a secure and efficient IT infrastructure.

7. Board and IT Steering Committee Report: Providing executive stakeholders with a high-level overview of the organization’s cybersecurity posture, including key metrics, incident response updates, and strategic recommendations, is essential for aligning business objectives with security priorities.

Incorporating these reports into your daily operations will automate the collection, analysis, and reporting of security data. This also allows analysts to focus on more operational tasks, such as threat hunting and incident response, rather than spending time manually compiling and analyzing data. By streamlining these processes, reports help improve overall productivity.

Closing the Reporting Gap with Leadership

Regardless of which report you are looking to pull, having access will play a crucial role in bridging the gap between security teams and leadership by providing an overview of the organization’s cybersecurity posture. These reports offer insights into the efficiency of cybersecurity investments, helping leadership understand and make informed decisions regarding resource allocation.

By tracking security incidents and trends, reports enable organizations to identify gaps in their defenses and prioritize security efforts based on risk assessment. This continuous monitoring enhances communication between different stakeholders and helps build a strong security posture that can withstand evolving cyber threats. Ultimately, reports assist in understanding the security environment and ensuring proactive measures are in place to safeguard the organization’s assets.

Enhance Your Security Posture with One-Touch Reporting

Taking advantage of complete access to one-touch reporting can significantly enhance your organization’s security posture and by working with a Security Operations Platform like Adlumin, you can streamline the process of generating these reports and gain access to expert analysis and recommendations.

This partnership enhances your security capabilities and helps you effectively communicate with leadership and gain a deeper understanding of your security environment. Make the most of automatic reports to stay ahead of threats so you always know where your security posture stands.