Identify gaps. Strengthen systems. Prepare for certification.

Whether you’re preparing for ISO 27001, renewing Cyber Essentials, or just want to understand how secure your setup really is, a proper security audit gives you clarity.

At LeftBrain, we deliver internal security audits that evaluate your people, processes and systems. We identify where things are working, where the gaps are, and what needs to be done to meet the standards your business is aiming for.

Our audits are detailed, practical and delivered with your real-world setup in mind.

---

What is security auditing?

A security audit is a structured review of your technical controls, policies and day-to-day practices. It helps ensure that your business is protecting its data, complying with frameworks like ISO or Cyber Essentials, and meeting the expectations of clients, partners and insurers.

Unlike vulnerability scans or penetration testing, a security audit looks at your whole system — not just your code or network.

It includes:

• Interviews with key staff
• Review of security policies and procedures
• Assessment of technical tools and system configurations
• Analysis of how security is managed and documented
• Identification of compliance gaps
• Clear recommendations and risk prioritisation

The result is a report that helps you improve, not just check a box.

---

Why security auditing matters

Security is not just about technology. It is about how your business operates every day.

Audits help you:

• Prepare for external assessments
• Find gaps before clients or auditors do
• Strengthen your controls without overcomplicating them
• Align with frameworks like ISO 27001, Cyber Essentials or SOC 2
• Improve your internal practices and documentation

Regular auditing also helps prevent drift. Even good systems can slip over time if no one is reviewing how they’re being used.

---

Our audit process

We deliver internal audits tailored to your certification goals and business context.

Step 1: Planning

We clarify the scope. Are you preparing for ISO 27001? Reviewing your Cyber Essentials controls? Looking for a general security health check?

We then define which systems, policies and teams are in scope for the audit.

Step 2: Discovery

We collect information through:

• Staff interviews
• Policy and document reviews
• System access and configuration checks
• Review of asset, access and risk registers

We assess what is in place and how it compares to best practice and your chosen framework.

Step 3: Gap analysis

We document:

• Where controls are missing or incomplete
• Where documentation needs improvement
• Where technical systems do not align with policy
• What actions are required and how urgent they are

We present this in a clear audit report, written in plain language and mapped to your compliance needs.

Step 4: Support and remediation

We don’t stop at handing over a report. We help you:

• Prioritise actions
• Implement improvements
• Update documentation
• Prepare for external certification

If you’re already working with us on ISO 27001 or Cyber Essentials, the audit becomes part of your wider compliance roadmap.

---

Types of audits we offer

• ISO 27001 internal audit A formal internal audit required before external certification. We cover all control areas and provide documentation ready for your auditor.
• Cyber Essentials pre-audit We check your current systems against the Cyber Essentials criteria and help you address any gaps before submission.
• General security audit For businesses not aiming for certification but wanting to understand their strengths, weaknesses and next steps.

All audits come with a written report, action plan and optional support to implement changes.

---

What we review

Each audit is tailored, but common areas include:

• Identity and access management
• Password policies and multi-factor authentication
• Endpoint protection
• Backup and recovery
• Remote work policies
• User awareness training
• Logging and monitoring
• Incident response
• Supplier risk and third-party access
• Data handling and encryption
• Device and asset management
• Security policy structure and review history

---

What this unlocks for your business

For leadership

• Confidence in your security position
• Evidence for clients, insurers and stakeholders
• A roadmap for improvement without overbuilding

For IT and security teams

• Clarity on what is working and what needs work
• External perspective and structured review
• Support prioritising and fixing issues

For compliance leads

• Clear mapping to ISO 27001, Cyber Essentials and GDPR
• Reduced risk of non-conformance
• Better internal coordination and review history

For your whole team

• Policies and systems that actually match how people work
• Fewer surprises and last-minute rushes at audit time
• Stronger awareness and ownership of security

---

Why LeftBrain

We know how audits can feel. Time-consuming. Technical. Stressful.

We make them useful, human and part of a wider strategy.

You get:

• Experienced auditors who understand small and scaling businesses
• Reports written in plain English, not technical jargon
• Practical recommendations based on your real-world systems
• Support fixing the issues, not just pointing them out

“Working with LeftBrain brings a lot of gravitas; it’s made it so much easier to answer detailed security questions in RFPs or audits. We know we can reach out and get the right answers quickly, and that’s a huge part of why the relationship works so well.”