What is a Cybersecurity Audit?
Our audits benchmark security controls against standards and requirements including the Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT), NCSC Cyber Assessment Framework (CAF), Cyber Essentials, and ISO 27001.
Who Needs a Cybersecurity Audit for Healthcare?
A cybersecurity risk assessment is valuable for any organisation that needs independent assurance that its security controls are appropriate, effective, and aligned with recognised industry standards. This is particularly important for NHS suppliers, health IT vendors, digital health companies, and SaaS providers that process, store, or transmit patient and healthcare data.
Medical device manufacturers, life sciences organisations, and other businesses handling sensitive clinical, research, or personal information can also benefit from an independent review of their cybersecurity posture. Increasingly, customers, investors, insurers, and procurement teams expect organisations to demonstrate that cybersecurity risks are being actively managed.
Many organisations seek a cybersecurity audit when preparing for NHS procurement opportunities, DTAC assessments, ISO 27001 certification, or Cyber Essentials accreditation. Information security audits are also commonly commissioned in response to customer security questionnaires, supplier assurance requests, cyber insurance requirements, mergers and acquisitions due diligence, or following a cybersecurity incident.
By identifying gaps and benchmarking security controls against recognised frameworks, a cyber security audit provides a clear roadmap for improving resilience and demonstrating assurance to customers, partners, and other stakeholders.
What Does a Cybersecurity Audit Involve?
- 01
Scoping and Framework Selection
The cyber security audit begins by defining the scope of the assessment, including business units, systems, services, suppliers, and data flows. We work with organisations to select the most appropriate benchmark framework based on their objectives, such as the NCSC Cyber Assessment Framework (CAF), ISO 27001, Cyber Essentials, DSPT, or a combination of requirements. The output is an agreed audit scope and assessment criteria.
- 02
Evidence Gathering and Discovery
The next stage involves collecting evidence to understand how security is governed, implemented, and monitored across the organisation. This may include documentation reviews, stakeholder interviews, policy assessments, technical configuration reviews, asset inventories, and data flow mapping exercises. The objective is to establish a clear picture of the organisation's current security controls, responsibilities, and risk landscape.
- 03
Controls Assessment and Gap Analysis
Using the selected framework, we assess the effectiveness of existing controls and identify areas where requirements are only partially met or absent. Depending on the scope, this may include governance arrangements, access control, incident response, vulnerability management, supplier assurance, business continuity, and technical security measures. The primary output is a detailed gap analysis showing how current controls compare to the chosen framework.
- 04
Risk Rating and Prioritisation
Not all findings carry the same level of risk or urgency. We assess identified gaps based on their potential impact, likelihood, and relevance to the organisation's operational and regulatory environment. Findings from the cybersecurity audit are prioritised to help stakeholders focus resources on the areas that will deliver the greatest improvement in security and assurance. Outputs typically include a risk register and prioritised findings log.
- 05
Reporting and Remediation Roadmap
The final stage brings together the cyber security audit findings into a clear and actionable report. This includes an executive summary, framework benchmarking results, identified gaps, risk ratings, and recommended actions. Organisations receive a practical remediation roadmap designed to support security improvement, procurement readiness, certification preparation, and ongoing assurance activities. Key deliverables typically include an Audit Report, Gap Analysis, Risk Register, and Remediation Roadmap.
Common Challenges with Healthcare Cyber Security Audits
Many organisations invest in cybersecurity audits but fail to realise their full value. A common challenge is scoping the audit too narrowly, focusing on individual controls or compliance requirements rather than obtaining a holistic view of organisational security posture. Others approach audits as a tick-box exercise, prioritising compliance over meaningful risk reduction and resilience.
Healthcare suppliers must also navigate multiple frameworks, including the DSPT, NCSC Cyber Assessment Framework (CAF), ISO 27001, and Cyber Essentials. Without specialist guidance, teams can struggle to understand which requirements apply, how frameworks overlap, and where to focus their efforts.
Even when weaknesses are identified, healthcare cyber security audit findings are not always prioritised effectively. Lengthy reports without clear risk ratings or remediation plans can leave organisations uncertain about what to address first. This challenge is often compounded by limited in-house cybersecurity resources, particularly within fast-growing digital health, health-tech, and medical device companies.
Experienced, healthcare-literate support helps ensure audits deliver practical, prioritised outcomes that strengthen security, support assurance requirements, and drive meaningful improvement.
How AbedGraham Supports Cybersecurity Audits
Full Cybersecurity Audit
We conduct comprehensive cybersecurity audits that assess the effectiveness of security controls across people, processes, and technology. The result is an independent view of organisational security maturity, key risks, and opportunities for improvement.
Framework Gap Analysis
For organisations preparing for procurement, certification, or assurance activities, we benchmark existing controls against recognised frameworks including the DSPT, NCSC Cyber Assessment Framework (CAF), ISO 27001, and Cyber Essentials. This provides a clear understanding of compliance gaps and areas requiring attention.
Cybersecurity Maturity Assessment
We assess current cybersecurity capabilities across governance, risk management, operations, and technical controls, helping leadership teams understand where the organisation sits today and define an achievable target state aligned to business objectives and stakeholder expectations.
Remediation Roadmap and Improvement Support
Identifying gaps is only the first step. We provide prioritised remediation roadmaps that focus resources on the actions that will deliver the greatest reduction in risk and improvement in assurance. Where required, our specialists can provide hands-on support to help implement improvements, strengthen governance, and prepare for future audits, certifications, and customer due diligence activities.
Why Choose The AbedGraham Group?
The AbedGraham Group combines deep expertise in healthcare, life sciences, medical technology, and cybersecurity to deliver audits that provide meaningful assurance rather than simply measuring compliance. Our approach is proportionate and risk-based, focusing on the controls and risks that matter most to your organisation, customers, and stakeholders.
We benchmark findings against the frameworks most commonly required by NHS buyers and healthcare supply chains, including the DSPT, ISO 27001, Cyber Essentials, and the NCSC Cyber Assessment Framework (CAF). The result is clear, defensible, board-ready reporting that supports informed decision-making and prioritised investment.
Our consultants work as an extension of your team, providing practical guidance and hands-on support to help close gaps, strengthen security maturity, and demonstrate assurance with confidence.
Cybersecurity
Talk to a Cybersecurity Specialist
Contact our healthcare cybersecurity experts today to discuss your audit and assurance requirements.
Services Related to Cybersecurity Audits for Healthcare
DSPT Independent Assurance
Readiness assessments, independent assurance audits, and remediation support to help NHS suppliers meet Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT) requirements with confidence.
ISO Cybersecurity Services
Expert support for ISO 27001 certification, information security management systems, and related standards such as ISO 22301, helping organisations strengthen governance and demonstrate assurance.
Frequently asked questions
A cyber security audit is an independent, point-in-time assessment of an organisation's security controls, policies, processes, and overall security posture. It evaluates how effectively cyber risks are being managed and benchmarks existing controls against recognised frameworks. The objective is to identify strengths, highlight gaps, and provide practical recommendations that improve resilience, assurance, and compliance.
A cybersecurity audit and a penetration test serve different purposes. A penetration test focuses on identifying exploitable technical vulnerabilities within systems and applications. A cybersecurity audit takes a broader view, assessing governance, policies, risk management, access controls, incident response, supplier assurance, and technical security measures. Many organisations use both services as part of a comprehensive cybersecurity programme.
Cyber security audits can be benchmarked against a range of recognised frameworks depending on organisational objectives and customer requirements. Common examples include the NHS Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT), the NCSC Cyber Assessment Framework (CAF), ISO 27001, Cyber Essentials, and the NIST Cybersecurity Framework (NIST CSF). Many organisations choose a multi-framework assessment to support procurement, assurance, and certification objectives simultaneously.
The duration of a cybersecurity audit depends on the size, complexity, and maturity of the organisation, as well as the scope of the assessment. A focused audit of a smaller organisation may be completed within a few weeks, while broader multi-framework assessments can take longer. Timescales are typically influenced by the availability of evidence, stakeholder interviews, and the number of systems and services in scope.
Many NHS suppliers require independent cybersecurity assurance to meet procurement and contractual requirements. In particular, suppliers that meet the NHS Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT) criteria for Independent Assurance, organisations with 50 or more employees and £10 million or more in global annual revenue, must obtain an independent assessment of their DSPT submission. Even where independent assurance is not mandatory, a cybersecurity audit can help organisations prepare for NHS procurement, demonstrate security maturity, respond to customer due diligence requests, and identify gaps before undertaking formal compliance or certification activities. For many suppliers, an independent audit provides valuable evidence of supply-chain assurance and effective cyber risk management.
The primary outputs are typically an Audit Report, Gap Analysis, Risk Register, and Remediation Roadmap. These deliverables provide a clear view of current security maturity, benchmark controls against recognised frameworks, prioritise identified risks, and outline practical actions to strengthen cybersecurity. The findings can also support board reporting, procurement activities, customer assurance, and future certification programmes.
Most organisations benefit from conducting a cyber security risk assessment on a regular basis, particularly where they process sensitive information, operate in regulated sectors, or supply services to healthcare organisations. Annual reviews are common, although additional audits may be appropriate following significant organisational changes, major technology implementations, cybersecurity incidents, mergers and acquisitions, or changes to regulatory or customer requirements.
Related services
DSPT Audit & Compliance Readiness Services
The NHS Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT) is a mandatory assurance requirement for IT…
vCISO for Healthcare & Life Sciences
Cybersecurity leadership is no longer optional in regulated healthcare markets. Whether you are…
Incident Response for Healthcare & Life Sciences
When a cyber incident occurs, speed and precision matter. But in healthcare and life sciences, the…