A security assessment: which type of assessment do you use and when?

A security assessment: which type of assessment do you use and when?

Cybercriminals exploit every blind spot in your IT environment, often even before you realize something is wrong. Moreover, with the introduction of new legislation such as NIS2 and DORA, digital resilience is a strict requirement. Security assessments help you maintain control over risks, legislation, and your own cybersecurity strategy. But how do you go about it, and which assessment is valuable when? This is what you need to know.

Cyber ​​risks continue to grow, according to the latest edition of the Security Navigator . Smaller organizations, in particular, are facing tough times: the number of cyber extortion attacks on SMEs rose by 53% in 2024 compared to the previous year. Furthermore, our SOC teams investigated 135,225 suspicious reports last year. Of these, in 20,706 cases—more than one in seven—it turned out to be genuine. Anyone who still has blind spots in their IT landscape is gambling with their business continuity. 

Insight into your IT environment, risks, and threat landscape is therefore indispensable. A tool or checklist is insufficient. You need a structural approach that looks not only at technology, but at the whole picture: people, processes, systems, and context.

Moreover, that insight is not without obligation. Especially with the arrival of NIS2 and DORA, it is crucial that your digital resilience is demonstrably in order. A security assessment helps with this. It not only maps out risks but also shows what you need to change to meet the stricter requirements regarding governance, detection, and response.

What types of security assessments are there?

Not every organisation faces the same risks or has the same IT environment. Therefore, there are various security assessments tailored to your technology, processes, and maturity level. Below you will find an overview of the most important types.

1. Security Maturity Assessment

A Security Maturity Assessment is an analysis of your current cybersecurity maturity: how well are policies, processes, technology, and awareness aligned? You receive a score per domain, a benchmark against comparable organizations, and a roadmap for improvement. Ideal as a starting point for structural growth.

• Read more: Security Maturity Assessment

2. Cloud Security Maturity Assessment

Do you work in Azure, AWS, or Google Cloud? Then a cloud security assessment is indispensable. You assess your environment across eight critical domains, including identity, network architecture, and incident response. The evaluation is based on recognized standards such as CSA, CIS, ISO, and SANS.

• Read more: Cloud Security Maturity Assessment

3. Zero-trust Assessment

Zero Trust is not a tool, but a mindset: do not trust anything or anyone blindly, not even within your network. With a Zero-Trust Assessment, you make this strategy concrete. You analyze your current access models, network architecture, and segmentation, and map out where trust can still be placed.

• Read more: A future-proof cybersecurity strategy with Zero Trust

4. OT Security Assessment

Specifically for industrial environments, there are three types of OT security assessments:

• Basic: for an initial risk assessment
• Advanced: includes on-site technical inspection
• Design review: assessment of architecture and network separation

This approach aligns with standards such as IEC 62443 and is tailored to SCADA and ICS environments.

• Read more: OT Security Assessment

5. Ethical Hacking

Do you want to know how good your security really is? With Ethical Hacking, trusted hackers put themselves in the shoes of an attacker to identify your weak points before malicious actors do. Depending on your objective and risk profile, various types of tests are performed: from a targeted penetration test on your applications or infrastructure to a realistic red teaming approach that also includes social engineering and physical access. In some cases, it is also combined with blue teaming (defense) for a so-called purple team approach. This way, you gain insight not only into technical vulnerabilities but also into your detection and response capabilities.

• Read more: Ethical Hacking

How does a security assessment proceed?

A good security assessment always proceeds in multiple phases. Whether you choose a maturity scan, cloud audit, or red team simulation, the core of the process is the same: prepare, analyze, advise, and improve. Depending on the type of assessment, additional steps may be required, such as an on-site visit for an OT assessment. At Orange Cyberdefense, we do this in a structured and transparent manner.

1. Preparation & scoping

We start with an intake: what is the goal of the assessment, which systems or processes fall within the scope, and what are your priorities?

2. Data collection & analysis

Depending on the type of assessment, we collect data via scans, tools, interviews, or manual inspections. Examples include vulnerability scans, configuration analyses, and, if necessary, an on-site analysis.

3. Reporting & Prioritization

We process all findings into a clear risk report.

4. Advice & roadmap

The report is followed by practical security advice. We discuss possible solutions, quick wins, and long-term improvements.

5. Follow-up & improvement

An assessment is not an endpoint, but an intermediate step. Therefore, we also offer the option of reassessments after implementation and ongoing monitoring via our SOC or MDR services.

Why Orange Cyberdefense?

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Do you want insight into your biggest risks and practical areas for improvement? Schedule an introductory meeting with our security experts today.