If you were locked out of your systems tomorrow, what would happen to payroll?

Payroll teams sit at the heart of every organisation, processing salaries, managing employee data and handling information that cyber criminals would very much like to get their hands on. From phishing emails and payroll fraud to ransomware attacks and data breaches, the risks facing organisations continue to grow.

Most organisations already have an internal IT team or a trusted external provider helping to keep systems secure. However, one question that is often overlooked is whether those cyber security arrangements have ever been independently reviewed.

An independent cyber audit is designed to complement the work your IT do. It provides an objective assessment of your organisation's cyber security arrangements, helping you understand whether your controls are operating as intended and whether there are risks that could be affecting the security of your people, systems and data.

When carrying out cyber security reviews, it is common to find issues that have developed gradually over time. Access permissions may no longer reflect an employee's role, security settings can vary across systems, older software may still be in use, or policies may not have kept pace with changing ways of working. Organisations are often surprised to discover weaknesses in areas such as staff awareness training, supplier management or incident response planning.

For payroll and HR teams, the consequences of a cyber incident can be particularly significant. Employee records, bank details and salary information can all be targeted, while operational disruption can affect an organisation's ability to process payroll and maintain business continuity.

An independent review can provide reassurance that the right controls are in place, identify areas for improvement and help ensure that cyber security investment is focused where it will have the greatest impact.

Cyber security is about much more than technology. It's about protecting your people, your data, your operations and your reputation.

At Armstrong Watson, our Cyber Security team works with organisations across a range of sectors, providing practical, independent advice that helps them understand and manage cyber risk with confidence. Whether you have an in-house IT team or work with an external provider, an independent review can offer valuable insight and reassurance.