Security Reviews Without a Security Team

Think you need a dedicated security team to protect your business? Think again. Even small teams can handle security effectively with the right approach. Here's how:

• Why it matters: Over 50% of cyberattacks target SMBs, and 60% of those affected shut down within 6 months. The average cost of a data breach for smaller companies was £2.6M in 2023. Most breaches are caused by human error, not sophisticated attacks.
• Who this is for: Small teams without a dedicated security team (e.g., SaaS startups, digital agencies, EdTech companies).
• What you’ll learn: A simple, 5-step process to conduct security reviews, practical tools to automate tasks, and how to build security awareness across your team.

Key Takeaways:

1. Build team awareness: Train everyone to spot phishing, create strong passwords, and report issues.
2. Assign ownership: Use an ownership matrix to ensure clear accountability for cloud resources.
3. Follow proven frameworks: Use standards like NIST or CIS Controls for step-by-step guidance.
4. Conduct 5-step reviews:
   • Document all assets.
   • Review user access and permissions.
   • Scan for misconfigurations.
   • Check for vulnerabilities.
   • Set up monitoring and alerts.
5. Use tools and support: Leverage automated tools (e.g., StackHawk, Intruder) and, if needed, external security providers.

Bottom line: Security doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With clear steps, automation, and team accountability, you can protect your business and clients without a full-time security team.

Security Strategy Recommendations for Small to Medium Business, Education, and Government Entities

Core Principles for Simple Security Reviews

You don’t need a team of cybersecurity experts to conduct effective security reviews. What you need are clear, actionable principles that help you focus on what truly matters. With these guiding ideas, even small teams can confidently perform thorough security checks without specialised expertise.

Build Security Awareness Across Teams

Security isn’t just the IT department’s job - it’s something everyone should take seriously. Did you know that 95% of cybersecurity breaches are caused by human error? That’s why fostering security awareness across your team is crucial. When everyone understands the basics, you can dramatically lower the risk of costly mistakes.

Make training practical and relevant to daily tasks. Use short, frequent sessions to teach skills like spotting phishing attempts, creating strong passwords, and reporting suspicious activity. Mix up the formats - videos, interactive lessons, and simulations - to keep things engaging and memorable.

Focus on creating a culture of learning, not blame. Encourage your team to report potential issues without fear of repercussions. Security expert Kelly Begeny puts it best:

"Human error is inevitable, regardless of how strong your program is. So, take a 'more carrot, less stick' approach that encourages employees to share information and fosters a feeling of collaboration."

• Kelly Begeny

Once your team is on board with security basics, the next step is defining clear responsibilities for your cloud resources.

Define Clear Ownership of Cloud Resources

Clarity is key when it comes to managing cloud resources. Every asset - whether it’s a user account, a database, or a security control - needs someone accountable for its upkeep. This isn’t about adding red tape; it’s about ensuring nothing slips through the cracks during your reviews.

The shared responsibility model is a great starting point. Your cloud provider handles the physical infrastructure, but it’s up to you to secure your data, applications, and user access.

"When working with a provider, it's important to use a matrix like the Cloud Controls Matrix and CAIQ questionnaire from the Cloud Security Alliance to understand your responsibility, the cloud service provider's responsibility, and what's shared."

• Cindy Christopher, Director of Managed IT Product and Sales, Alaska Communications

To stay organised, create a simple ownership matrix. Assign specific team members to manage areas like user access controls, database configurations, and security alerts. Regularly review permissions to remove unnecessary access. This way, when it’s time for a security review, you’ll know exactly who to contact and who’s responsible for making updates.

With clear ownership in place, you can now rely on established security frameworks to guide your reviews.

Use Proven Security Standards

Established security frameworks provide a roadmap for keeping your systems secure, even if you’re not a technical expert. The NIST Cybersecurity Framework and CIS Controls are two excellent options that offer practical, step-by-step guidance.

"These frameworks help security professionals organise and manage an information security program. The only bad choice among these frameworks is not choosing any of them."

• Paul Kirvan, TechTarget

For small teams managing cloud environments, the CIS Controls are particularly helpful. They focus on reducing risk and improving resilience, ensuring your efforts have maximum impact. If compliance is a concern, frameworks like ISO 27002 provide a unified approach that can simplify meeting multiple regulations at once - ideal for working with clients in regulated industries.

These standards aren’t just about ticking boxes. They offer a way to prioritise risks, start with the basics, and gradually expand as your team grows more comfortable. Plus, they provide audit trails and documentation that demonstrate your commitment to security - something clients and partners increasingly value.

5-Step Security Review Process

Breaking a security review into clear, actionable steps makes the process easier to manage and more thorough. This approach ensures you address all key areas without needing advanced security expertise. Each step builds upon the last, giving you a full understanding of your security posture.

Document All Your Assets

You can’t protect what you don’t know exists. Start by reviewing your cloud billing dashboard, as it lists all paid resources. From there, include free-tier resources and services that might not show up in billing reports.

Use consistent tagging (e.g., 'Environment: Production', 'Owner: Marketing') to simplify updates and assign accountability. Set up secure naming conventions that indicate both environment (e.g., prod-, dev-, test-) and team ownership (e.g., marketing-db, finance-app).

"Cloud asset management is an essential part of any cloud computing strategy. By implementing Cloud Asset Management, organisations can optimise their cloud spending, improve their security posture, and ensure compliance."

Keep your inventory up to date with workflows that automatically log changes as resources are added or removed. Since cloud environments evolve quickly, outdated records can leave you exposed. Once your inventory is complete, the next step is to evaluate who has access to these resources.

Review User Access and Permissions

Access control is often where the biggest risks hide. Old accounts, excessive permissions, and forgotten API keys can all be exploited by attackers. A systematic review is essential.

Start by removing access for employees who have left the organisation or moved to new roles. Check for users with administrative privileges they no longer need and eliminate shared accounts to promote individual accountability. Review service accounts and delete any that are no longer required.

Pay special attention to API keys and service credentials. Rotate outdated keys, delete unused ones, and ensure permissions are limited to what’s strictly necessary. Apply the principle of least privilege - users should only have the access needed to perform their jobs.

Don’t forget about third-party integrations. Review which external services have access to your systems and their permission levels. Remove unused integrations and limit the permissions of those you continue to use. With access cleaned up, it’s time to look for configuration issues.

Scan for Configuration Problems

Misconfigurations are a major security risk - Gartner reports they account for 80% of all data breaches. Key areas to check include storage bucket permissions, database access settings, and network security configurations.

Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM) tools can help by continuously monitoring your cloud setup, comparing it to security best practices, and alerting you to potential issues in real time.

"Cloud misconfiguration is a leading vulnerability in a cloud environment." - NSA

Ensure all data is encrypted, whether at rest or in transit. Confirm that multi-factor authentication is enabled for administrative accounts. Finally, review your backup configurations to make sure they’re encrypted and access is tightly restricted.

Once configurations are secure, move on to identifying potential vulnerabilities in your systems.

Check for Security Vulnerabilities

Vulnerability scanning helps you identify and fix known security flaws before attackers can exploit them. Look for tools that are easy to deploy, run continuously, and provide clear reports prioritising the most critical issues.

For smaller teams managing cloud environments, tools like Intruder are user-friendly, while OpenVAS offers a free, open-source option. Probely specialises in web application and API scanning.

Set up automated scans to run regularly and receive alerts for new issues. Research shows 93% of network breaches could be avoided with basic security measures. By focusing on the most common and critical vulnerabilities, you can address the biggest risks efficiently.

After addressing vulnerabilities, ensure you have monitoring in place to catch any new issues early.

Set Up Basic Monitoring and Alerts

Monitoring gives you visibility into your environment and helps you respond quickly to potential security incidents. Enable logging for critical systems, such as user authentication, database access, and administrative actions. Store these logs securely to prevent tampering.

Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) tools can analyse logs and events, helping identify misconfigurations and correlate activity across systems.

Prioritise high-impact alerts for events like failed login attempts, privilege escalations, and access to sensitive data. Avoid overwhelming your team with unnecessary notifications by focusing on the most critical alerts.

Set clear response timelines - some alerts may need immediate attention, while others can wait until business hours. Always ensure someone is available to handle critical incidents. These practices not only improve operational security but also provide a reliable audit trail for compliance and incident response.

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Tools and Services for Non-Security Teams

Small teams often face challenges when it comes to security reviews, but automated tools and external partners can make the process far more manageable. These resources allow teams to handle security without having to build in-depth expertise from the ground up, while still retaining control over their infrastructure.

Automated Security Scanning Tools

Automated security scanners are designed to detect vulnerabilities and provide clear, actionable reports, even for those without a security background. The trick is to choose tools that balance simplicity, thoroughness, and usability.

• StackHawk: This tool integrates seamlessly with CI/CD pipelines and sends alerts via Slack. It’s particularly useful for web applications and APIs, making it a great fit for SaaS companies and digital agencies. StackHawk offers a free tier for one application, with a Pro tier starting at £42 per developer per month (minimum of five developers).

  "DAST is not dead, legacy DASTs are. Modern DASTs are changing the industry." - Swan Beaujard, Security Engineer at Escape

• Intruder: Designed for cloud-heavy environments, Intruder combines vulnerability scanning with continuous network monitoring. It automatically adjusts to changes in your infrastructure, which is particularly useful in fast-changing cloud setups. A 14-day free trial is available, and the tool offers three pricing tiers.
• Vulnerability Manager Plus: This tool combines vulnerability assessment, compliance checks, and patch management. It’s free for up to 20 workstations and five servers, making it a cost-effective option for smaller teams.
• ConnectSecure: With flat-rate pricing starting at £299 per month for up to 1,500 devices, ConnectSecure also offers a 14-day free trial. It’s ideal for teams managing a large number of devices.
• OpenVAS and Nmap: OpenVAS provides comprehensive scanning at no cost, while Nmap excels at network discovery. However, Nmap requires a bit more technical know-how.

When choosing a tool, focus on those that offer clear remediation steps. Research suggests that having proper guidance can reduce the average time to fix a single vulnerability to just 21 minutes. Additionally, look for platforms that integrate with your current development workflows and take advantage of free trials to ensure they meet your needs before committing to a subscription.

These tools are most effective when paired with expertise from external security providers, which we’ll explore next.

External Security Support Options

When internal resources are stretched thin, external providers can step in to deliver expert-level security without the need for a dedicated in-house team.

"Security as a service (SECaaS) allows companies to use an external provider to handle and manage cybersecurity. By using a SECaaS vendor, companies benefit from the expertise and innovation of a dedicated cybersecurity team specialising in the intricacies of preventing breaches in a cloud computing environment." - JJ Cranford, Senior Manager of Product Marketing at CrowdStrike

• Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs): MSSPs offer services like continuous monitoring, incident response, and compliance management. This is especially important as Gartner predicts that by 2025, 99% of cloud security failures will stem from customer errors, not cloud provider issues. These providers help prevent misconfigurations and can respond swiftly to incidents.
• Security Consultants: For specific challenges like compliance audits or risk assessments, consultants can provide focused expertise. They can review your infrastructure and create tailored security plans at a fraction of the cost of hiring full-time security staff. This can be a smart move, considering the average cost of a data breach in the US has hit $4.24 million.

  "A professional security consultant is essential for any business looking to address security challenges without breaking the bank. They can create robust security settings that prioritise employee safety and minimise losses for companies of all sizes." - Green Knight Security

When working with external partners, it’s crucial to evaluate their credentials. Develop a security scorecard that reviews their practices, past incidents, compliance status, and audit results. This is important because 74% of security breaches occur due to excessive privileged access granted to third parties.

An example of this approach is Critical Cloud, which provides 24/7 incident response, infrastructure hardening, and compliance-ready operations. Their services are particularly suited to digital agencies, SaaS startups, and EdTech companies. Rather than replacing your team, they act as a safety net, handling operational security while your team focuses on core product development.

For additional assurance, consider external audits to verify your security measures. While self-assessments and questionnaires are more budget-friendly for routine checks, audits can provide greater confidence in your overall security posture. Just ensure you have an exit strategy in place to avoid vendor lock-in and maintain control over your data and infrastructure.

Making Security Part of Daily Operations

Security shouldn’t be something you scramble to address only during emergencies or audits. Instead, it should be seamlessly integrated into your daily routines. When it becomes part of the regular workflow, you can catch potential problems early, maintain consistent protection, and avoid unnecessary disruptions. To achieve this, focus on scheduled reviews, team training, and thorough record-keeping.

Run Security Reviews on a Schedule

Regular security reviews are your best defence against small issues snowballing into major incidents. Treat them like any other essential maintenance task - schedule them in advance rather than waiting for compliance deadlines or security scares.

• Monthly quick checks: Set aside time each month to review user access, scan for new vulnerabilities, and assess any security alerts from the past month. Generate a user access report covering databases, applications, and systems, and update or revoke access where necessary.
• Quarterly deep dives: Take a closer look at your broader security controls every quarter. This includes auditing high-risk assets more frequently while reviewing lower-risk systems less often. Record your findings, assign actionable tasks, and set deadlines to address any issues.
• Annual comprehensive reviews: At least once a year, evaluate your entire security posture. This should include assessing major infrastructure changes, adapting to new regulatory requirements, and reflecting on lessons learned from previous security activities. Smaller organisations may benefit from reviewing their policies more frequently to stay agile.

Stick to a schedule that aligns with your team’s workload, and always conduct reviews after significant changes, like system upgrades or new deployments.

Train Your Entire Team on Security Basics

Routine reviews are only part of the equation. To build a strong defence, your entire team needs to understand the basics of security. When everyone has this knowledge, your organisation becomes much harder to breach.

Start by introducing threat modelling at the beginning of development projects. This helps your team identify risks early, reducing the chances of vulnerabilities reaching production.

Incorporate security into code reviews and adopt a 'Shift Left' approach. This means catching issues like hard-coded credentials, weak input validation, or overly permissive access controls early in the development lifecycle, rather than dealing with them as last-minute fixes.

You can also schedule dedicated security sprints to tackle unresolved security issues systematically. Think of it as managing security debt in the same way you handle technical debt - methodically and with clear priorities.

Keep Records of Security Activities

Good security practices rely on solid documentation. Keeping detailed records not only ensures accountability but also helps your team learn and improve over time. Plus, it’s essential for demonstrating compliance and responding effectively when incidents occur.

• Maintain an audit trail that logs who accessed which systems and when. Automated tools can track critical changes, creating transparency and aiding in investigations if suspicious activity arises.
• Use project management tools to prioritise and track security tasks alongside other development work. This ensures security doesn’t fall by the wayside.
• Build a centralised database for tracking assets. This should include systems in use, the people responsible for them, and the security measures in place. Make sure the database is easy to update.

Finally, document your security processes in detail so every team member knows exactly what to do. Include clear steps, tools, and criteria for determining whether an issue requires immediate attention or can be scheduled for later review. Keep records of fixes and verify their outcomes - this builds institutional knowledge and speeds up your response to similar challenges in the future.

Conclusion: Practical Security for Small Teams

Achieving effective security without a dedicated team of specialists is entirely possible when you approach it systematically. The key is making security a shared responsibility across your organisation, rather than relying solely on a specialised group. This shift in mindset transforms security from a complex technical hurdle into an integral part of your business operations.

Once this perspective is embraced, the focus moves to practical steps: structured processes, smart automation, and shared accountability. These elements form the backbone of a successful security strategy. A five-step security review process offers a clear framework, while automated tools take care of routine checks and monitoring. At the same time, equipping your team with the right training and clearly defining ownership of resources turns them into your first line of defence.

This strategy is designed to grow with your organisation. Start with straightforward measures like strong password policies and two-factor authentication. As your team becomes more comfortable with security protocols, you can introduce additional controls. Automation plays a crucial role here, handling repetitive tasks and allowing your team to focus on more strategic decisions.

Everyone in your organisation - from developers to customer support - has a role to play in protecting your systems. By embedding security practices into daily operations, rather than treating them as an afterthought, you create a defence system that evolves and strengthens over time.

FAQs

How can small teams secure their cloud infrastructure without a dedicated security team?

Small teams can keep their cloud infrastructure safe by turning to lightweight security tools like automated vulnerability scanners and compliance checkers. These tools are straightforward to use, don’t demand extensive technical know-how, and can quickly spot and address risks.

Carrying out regular security reviews is equally important. Start by mapping out your assets, identifying weak spots, and ranking risks by priority. This way, your team can tackle the most pressing threats first. On top of that, promoting a security-first mindset through training and awareness can go a long way in minimising human errors - often the Achilles' heel of any security setup.

By blending practical tools, a clear strategy for managing risks, and a proactive team attitude, small organisations can maintain robust security measures without needing a dedicated security team.

What tools can small teams use to streamline security tasks without a dedicated security team?

Small teams can streamline their security efforts with tools that are easy to use and effective. These lightweight solutions are designed to deliver results without requiring extensive expertise. Here are some great options:

• Intruder: A simple yet powerful vulnerability scanner that identifies and prioritises security risks, making it a practical choice for those without a technical background.
• OWASP ZAP: This open-source tool is tailored for spotting vulnerabilities in web applications, making it a favourite for teams focusing on web-based projects.
• Nessus: A reliable tool for scanning networks and applications, known for its broad capabilities and user-friendly interface.

These tools are budget-friendly and efficient, making them ideal for small businesses or growing companies looking to improve their security setup without needing a dedicated security team.

How can small businesses manage accountability for cloud resources without overcomplicating processes?

Small businesses can keep track of their cloud resources and ensure accountability by following a few simple steps. Start by promoting a security-first approach across all teams. This involves making sure everyone knows their part in keeping data secure and offering basic training on best practices. When security is seen as a shared responsibility, there's less dependence on a dedicated security team.

To simplify resource management, implement role-based access control (RBAC). This system grants permissions based on job roles, ensuring only the right people can access sensitive data. Another helpful tip is to tag cloud resources with relevant metadata. By doing this, you can easily track ownership and usage, making it clear who is responsible for specific resources.

By adopting these straightforward measures, small businesses can maintain accountability while keeping operations both efficient and secure.