Technology changes fast, and every year brings new security risks, compliance requirements, and operational challenges. For our customers, keeping up with these changes can feel overwhelming. That is why we developed the Industry Standard Audit, a yearly review that ensures every system we manage is secure, resilient, and up to date.
The Industry Standard Audit is not a government requirement, and it is not tied to any one compliance framework. Instead, it is our way of giving customers a full health check on their IT environments. We created it to provide peace of mind and to make sure nothing falls through the cracks.
This October, the 2025 version of the audit goes live. It introduces some of the most significant improvements since we first launched the program. In this article, we will explain what the audit is, why it matters, and what has changed from 2024 to 2025.
What is the Industry Standard Audit?
The Industry Standard Audit is a multi-point inspection of IT systems that we conduct for every managed support customer once per year. Think of it as the equivalent of a comprehensive medical check-up, except for your computers, servers, and networks.
The checklist covers everything from cybersecurity policies to business continuity planning to physical infrastructure. Where most providers focus on a single slice of IT, this process looks at the entire picture.
During the audit, our technicians:
- Review security settings, policies, and user access.
- Verify that backups, disaster recovery solutions, and failover systems are working correctly.
- Document and label physical equipment.
- Update records, warranties, and inventory lists.
Customers do not need to do anything. We handle the full audit as part of our managed support service, then deliver a report card that highlights strengths and outlines any issues we resolved.
The end goal is simple: to make IT environments safer, more reliable, and easier to manage.
Why it Matters
The Industry Standard Audit has two main benefits.
1. Risk Reduction
By identifying gaps before they become problems, we protect businesses from costly downtime, data loss, and cyber incidents. Issues like outdated passwords, misconfigured backups, or missing security patches are caught and fixed during the audit. For perspective, IBM’s annual Cost of a Data Breach Report highlights how expensive unaddressed vulnerabilities can be.
2. Operational Clarity
Technology can be complicated. The audit removes guesswork by documenting how systems are configured, how assets are maintained, and how data is protected. Customers no longer have to wonder whether their systems are secure or whether their backups are working. They know, because we have checked and verified everything.
Most importantly, the audit is updated every year to match industry trends and new threats. That means customers are not just keeping pace, they are staying ahead.
What Changed in 2025
The 2025 Industry Standard Audit introduces more than thirty new requirements compared to the 2024 version. These updates reflect new cybersecurity realities, lessons from real-world incidents, and feedback from past audits.
We have grouped the most important changes into three categories: cybersecurity, business continuity, and operational discipline.
1. Cybersecurity: Stronger Protection
Cybersecurity threats continue to grow in both volume and complexity. The 2025 audit makes several upgrades to strengthen defense.
- Incident Response Plan (IRP): Every environment we manage now has a documented and tested plan for responding to security incidents. Our team conducts tabletop exercises to confirm readiness.
- Phishing Simulation and Awareness Training: We run simulations and provide training throughout the year to measure resilience against phishing attacks. For additional guidance, see the FTC’s phishing education resources.
- Domain Security Records: We configure and verify DMARC, DKIM, and SPF records for customer domains, protecting against email spoofing.
- Audit Logging: Platforms like Office 365 and Google Admin are checked to ensure logs are enabled and reviewed.
- Encryption Standards: All computers and servers under management must now be encrypted.
Together, these updates help reduce the risk of breaches and ensure that if an incident does occur, systems and staff are ready to respond.
2. Business Continuity: Proving Recovery
Backups are only valuable if they work. The 2025 audit raises expectations around continuity and disaster recovery.
- Recovery Objectives: We define and validate both Recovery Time Objectives (RTO) and Recovery Point Objectives (RPO) for every customer. These numbers set realistic goals for how quickly systems must recover and how much data can be safely lost. For context, NIST’s guide to contingency planning is a commonly referenced standard.
- Continuity Exercises: Annual disaster recovery drills are now part of the standard process. Our team runs the exercises, documents the results, and confirms systems can be restored as planned.
- On-Prem Backup Synchronization: Local backups are synchronized with secondary systems to provide redundancy in case of primary failure.
- Emergency Power Failure Tests: We test battery backups and power solutions to confirm systems can remain online during outages.
This approach shifts the focus from simply having backups to proving that recovery is possible, reliable, and fast.
3. Operational and Physical Security: Tightening Controls
Operational discipline is just as important as technical safeguards. The 2025 audit strengthens requirements in several areas.
- Physical Access Controls: Facilities must have proper safeguards, such as badges or visitor logs, to prevent unauthorized entry.
- Photo Documentation: We take dated photos of network stacks and equipment, ensuring transparency and quick reference for troubleshooting.
- Server Closet Standards: Cables are organized, equipment is labeled, and layouts are documented. This prevents confusion during emergencies.
- Battery Backup Management: Every battery backup is labeled and logged, with replacements scheduled every three years.
While these details may seem small, they create consistency and reduce risk across customer environments.
2024 vs 2025: The Difference
The 2024 checklist was already robust, but the 2025 version is more mature and more demanding. Last year’s audit asked whether systems were in place. This year’s audit goes further by asking whether those systems are documented, tested, and proven.
For example:
- In 2024, backups were checked. In 2025, backups must be tested in real recovery scenarios.
- In 2024, password policies were reviewed. In 2025, phishing resilience is actively measured.
- In 2024, equipment was listed. In 2025, equipment must be labeled, photographed, and organized.
In short, the new audit moves from checking the box to verifying performance.
What This Means for Customers
For our customers, these changes do not create more work. They create more confidence. Our team carries out every item on the checklist, resolves issues as they are found, and provides clear reporting at the end.
By undergoing the 2025 Industry Standard Audit, customers benefit from:
- Lower risk of downtime, data loss, and cyberattacks.
- Verified recovery strategies and tested backup solutions.
- Clear documentation of assets, policies, and safeguards.
- Stronger peace of mind knowing that IT systems meet or exceed modern standards.
Looking Ahead
The Industry Standard Audit will continue to evolve. Looking forward, we anticipate adding checks related to artificial intelligence, supply chain security, and sustainability. For now, though, the 2025 audit focuses on the essentials: stronger cybersecurity, tested recovery, and tighter operational discipline.
As October arrives, our customers can rest assured that their systems are in good hands. The Industry Standard Audit is not just about passing a test. It is about proving readiness, building resilience, and making sure that when challenges come, business continues without interruption.
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