The word ‘audit’ usually causes some tension in any company. Whether for legal, financial, or technical reasons, any external review necessitates a critical examination of our processes.
And when we discuss cybersecurity audits,the tension escalates. Are we protected? Do we know where our weaknesses are? What if the auditor finds an open door?
This is where cybersecurity due diligence comes into playan essential process to prepare your company for this type of evaluation. Beyond legal compliance, it is about protecting critical assets, reputation, and, above all, the trust of your clients and partners.
What is cybersecurity due diligence?
When a company undergoes a due diligence audit, whether for an investment, a merger, or to comply with regulations, one of the key aspects that is analyzed is the state of its cybersecurity.. Internal policies, incident response protocols, network configurations, and the storage of sensitive data are reviewed, among other relevant aspects.
Due diligence seeks to identify risks before they become problems.. In the digital context, this means detecting web vulnerabilities before an attacker does.
For example, typical examples of due diligence may include reviewing the security of connected devices (IoT), analyzing remote access, protecting personal data, or ensuring the company’s visibility on the dark web.
Now, how can an organization prepare so that this review does not become an endless list of failures?
Before the audit: visibility and prevention
This is where tools like Kartosby Enthec play a fundamental role. This is a Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM) solution designed for companies that want to know, in real-time, what attack surface they are presenting to the world.
That is, what information, configurations, or failures are visible from the outside, in the same way that a potential attacker or auditor sees them.
And this is no small thing. During the due diligence process, one of the most common mistakes is relying solely on internal measures or static reports.. However, threats evolve daily, just as a company’s digital footprint does.
Kartos enables continuous monitoring, detecting everything from leaked passwords to exposed services, poorly configured repositories, and even vulnerabilities in IoT devices, such as surveillance cameras, sensors, and routers.
What can (and cannot) a due diligence audit detect?
In the same way that a penetration test, or pentesting, occurs,traditional cybersecurity due diligence has a limited scope. Although it allows you to identify technical, regulatory, or process risks at a specific point in time, it does not provide a continuous or dynamic view of the company’s actual exposure status.
It’s like taking a static photo of a network at a specific moment. However, the threats persist, and the attack surface evolves with each new configuration, vendor, employee, or service that comes online.
This is where Kartos shines.. This tool detects which weaknesses can be seen from outside in real time:
- Leaked credentials in databases or forums.
- Misconfigured utilities or exposed.
- Forgotten subdomains or without protection.
- Expired digital certificates.
- Known vulnerabilities in systems accessible from the Internet.
- Information that is visible in open sources and on the dark web.
But the most important thing is not only what it detects, but what due diligence cannot detect if it is not complemented. Without continuous monitoring, any audit becomes obsolete the moment it is completed.
Therefore, the due diligence process needs to be supplemented with tools like Kartos to cover the remaining risk areas. Only in this way can we speak of a complete vision.
Why do IoT vulnerabilities escape traditional due diligence?
One of the most common blind spots in due diligence audits is the Internet of Things (IoT) devices. Cameras, sensors, printers, and routers are all integral components of a company’s digital ecosystem; however, many of them are not properly audited or managed.
And this is a problem. According to data from Kaspersky (2023), attacks on IoT devices grew by 41% in a single year.. Many of them exploited default passwords, outdated firmware, or open ports that had not been checked.
The most worrying thing? These types of errors are not always visible during a traditional due diligence process, especially if they are not integrated into a clear policy or are not part of the official inventory.
With Kartos, these elements are brought into focus, as the tool analyzes what is visible from the outside, just as an attacker or external researcher would do.. This allows critical input vectors to be detected before they generate an incident… or before an auditor flags them as a serious threat.
What does the cybersecurity due diligence process include?
Although it varies depending on the type of audit, a typical process usually includes:
1. Document review
Security policies, contingency plans, internal training, and other relevant measures. Here we analyze whether the company has clear rules and applies them.
2. Technical analysis
Network scans, log reviews, malware detectionpenetration tests, and more. In this phase, fundamental weaknesses are detected.
3. Exposure assessment
This point is key and often ignored. It attempts to analyze what information is visible from the outside, such as external access, open services, and data leaks. Precisely, Kartos’ strong point.
4. Risk assessment
With all of the above, a risk map is generated that enables informed decisions to be made, such as reinforcing measures, prioritizing investments, or even pausing operations if the level of exposure is extremely high.
You may be interested→ Cybersecurity risk management for C-levels.
What are the benefits of getting ahead of the audit?
Preparing ahead of time not only reduces stress but also enhances the company’s position with investors, partners, or buyers.. Additionally, it allows:
- Anticipate problems before third parties detect them.
- Enhance your security posture without last-minute rushes.
- Increase confidence in strategic business decisions.
And above all, it transmits an image of technological maturity, which in 2025 is more critical than ever.
Enthec: ally during the due diligence process
Enthec not only offers cybersecurity solutions like Kartos (for companies) and Qondar (for individual users), but also provides tranquillity. The possibility of knowing, at any time, how exposed your organization is. To receive alerts before the media does. To anticipate, instead of react.
Because in cybersecurity, information is power, but continuous monitoring is a matter of survival.
If you are preparing an audit or want to assess the visibility of your weaknesses, it’s time to talk to Enthec.
Cybersecurity audits are not a luxury, but a necessity. Due diligence should not be seen as a threat, but rather as an opportunity to strengthen our systems, learn from our weaknesses, and demonstrate to the market that we are prepared.
Because, ultimately, it is not just about passing an audit, but about building a safe, solid, and sustainable company.