8 Critical Controls
Enterprise Clients Look For
Introduction
In today's interconnected business landscape, enterprise organizations are increasingly scrutinizing the security postures of their SME partners and vendors.
This checklist will help you understand and implement the critical security controls that enterprise clients expect, positioning your organization as a trusted business partner.
How to Use This Checklist
- Rate your organization's current status for each control
- Document gaps and immediate action items
- Use the provided quick wins to make immediate improvements
- Track your progress toward full implementation
The 8 Critical Controls
01 Information Security Management
Why It Matters:
Enterprise clients expect documented and effective information security controls.
Assessment Questions:
- Does your organisation have an individual responsible for Information Security
- Does the organization have written information security policies?
- Do you maintain ISO 27001 / Cyber Essentials certification?
- Are security controls regularly tested and validated?
- Can you demonstrate continuous security improvement?
Quick Wins:
- Implement security policies aligned to best practice
- Create security metrics and reporting
- Establish control testing programme
- Document security improvement plans
02 Access Management and Authentication
Why It Matters: 80% of data breaches involve compromised credentials. Enterprise clients need assurance that only authorized personnel can access sensitive systems and data.
Assessment Questions:
- Is system access and security based on the concepts of least privilege and need-to-know?
- Do you enforce multi-factor authentication (MFA) across all systems?
- Is there a documented process for user provisioning and deprovisioning?
- Are privileged accounts regularly audited?
Quick Wins:
- Enable MFA for all cloud services and critical systems
- Implement a password manager for secure credential storage
- Create an offboarding checklist for departing employees
03 Data Protection and Encryption
Why It Matters: Enterprise clients need confidence that their data is protected both at rest and in transit.
Assessment Questions:
- Are you compliant with UK GDPR data protection principles?
- Can you demonstrate appropriate technical measures for data security?
- Do you have UK-compliant data breach notification procedures?
Quick Wins:
- Implement GDPR compliant encryption standards
- Create data classification scheme
- Document GDPR compliance measures
04 Security Monitoring and Incident Response
Why It Matters: Quick detection and response to security incidents is crucial for minimizing impact and maintaining client trust.
Assessment Questions:
- Do you have 24/7 security monitoring in place?
- Is there a documented incident response plan?
- Are incidents documented and reviewed for lessons learned?
- Does your organisation have a process for notifying the client of a data breach
Quick Wins:
- Set up basic security logging and alerting
- Create an incident response playbook
- Establish an incident response team and communications plan
05 Vulnerability Management
Why It Matters: Unpatched vulnerabilities are a leading cause of breaches and a red flag for enterprise clients.
Assessment Questions:
- Is there a regular vulnerability scanning program?
- Do you have a defined patching schedule?
- Are critical vulnerabilities remediated within SLA?
Quick Wins:
- Implement automated vulnerability scanning
- Create a patch management policy
- Establish vulnerability remediation priorities
06 Third-Party Risk Management
Why It Matters: Your security is only as strong as your weakest vendor. Enterprise clients expect diligent vendor management.
Assessment Questions:
- Do you maintain an inventory of third-party vendors?
- Is there a vendor security assessment process?
- Are vendor access rights regularly reviewed?
- Are fourth-party risks assessed and monitored?
- Do you have exit plans?
Quick Wins:
- Create a vendor inventory spreadsheet
- Implement basic vendor security questionnaires
- Review and document vendor access permissions
- Document supplier dependencies
07 Business Continuity and Backup
Why It Matters: Enterprise clients need assurance that you can maintain operations and protect their data during disruptions.
Assessment Questions:
- Are critical systems and data regularly backed up?
- Do you have documented recovery procedures?
- Are backups tested regularly?
Quick Wins:
- Implement automated cloud backups
- Create basic disaster recovery documentation
- Schedule quarterly backup restoration tests
08 Security Awareness Training
Why It Matters: Human error remains a leading cause of security incidents. Enterprise clients expect ongoing security education.
Assessment Questions:
- Do employees receive regular security training?
- Is there training for specific roles/responsibilities?
- Are awareness campaigns conducted regularly?
Quick Wins:
- Deploy basic security awareness training
- Conduct regular phishing simulations
- Create security policy acknowledgment process
Scoring Your Security Readiness
Rate your organization's maturity for each control:
Not Implemented (0 points)
Partially Implemented (1 point)
Mostly Implemented (2 points)
Fully Implemented (3 points)
Total Score Interpretation
0-8
High Risk
Immediate action required
9-16
Developing
Good progress but significant gaps
17-20
Maturing
Strong foundation with some refinement needed
18-24
Optimized
Well-positioned for enterprise partnerships
Next
Steps
If you scored below 13 points, your organization likely needs to strengthen its security posture before pursuing enterprise contracts. Here are your immediate next steps:
- Book a free Strategy Call to review your score in detail
- Get our 90-day Security Maturity Roadmap
- Learn how our Fractional CISO service can accelerate your journey to enterprise-ready security
Don't let security gaps cost you valuable business opportunities. Take action today to strengthen your security posture and position your organization as a trusted enterprise partner.