Digital security audit in Australia: inclusions, pricing and timelines explained

Considering an audit? Here’s what it really covers—without the vendor fluff. This guide explains a digital security audit for Brisbane and SEQ SMEs, what’s included, realistic pricing, and timelines. It also shows where a fast, low‑overhead check makes sense.

Key takeaways

• SME audits in Australia usually cost $2,500–$12,000, based on users, sites, scope and testing depth.
• Expect scoping, discovery, risk review, testing, a report with priorities, and a remediation plan.
• Typical timeline: 2–4 weeks from kickoff to report, faster for micro teams.
• Pen tests and audits are different. Many SMEs need an audit first, then targeted testing.
• For Microsoft 365‑centric Brisbane firms, a focused Digital Security Check can be a smart start.

What is a digital security audit?

Definition

A digital security audit is a structured review of your systems, users and policies. It checks how you protect data, how accounts are managed, how devices are patched, and how backups work. The goal is to find gaps, rate the risk, and give clear fixes your team can action.

Why it matters

Brisbane SMEs juggle storms, NBN quirks, hybrid work, and tight budgets. A plain‑English audit helps you spend where it counts. It supports cyber insurance, the ACSC Essential Eight, client due diligence, and clean hand‑overs with MSPs or internal IT.

Audit vs penetration test vs Digital Security Check

Process

1) Scope: goals, systems, and limits.
2) Discovery: asset list, users, apps, and data flows.
3) Review: configs, patching, identity, backups, logs, and access paths.
4) Testing: safe checks and vulnerability scans; targeted manual validation.
5) Report: risks ranked, quick wins, and a 30/60/90‑day plan.
6) Remediation support and retest (if included).

Featured answer

An audit reviews your people, processes, and systems for risk and gives a plan to fix gaps. A penetration test tries to exploit weaknesses to prove impact. A Digital Security Check is a focused audit for SMEs, aimed at the highest‑value areas, delivered faster and at lower cost.

Typical inclusions and deliverables for Australian SMEs

Audit inclusions vary by scope. For SMB security, the most useful sets often include:

• Identity and access: admin accounts, MFA coverage, conditional access, password policy, guest access, shared mailbox and service account controls.
• Microsoft 365 and email: Secure Score review, mailbox rules, phishing protection, SPF/DKIM/DMARC, data loss settings, Teams/OneDrive/SharePoint sharing.
• Endpoints: OS patch age, EDR/AV status, local admin use, encryption, USB/media rules, device compliance.
• Network: router/firewall config, default passwords, VPN, Wi‑Fi segmentation for staff/guest/IoT, remote access exposure (e.g., RDP).
• Servers and cloud: backups (3‑2‑1), recovery tests, privileged access, legacy systems risk (e.g., SMBv1), Azure/Google/AWS baseline checks.
• Policies and people: joiner/mover/leaver steps, incident response basics, acceptable use, training cadence, supplier access.
• Logging and monitoring: audit logs retention, alerting on risky sign‑ins, mailbox forwarding rules, admin activity.

Scope and deliverables you should receive:

• A clear scope: what is in play, what is not, and any assumptions.
• A findings list with risk ratings and business impact.
• Prioritised fixes with effort estimates and owner suggestions.
• A short exec summary for non‑technical stakeholders.
• An optional workshop to walk through the report and next steps.

Related follow‑ups often include Microsoft 365 Security Hardening and ongoing IT Support for Brisbane SMEs.

Pricing ranges and factors that change the cost

Security assessment cost in Australia depends on size, scope and testing depth. Typical ranges for SMEs:

• Micro business (up to 10 staff, single site, cloud‑first): $2,500–$4,500.
• Small business (10–40 staff, 1–2 sites): $4,000–$8,000.
• Mid SME (40–100 staff or multi‑site): $7,000–$12,000.
• Penetration test add‑ons: $4,000–$18,000 depending on scope and manual effort.
• Microsoft 365‑only checks: $1,500–$3,500 for focused reviews.

Factors that shift price:

• User count, device mix (Windows/Mac), servers, and number of sites.
• Cloud spread: Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Azure/AWS services.
• On‑premise gear: firewalls, NAS, Wi‑Fi controllers, legacy servers.
• Depth: automated scanning only vs manual validation and config review.
• Compliance needs: Essential Eight maturity targets, ISO 27001 gap checks.
• Evidence: screenshots, queries, and proof requested by cyber insurers or clients.
• Travel/time onsite across Brisbane, Logan, Ipswich, Redlands, Moreton Bay.

Tip: ask for a fixed‑scope, fixed‑fee option with sample reporting so you know what you’ll get for the price. For many “cyber audit Australia” jobs, the bulk of value sits in identity, email, and backup hygiene, not in heavy tooling.

Timeline: preparation, onsite/remote work, reporting and remediation

Most SMEs fit into a 2–4 week window from kickoff to handover.

• Prep and access: 1–3 business days (scope, read‑only accounts, tools).
• Discovery and data collection: 2–5 days (mostly remote, light touch).
• Onsite (if needed): 0.5–2 days for Wi‑Fi, firewall and room checks.
• Analysis and reporting: 4–7 business days.
• Walkthrough and Q&A: 1 hour.
• Remediation: 1–6 weeks depending on priorities and change windows.

Micro teams often complete in 7–10 business days. Complex multi‑site networks can run 4–6 weeks, especially if after‑hours change windows are needed.

Questions to ask any provider before you sign

• What systems, users, sites, and cloud apps are in scope? What’s out?
• Do you provide a sample report and an exec summary?
• Is the price fixed? What triggers extra fees?
• What tools and read‑only access will you need? Any downtime?
• How do you handle data, screenshots, and credentials?
• Will you validate high‑risk findings manually to cut false positives?
• Is remediation help and a retest included?
• What experience do you have with Microsoft 365 tenants in Brisbane?
• Are you insured and can you share references?

When to choose Geeks Brisbane’s Digital Security Check

Choose a focused check when you want fast clarity without enterprise overhead:

• 5–75 staff, mostly on Microsoft 365, Teams, SharePoint and OneDrive.
• Need a risk snapshot and a punchy action list within 1–2 weeks.
• Budget is under $3,500 and you want fixes that matter most.
• You’re preparing for cyber insurance or customer security questionnaires.
• You plan to roll straight into Microsoft 365 Security Hardening and policy tidy‑ups.

It’s not the right fit if you need a formal ISO 27001 readiness program, deep red teaming, or complex OT/SCADA testing. In those cases, go with a broader audit, and schedule targeted penetration testing.

Common problems in Brisbane

Weather and infrastructure

• Heat and humidity: server rooms in Fortitude Valley and South Brisbane retail sites run hot in summer; disks and UPS units age faster.
• Storms: power flickers in The Gap, Chapel Hill and Wynnum cause backup jobs to fail and corrupt NAS caches.
• NBN quirks: HFC dropouts in Redland Bay and North Lakes expose weak router configs and no 4G failover.
• Older buildings: West End and Woolloongabba sites often have messy cabling and flat networks with no VLANs.

Troubleshooting and quick checks

Short answer

Before booking an audit, check MFA, backups, patching, and admin accounts. Fix easy wins now. You’ll lower risk today and get more value from the audit, because it can focus on the trickier gaps instead of the basics.

Quick checks

• Microsoft 365: MFA on for all users, especially admins; review Secure Score tasks.
• Email: remove risky forwarding rules; confirm SPF, DKIM and DMARC are set.
• Backups: confirm daily success; store one copy offline or in a separate tenancy.
• Devices: apply OS and browser updates; remove unused local admins.
• Network: change default router passwords; disable open RDP from the internet.
• Shared links: tidy public links in OneDrive/SharePoint; limit “Anyone” links.
• Staff: run a quick phishing test and a 15‑minute refresher toolbox talk.

Safety notes and when to call a pro

Red flags

If you see ransom notes, funds transfer changes, lots of failed sign‑ins, strange inbox rules, or backup failures after storms, call a pro now. Don’t power‑cycle gear that might hold forensic data. Pause email rules, reset admin passwords, and isolate infected devices.

Local insights and examples

Brisbane/SEQ examples

We often see co‑working tenants in Fortitude Valley sharing flat Wi‑Fi; VLANs and guest isolation fix that. Industrial sites in Pinkenba and Acacia Ridge run legacy PCs beside PLCs; lock down USB and separate networks. Medical and allied health in Sunnybank and Chermside rely on Microsoft 365—MFA gaps and public links are the usual issues. Warehouses in Browns Plains and Brendale get NBN dropouts during storms; add 4G failover and battery backups. Many small offices in Ipswich and Springfield Lakes still expose RDP; move to VPN or Zero Trust.

FAQs

Q1: How much does a small business security assessment cost in Australia?

Most SMEs pay $2,500–$8,000 for a fixed‑scope audit, depending on users, sites, and cloud vs on‑prem mix. Add $4,000–$12,000 for a focused penetration test if needed. A Microsoft 365‑only review often sits between $1,500 and $3,500 for quick wins.

Q2: How long does a cyber audit take for a Brisbane SME?

Plan 2–4 weeks from kickoff to report. Micro teams can finish in 7–10 business days. Multi‑site or legacy networks may take 4–6 weeks, especially if you want after‑hours access checks and a retest once fixes are in.

Q3: Do I need a penetration test or an audit first?

Most SMEs should start with an audit to fix identity, email, backup, and patch basics. Then schedule a pen test on key apps or external attack paths. This staged approach saves money and gives clearer, faster risk reduction.

Sources and further reading

Useful frameworks and ideas: ACSC Essential Eight maturity levels, NIST CSF functions (Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, Recover), ISO 27001 control themes, Microsoft Secure Score, the 3‑2‑1 backup rule, and least privilege for admins. These guide scope and help compare providers.

Wrap-up and next steps

A good audit gives clear risks, plain English fixes, and a timeline that suits your team. If you’re a Brisbane SME heavy on Microsoft 365, start with a fast, focused check to lock in the biggest wins first. Service:
Digital Security Check