Cyber Capability Diagnostic
Cyber Resilience Snapshot for Organisations
Most organisations believe their cyber security is handled by their IT provider. However, cyber resilience involves more than technology alone. It also includes governance, staff awareness, policies, incident response and leadership oversight. Many organisations only discover weaknesses after a data breach, ransomware incident or compliance investigation. This short diagnostic highlights common capability gaps across people, processes and systems.
This is not a technical security test. Instead, it helps you identify whether your organisation may have areas of cyber exposure that require further attention. Answer the following questions honestly.
Cyber Resilience Diagnostic — Organisational Snapshot
1. Data Awareness
Do you know exactly where sensitive information is stored across your organisation, including cloud systems, staff devices and third-party platforms?
2. Responsibility and Governance
Is there a clearly assigned person or role responsible for overseeing cyber resilience within the organisation?
3. Staff Awareness
Have all staff received cyber awareness or cyber safety training within the past twelve months?
4. Incident Response
Does your organisation have a documented cyber incident response plan explaining what to do if a breach occurs?
5. Backup Readiness
Are backups tested regularly to confirm that systems and data can actually be restored?
6. Ransomware Preparedness
Could your organisation continue operating if critical systems were unavailable for several days?
7. Regulatory Awareness
Do leaders understand their obligations under the Australian Privacy Act and the Notifiable Data Breach Scheme?
8. Third-Party Risk
Do you know which suppliers or contractors have access to your systems, networks or sensitive data?
9. Security Review
Has your organisation conducted a structured cyber risk review or cyber resilience assessment in the last two years?
10. Leadership Visibility
Do senior leaders regularly receive information about cyber risk exposure and cyber resilience readiness?
11. Asset Awareness
Does your organisation maintain an updated list of critical digital assets, systems and platforms?
12. Testing and Simulation
Has your organisation ever simulated a cyber incident or conducted an internal cyber response exercise?
Cyber Exposure Score
Understanding Your Organisation’s Cyber Resilience Position. After answering the twelve questions in the diagnostic above, count how many times you answered No. Each No response highlights a potential gap in cyber resilience capability. Use the guide below to understand what your responses may indicate.
0–2 No responses
Low Exposure Indicator
Your organisation demonstrates strong awareness of cyber resilience responsibilities. Leadership visibility, governance and operational practices appear to be in place. However, cyber threats evolve constantly. Organisations in this category often continue strengthening resilience through ongoing review, training and periodic cyber risk assessments.
3–5 No responses
Moderate Exposure Indicator
Your organisation may have several areas where cyber resilience capability could be strengthened. Many organisations fall into this category because responsibilities, policies or staff awareness programs have not yet been fully developed. Identifying these gaps early allows organisations to strengthen processes before problems occur.
6–8 No responses
Elevated Exposure Indicator
Your organisation may have significant gaps across governance, staff awareness, incident response or operational resilience. These areas often remain invisible until a cyber incident occurs. Organisations at this level usually benefit from structured review and stronger leadership oversight of cyber resilience.
9 or more No responses
High Exposure Indicator
Your organisation may have multiple areas of cyber vulnerability. This does not mean a breach has occurred. However, it suggests cyber resilience may not yet be embedded within leadership, operational processes or staff capability. Organisations in this category often choose to develop a clearer understanding of their cyber risk exposure.
When Organisations Want to Go Deeper
Some organisations decide to develop a clearer understanding of their cyber risk exposure and resilience capability. One way to begin is by learning how cyber risk assessments work and how organisations evaluate their systems, policies and operational exposure.
Chris Ward previously led Cyber Security for the New Zealand Defence Force and served within the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence, contributing to international security collaboration and supporting NATO-aligned initiatives. Drawing on this experience, he developed a structured program titled:
How to Conduct a Cyber Risk Assessment
This program explains the process organisations use to identify vulnerabilities, evaluate cyber exposure and strengthen resilience. Explore the course to understand how cyber risk assessments are conducted and how organisations build stronger cyber resilience.
When Organisations Prefer an Expert to Conduct the Assessment
Some organisations choose to conduct a cyber risk assessment internally after learning the process. Others prefer to engage an experienced cyber security specialist to conduct the assessment on their behalf.
Chris Ward has led cyber security for the New Zealand Defence Force and served within the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence, contributing to international security collaboration and NATO-aligned initiatives. He now works with organisations to help them identify cyber vulnerabilities, evaluate resilience capability and strengthen cyber risk governance.
For organisations that would prefer an experienced specialist to conduct a cyber risk assessment, Chris can provide a tailored engagement based on the size and complexity of your organisation.
To discuss your organisation's requirements and obtain a quotation, please contact us.
