Cyber Security Due Diligence For Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A)
Cyber Security & Risk Contribute to Value
Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) are increasing as more companies look at business combinations and restructuring their operations.
M&As require full audit of companies as part of the negotiation, with business valuation as a key consideration. Risk is an underlying factor for value, with cyber security playing an essential part in the evaluation.
REGULATORY UPDATE: The SEC’s new rules on Cybersecurity Risk Management, Strategy, Governance, and Incident Disclosure requires public companies to describe their cybersecurity programs in their periodic reporting and how they manage RISK.
A Closer Look
Understanding the risk and security profile of a target company is essential. To prepare for an acquisition (M&A), target companies reduce expenses and maximize profits to look more attractive and increase their value. The acquiring organization must determine what liabilities or risks can arise under the target company’s cyber security program.
Due Diligence through Risk Profiling
Compromise Assessment – Hunt for indicators of current malicious and suspicious behaviors. Determine if there are Indicators of Compromise (IoC) and their severity.
Security Architecture Review – Review design of critical security controls and overall architecture. Discovery of a target and their adherence to security best practices, and the severity.
Penetration Test – Identify confirmed vulnerabilities in the networks and applications. Are security controls effective? Has the target company’s M&A preparation compromised the organization?
Security Advisory – Inherent risk profiling, targeted risk analysis, compliance quick checks, remediation recommendations for an ongoing security program.
Security Engineering Support – Design, deploy, and validate new security solutions.
Threat Hunting or Managed Detection and Response (MDR) – Monitor and alert on identified threats for the network, applications, endpoints, and web applications in use. Real-time containment and remediation guidance.
Sensitive Data Scanning – Determine type, quantity and use of sensitive information throughout the target organization, and how it is managed and accessed.
Auditing a potential partner for M&A risks is an important prerequisite to proceed with a business combination. And once you complete your M&A, how do you assess what it will take to merge separate organizations and implement one cohesive cyber security program?
This assessment sets the stage for due diligence — the process of finding and mitigating security risks across an organization. Due diligence demonstrates the commitment of a company to keeping customer and confidential data safe, and organizations must be able to clearly identify due diligence efforts in the event of a breach or compromise.
As a result, any mergers and acquisitions cyber security plan must prioritize the creation, implementation, and reliable record keeping of due diligence practices.
Why Choose HALOCK to Help Manage Mergers and Acquisitions Risk?
M&A cyber security offers unique challenges for organizations as they look to simultaneously manage and merge two sets of security best practices, policies, and processes.
The result is significant complexity that requires substantial time and effort to navigate. HALOCK helps companies streamline this process with a purpose-driven approach to security. Purpose-driven security speaks to the reasonable and appropriate implementation of mergers and acquisitions risk management policies. With HALOCK’s help, companies can focus on what matters most: confidently and compliantly completing mergers and acquisitions.
Put simply? Cyber security in mergers and acquisitions can’t be an afterthought — companies must deliver on cyber security due diligence to streamline the M&A process, ensure regulatory compliance, and reduce total risk.
We can help you through the entire process from pre-acquisition to post-acquisition to identify risks, remediation steps, and establish reasonable security based on Duty of Care Risk Analysis (DoCRA). Schedule a review to scope your M&A risk.
KEEPING YOU INFORMED – HALOCK SECURITY BRIEFING FOR CLIENTS
The HALOCK Security Briefing is a review of significant events, trends, and movements that will influence how you manage cybersecurity, risk, and compliance. Our clients receive periodic overviews with an extensive report file on the topics discussed. This insightful document also includes reference links throughout the report for easy navigation and deeper research.
ESTIMATING RISK
Estimate risk based on real threat data. Read Appendix D in the 2024 Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report (DBIR) to augment your risk analysis.