The SMB1001 certification is designed to help Australian businesses build stronger cyber resilience by focusing on four key areas: people, policies, processes, and technology.
It’s not just about installing software, it’s about creating a workplace where everyone understands their role in protecting the business’s data and information. One of the early and essential steps in this journey is understanding what digital assets you rely on and documenting them clearly. Throughout this blog, we’ll discuss the ins and outs of why creating your digital information asset register is important.
What is a Digital Asset Register?
While this sounds technical, don’t worry, it doesn’t need to be.
Think of an information asset register as a list of all the important digital things in your business, the systems you use, the people who access them, and the processes that rely on them. Ultimately, it’s a clear way to understand what you have, who’s using it, and what might be at risk if something goes wrong.
How to Collate Information
Most small businesses can get started with a simple Excel spreadsheet or Google Sheet. Over time, you can expand or refine it. What matters most is that you start. A basic register might include the following:
- Name of The Asset | Put simply, the name of the device or software, for instance – “Accounting System”, “Reception Laptop”, “Office Wi-Fi”, “Management Reports”, “Board Meeting Minutes”, etc.
- Where Does it Live? | If you’re noting a piece of hardware, does it remain in the office or remotely, and for software, do items sit in the cloud or with a server, etc.
- Who Owns It? | This would refer to the person or team responsible for that item.
- Who Uses It? | Different from who owns it, this would refer to whether a staff member, contractor, or customer uses this item.
- Type of Information it Holds | Does this item have financial data, client details, or internal documents contained on it.
- Information Sensitivity Level | Who can access, for example, the public, internal team, or confidential use only.
- Business Impact if Lost or Compromised | High, medium, or low risk.
You can also include details like when the asset was last reviewed, whether it’s backed up, the age of devices, and if it’s still needed or whether it needs to be upgraded. This helps keep your register useful as the business grows or changes.
Why is This Important?
Because you can’t protect what you don’t know exists. An information asset register helps you focus your security efforts on what actually matters, and shows auditors, insurers, and partners that you’re taking sensible steps to manage your risks.
It also supports future cybersecurity improvements like deciding where multi-factor authentication should be enforced, or what needs to be backed up daily versus weekly.
Taking the time to document your key systems, people, and processes brings clarity and control to your digital environment. It’s also a required part of the SMB1001 certification, helping your business meet compliance standards and demonstrate a proactive approach to cybersecurity. If you’re unsure how to start or want a template to get going, feel free to reach out, we’re always happy to help!
