1. Asset Inventory: Identifying critical assets such as data, servers, networks, and intellectual property that need protection.
  2. Business Priorities: Understanding the client’s operational goals, risk appetite, and specific concerns (e.g., protecting customer data or maintaining compliance with regulations).
  3. Threat Modeling: Mapping potential adversaries, such as hackers, competitors, or insider threats, to understand the likely risks.
  4. Stakeholder Engagement: Interviewing key personnel to assess their understanding of security and establish communication channels.