How can you use standards and frameworks to control information systems audits?

1 What are standards and frameworks?

Standards and frameworks are sets of rules, principles, and methodologies that define how information systems should be designed, implemented, managed, and evaluated. They provide a common language and a consistent approach for auditors, managers, and stakeholders to communicate and cooperate on IT issues. Some examples of standards and frameworks are COBIT, ISO 27000, NIST, and ITIL.

2 Why are standards and frameworks important for audits?

Standards and frameworks are essential for audits, as they enable you to define the scope, objectives, and criteria of your audits. They also help you align your audits with organizational goals and strategies, benchmark your performance against best practices and industry norms, identify and prioritize risks and controls, measure and report results and recommendations, and ultimately improve audit quality and credibility.

3 How to choose the right standards and frameworks?

When selecting the right standards and frameworks for your audits, you must take into account various factors such as the complexity of your information systems, the expectations of stakeholders, the regulations applicable to your industry and location, the compatibility of your resources and tools, and the maturity of your IT governance and management processes. You may also opt to use a combination of standards and frameworks to address different aspects of your audits, such as governance, security, service management, or project management.

4 How to apply standards and frameworks to your audits?

Once you have selected the appropriate standards and frameworks for your audits, you need to apply them to your audit activities. This includes planning, where you must define the scope, objectives, and criteria of your audits based on the standards and frameworks chosen. Additionally, you must identify the stakeholders, resources, and timelines involved in your audits. When executing, you need to collect and analyze the evidence and data related to your audits using the methods and tools prescribed by the standards and frameworks. You also need to document your findings and observations according to the formats and standards required. For reporting, communicate your results and recommendations to your stakeholders using the language and terminology of the standards and frameworks. Also provide supporting documentation and references to back up your claims and suggestions. Finally, follow up by monitoring and evaluating the implementation and effectiveness of your recommendations using the indicators and metrics defined by the standards and frameworks. Furthermore, update and revise your audit plans and procedures based on the feedback and lessons learned from your audits.

5 What are the benefits and challenges of using standards and frameworks?

When using standards and frameworks for your information systems audits, you can reap multiple benefits, such as improving audit efficiency and effectiveness, enhancing audit reliability and validity, increasing audit value and impact, and strengthening your audit reputation and trust. However, it is important to find the right balance between following the standards and frameworks and adapting them to your specific context. Additionally, you must stay up-to-date with changes in the standards and frameworks and ensure their compatibility. You may need to invest time and resources to train auditors and stakeholders on the standards and frameworks, as well as manage their expectations of the outcomes.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?