Over the past few years, many office workers have adopted remote work during the covid-19 lockdown. Some organisations have started selling their products online. Virtual meetings have become common, and everyone has adjusted to this way of working and learning remotely [Wolterskluwer, 2022].

With the release of the new technology, more and more people find it difficult to operate and are worried about its safety. Many internal audit teams are under increasing pressure to use more technology more effectively in their audits, so they have struggled to find people with IT audit expertise [Wolterskluwer, 2022].

IT is the business itself in most cases, the future of IT auditing should align with IT’s a new strategic role and play the role of an advisor, not just an auditor [Deloitte United States, n.d].

IT Audit Process(overview)

Some organizations might have a different program, but each of them is bound to have some form of these four stages:

• Planning: this is the most important one because planning ahead can avoid unnecessary costs and allow auditors to use resources more efficiently [Codete Blog, 2022].
• Fieldwork: after auditing a process or system testing controls, the audit team identifies and analyses key risks. If the processes are found to work as expected, they are included as a final plan as recommendations [Codete Blog, 2022].
• Reporting: during and after an IT audit, the auditor creates a report explaining the audit. They will write a draft, which is reviewed by their manager and finalized for delivery [Codete Blog, 2022].
• Follow-up: Audits are usually not concluded all at once, and auditors can follow up to ensure recommendations are being followed and improvements are being made adequately. The audit is officially over if follow-up investigations show that the company successfully implemented and suggested improvements [Codete Blog, 2022].

How to Plan an IT Audit Process for a Company

Several important common points to help your company make the most of IT auditing.

• Know company IT environment: need to understand company IT environment flows, such as IT procedures and operations [Codete Blog, 2022].
• Research key areas: change management, access security and business continuity [Codete Blog, 2022].
• Assess your IT risks: the idea is to identify the most important risks, link them to control objectives, and establish specific controls to mitigate them [Codete Blog, 2022].

The Future of IT Auditing

Almost all industries have undergone a digital transformation in recent years, and auditing plays an important role in ensuring that new technology solutions do not expose organizations to unacceptable risks.

That’s why our demand for IT audits has increased, with more and more companies updating new systems and inviting new auditors. These auditors can help them fulfil their client’s needs without exposing the company to unnecessary risk.

Reference List:

Codete Blog. (2022). What is an IT Audit – Definition, Examples & Types. [online] Available at: https://codete.com/blog/it-audit-definition-examples-and-types#future [Accessed 8 Nov. 2022].

Deloitte United States. (n.d.). The future of IT internal audit. [online] Available at: https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/pages/advisory/articles/the-future-of-IT-internal-audit.html [Accessed 8 Nov. 2022].

Wolterskluwer. (2022). The future of IT audit: Internal audit and emerging technology. [online] Available at: https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/expert-insights/the-future-of-it-audit-internal-audit-and-emerging-technology [Accessed 8 Nov. 2022].