Audit Basics
Part of the Cybersecurity Roadmap
In short
Saying "we have controls" is easy. An audit asks you to prove it with evidence. Knowing how audits work makes you calm, not scared, when the auditor arrives.
The formal process of independently verifying that security controls actually work as documented — internal audits self-check, external audits (often required for compliance) are performed by a third party.
Think of it like this
The exam flying squad
During board exams a flying squad visits halls. They do not take the invigilator's word. They check admit cards, look under desks and compare seating charts. An auditor works the same way: politely, independently, and only trusting what can be shown.
Watch it happen
How an audit runs
1/6Agree what is in scope: which systems, which controls and which time period.
The big ideas
What you need to know
Internal vs external
Internal audit is your own team checking itself. External audit is an independent firm, needed for things like SOC 2 or ISO 27001.
No evidence, no control
If a control ran but left no record, an auditor cannot count it. Build evidence into the process, like tickets and logs.
Sampling
Auditors rarely check everything. They test a sample, so one sloppy month can still show up.
Auditors are not enemies
Be honest and organised. Hiding a known gap is far worse than showing it with a plan to fix.
Save yourself the pain
Common mistakes
Oops
Scrambling to create evidence the week before the audit.
Do this instead
Collect evidence as work happens all year. Back dated records are a serious integrity problem.
Oops
Arguing every finding with the auditor.
Do this instead
Clarify facts, then agree on fixes. A finding with a clear plan reads far better than a fight.
Your mission
Audit your own accounts
Quick check
An admin says "we review access every quarter" but has no records. What will an auditor most likely conclude?
Go deeper
- 1Read about what evidence an auditor typically requests to verify a specific control.
- 2Learn the difference between an internal audit and an external, formal compliance audit.
- 3Understand why 'documented but not actually followed' controls are a common audit failure point.
More topics at this stop
Risk Assessment & Management
Security Frameworks (NIST, ISO 27001)
Compliance Standards (SOC 2, GDPR, HIPAA, PCI-DSS)
Security Policies & Procedures
Third-Party & Vendor Risk
Security Awareness Training
Business Continuity & Disaster Recovery Planning
Building a Risk Register
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