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An information technology audit, or '''information systems audit''', is an examination of the controls within an Information Technology (IT) Infrastructure . These reviews may be performed in conjunction with a Financial Statement Audit , Internal Audit , or other form of attestation engagement. Formerly called an Electronic Data Processing (EDP) audit, an IT audit is the process of collecting and evaluating evidence of an organization's Information System s, practices, and operations. The evaluation of obtained evidence determines if the information systems are safeguarding assets, maintaining Data Integrity , and operating effectively and efficiently to achieve the organization's goals or objectives. IT audits are also known as automated data processing (ADP) audits and computer audits. PURPOSE An IT audit is not entirely similar to a financial statement audit. An evaluation of internal controls may or may not take place in an IT audit. Reliance on internal controls is a unique characteristic of a financial audit. An evaluation of internal controls is necessary in a financial audit, in order to allow the auditor to place reliance on the internal controls, and therefore, substantially reduce the amount of testing necessary to form an opinion regarding the financial statements of the company. An IT audit, on the other hand, tends to focus on determining risks that are relevant to information assets, and in assessing controls in order to reduce or mitigate these risks. An IT audit may take the form of a "general control review" or an "application control review". Regarding the protection of information assets, one purpose of an IT audit is to review and evaluate an organization's information system's availability, confidentiality, and integrity by answering questions like:
There are 3 systematic approaches to carry out an IT audit(goodman and lawless) :
TYPES OF IT
IT AUDIT PROCESS See Also: Information Technology Audit Process The following are basic steps in performing the Information Technology Audit Process : # Planning # Studying and Evaluating Controls # Testing and Evaluating Controls # Reporting # Follow-up HISTORY OF IT AUDITING See Also: history of information technology auditing The concept of IT auditing was formed in the mid-1960s and has gone through numerous changes due to advances in technology and the incorporation of technology into business. IT AUDIT TOPICS US Regulations and Legislation Related to IT Audits Several information technology audit related laws and regulations have been introduced in the United States since 1977. These include the Gramm Leach Bliley Act, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act , the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, the London Stock Exchange Combined Code, King II , and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
Companies with Sarbanes-Oxley certification delays and material weaknesses caused by IT issues:
European Union Regulations and Legislation Related to IT Audits Security See Also: Auditing information security Auditing Information Security is a vital part of any IT audit. Within the broad scope of auditing information security we find topics such as Data Centers , Networks and Application Security . Auditing information security covers topics from auditing the physical security of data centers to auditing the logical security of databases, highlighting key components and methods for auditing these areas. This technical realm is always changing, requiring IT auditors to continue expanding their knowledge and understanding of the systems and environment. EVALUATING IT AUDIT PERSONNEL QUALIFICATIONS There is no pre-defined skill set that is required when evaluating the qualifications of IT audit personnel. Since Auditor s will be responsible for evaluating the controls affecting the recording and safekeeping of Asset s, it is recommended that IT personnel have detail knowledge regarding Information Systems with a general understanding of Accounting principles. Usually, it is desirable that IT audit personnel have received or qualify to receive the Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Certified Information Systems Security Professional ( CISSP ), Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Diploma in Information System Audit (DISA from ICAI) and Certification and Accreditation Professional (CAP) credentials. The CISM and CAP credentials are the two newest security auditing credentials, offered by the ISACA and ISC2, respectively. Strictly speaking, only the CISA title would sufficiently demonstrate competences regarding both information technology and audit aspects. Outside of the US, various credentials exist, with differing value and safeguards of professionalism. E.g., the Netherlands has the RE credential (as granted by the NOREA (Dutch site) IT-auditors' association), which among others requires a post-graduate IT-audit education from an accredited university, subscription to a Code of Ethics, and adherence to strict continuous education requirements. Employees involved in IT audits
Professional certifications of note
EMERGING ISSUES Technology changes rapidly and so do the issues that IT auditors face. Some emerging issues include biometric retinal scans, changes in physical security, and transmitting data from cell phones. SEE ALSO
Operations
Computer Forensics Irregularities and Illegal Acts
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