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Auditors Go Digital: Shadowing Employees for Real-Time Insights

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In today’s fast-paced digital age, auditors are embracing innovative methods to streamline their processes and gather real-time insights into an organization’s controls. One such approach is shadowing employees, where auditors observe and participate in daily activities to gain a deeper understanding of how controls operate in action.

The Pandemic Effect

With the pandemic ushering in a new era of remote work, this technique has become even more efficient and popular among auditors. Some may even record screen-sharing sessions to capture screenshot evidence after meetings – but it’s essential for organizations to specify if they do not want this practice to occur, citing cybersecurity concerns.

Compilation of Compliance Report

After completing the majority of their procedures, including document review, interviews, testing, process assessment, and shadowing, audit teams prepare a comprehensive report detailing the results of each phase. Senior team members perform additional reviews, sending comments and questions for the business to address.

For certain types of compliance audits, such as SOX, SOC, PCI DSS Level 1, and others, the final report must be signed off by an individual or firm with the necessary certifications. These auditor certifications are issued by recognized bodies like the AICPA, ISO, and PCI Security Standards Council.

Tips for a Successful Compliance Audit Process

To ensure a seamless compliance audit experience, here are some valuable tips:

  • Be Prepared: Review compliance documentation, organize evidence, update policies, and set clear target frameworks. Treat compliance like operational must-haves.
  • Integrate and Automate: Wherever possible, automate controls and integrate across your cloud ecosystem to reduce risks and increase efficiency.
  • Designate Accountability: Ensure a single point of contact is responsible for the audit, simplifying communications between stakeholders.
  • Leverage Purpose-Built Technology: Utilize purpose-built tools like AuditBoard to facilitate a successful audit process, enabling core compliance audit steps and best practices.

By following these tips, organizations can streamline their compliance audit process, ensuring a smooth experience for all parties involved.