For years now, IT auditors have spent a considerable amount of time persuading businesses that performing audits on their own IT department is valuable and worthwhile. However, when companies don’t understand why an IT audit is useful, it can be overlooked, brushed aside, or poorly performed.
What is an IT Audit?
An IT audit covers a larger amount of IT and communications than businesses think. Common inclusions of these audits are:
- Servers
- Client networks
- Operating systems
- Cybersecurity infrastructure
- Software
- Databases
- Communication networks and hardware
- Security protocols and procedures
- Disaster recovery policies
- And other security strategies
An audit in the IT department starts with:
- Researching and identifying specific risks
- Exploring how effective the controls and protocols are working
- And testing the risk management process to ensure effectiveness
Why Is An Audit Necessary?
The overall goal of an IT audit is to stress-test the systems, networks, and processes to ensure they are running smoothly and effectively. It’s designed to identify problems of any kind in the IT infrastructure, thus bringing more significant improvements in performance, compliance, and financial management.
An IT audit is fundamental for companies that want their IT systems to be able to work properly.
What Are The Benefits Of Conducting An IT Audit?
There are 5 key benefits to doing regular audits of IT systems:
- They reduce risk. Risk reduction is the key goal of these audits and the suggestions made from the audit will help in doing so. Because IT covers so much of a business, looking at all these systems can provide great benefits across the business.
- It strengthens controls. Internal controls and external security are strengthened further from these audits. This makes a business more secure and resilient against internal and external threats and vulnerabilities.
- It helps businesses to comply with regulations. Regulatory compliance is one of the toughest aspects to manage in IT. Mostly because there are several regulatory bodies to consider. An IT audit plays a vital part in compliance with many of these regulations.
- It facilitates communication. The communication channels between IT and the rest of a business aren’t always the best. One way to open communications is by conducting an audit as it gives the IT department a voice.
- It improves the governance of IT. IT governance is created under executives and board of directors to ensure that IT is working towards the overall goals of the company. Through finding risks and strengthening internal controls, this helps improve the governance of IT. IT provides recommendations that not only would cover those risks and issues, but also in a way that advances companies towards their overall objectives.
Perform Audits Often
Regardless of the business, companies should perform IT audits on a regular basis. These tasks are immensely powerful in protecting and strengthening the overall effectiveness of a business.
Mtek Digital Managed Business Service
Mtek Digital provides help with virtually any business technology requirement. From IT services to cybersecurity, we’re capable of servicing the tech industry throughout Canada. Contact us today.