IT audit: Why worth regularly conduct audits external?

Are you confident that your IT infrastructure is running smoothly and is properly secured? An external IT audit provides an independent assessment that will evaluate the health of your systems and identify areas for improvement. Regular external audits are an investment in the security of your business. Don’t wait - order a professional audit for your company today.

What is an IT audit and why is it so important?

An IT audit is an analysis and assessment of the information systems and related processes within an organization. It checks whether the IT infrastructure is operating efficiently, securely, and in accordance with best practices and legal regulations.

You can compare it to a car inspection. You regularly take your car to a specialist to assess its technical condition, detect potential issues, and propose necessary repairs or upgrades. Similarly, an IT audit lets a specialist “look under the hood” of your systems to ensure everything is working correctly. This helps detect and correct potential problems before they escalate into major failures or security incidents.

What are the main types of IT audits?

IT audits can take various forms depending on the area they focus on. Here are the most important ones:

• Security audit - focuses on evaluating the security of systems and data protection. It examines vulnerabilities, tests access control mechanisms, and reviews security policies.
• Compliance audit - checks whether systems and processes comply with legal regulations - such as GDPR and PCI DSS - and industry standards like ISO 27001. This helps avoid fines and maintain customer trust.
• Operational audit - assesses the operational efficiency and performance of IT systems. It analyzes processes, identifies bottlenecks, and proposes optimizations to improve productivity and IT service quality.
• Infrastructure audit - examines the technical and architectural condition of IT infrastructure - servers, networks, storage, and more. It evaluates reliability, scalability, and readiness to meet future business needs.

What are the benefits of regular IT audits?

First and foremost, audits help you discover security gaps, regulatory non-compliance, or weak points in your architecture. With this information, you can quickly implement corrective actions, minimizing the risk of downtime, data loss, or financial penalties.

Major incidents like a data breach or system outage can ruin the trust and reputation built over years. Audits allow you to act before problems get out of control.

Every manager will appreciate the cost savings that IT audits bring. Analyzing resource usage, system loads, and processes highlights areas that are inefficient and generating unnecessary costs. System consolidation and task automation bring tangible financial benefits.

A comprehensive audit of architecture, configuration, and processes reveals weak points and inefficient solutions. Eliminating them speeds up systems, reduces failures and downtime, making your team more efficient, better serving customers, and strengthening your market position.

How does the IT audit process work?

An IT audit is a structured process consisting of several key stages:

1. Audit planning - at this stage, the goals and scope of the audit are defined, areas and systems for analysis are selected, and the schedule and evaluation criteria are set.
2. Conducting the audit - this is the active phase of the auditors’ work. They collect data through document reviews, employee interviews, penetration tests, and log analysis. The gathered information is then analyzed and assessed against predefined criteria.
3. Reporting results - the audit concludes with a report that presents key findings and issues, prioritizing them. It also includes suggestions for fixes and improvements. The report is discussed with management and relevant teams.
4. Implementing recommendations - The company decides which recommendations to implement and in what order. Auditors can provide support during this process, but the main responsibility lies with the organization.
5. Cyclical audits - a single audit provides a snapshot of the situation at a given time, but the IT environment is dynamic. Therefore, it’s worth incorporating audits into a cyclical management process, especially in the area of security. Regular audits allow you to verify the effectiveness of implemented solutions and respond to new problems.

How to choose the right external IT auditor?

Choosing to entrust the audit to an external entity requires careful consideration. An independent, objective assessment is certainly beneficial, but you first need to find an auditor who understands the specifics of your industry and company. Here are some tips on what to consider:

• Experience and expertise - look for an auditor with extensive experience in the areas you want to examine. Check the documented results of their previous audits.
• Industry knowledge - every sector has its own rules, regulations, and common issues. An auditor who understands your industry will more accurately assess key areas and propose relevant solutions. Therefore, ask about their experience in similar projects.
• Flexibility - every company operates differently, and the auditor should take this into account. Avoid rigid, one-size-fits-all solutions; look for a specialist who will tailor the scope and methodology of the audit to your needs and constraints. Appreciate proactivity and the desire to understand your business context.
• Clear communication - an audit report serves its purpose when it is clear and provides practical guidance. Pay attention to how the auditor presents information, whether they avoid jargon, and whether they are open to questions and discussions. Good communication is key to the project’s success.

How often should IT audits be conducted?

There is no universal rule for how often audits should be performed. The frequency of various types of audits depends on the pace of change in your industry and the specific challenges your company faces.

What should be considered?

• Company size and profile - large organizations with complex IT infrastructures and critical systems may need more frequent audits than small companies with simpler environments. This is especially true for heavily regulated industries such as finance or healthcare.
• Changes in technology and processes - significant changes in infrastructure (for example, cloud migration), the implementation of new systems, or the reorganization of IT processes are good times for an audit. It allows you to verify if the changes introduced new vulnerabilities.
• Regulatory requirements and standards - regulations such as GDPR impose minimum audit frequencies. It’s worth aligning the schedule with these requirements to maintain compliance and certifications.
• Security incidents - If you have experienced a security breach or data leak, conduct an audit to identify its causes. Also consider increasing the frequency of audits to prevent such incidents in the future.

IT audits in practice

Kiddi Caru, part of Grandir UK, is a network of high-quality nurseries in the UK. In 2015, the company was looking for an experienced partner to manage its IT systems.

The company had recently moved to Microsoft Azure to manage finance, procurement, and payroll, but lacked the internal technical expertise to manage these systems effectively.

Kiddi Caru turned to an experienced IT management service provider. They conducted a comprehensive audit of the company’s network and IT infrastructure.

What were the results? First, the audit revealed a serious issue with the configuration of remote access in Azure, which could have potentially caused huge problems in the future:

• security vulnerabilities allowing unauthorized access to the company network;
• performance and stability issues with remote connections;
• difficulty in remote access for authorized users;
• risk of leakage of sensitive business data.

The auditors immediately informed Kiddi Caru of the issue and proposed a plan of action. The external team quickly arrived on-site and configured the appropriate tunnels, i.e., encrypted Microsoft Azure network connections. These fixed the faulty remote access configuration, creating secure "roads" between Kiddi Caru’s local network and Azure cloud, thus eliminating the threat.

Benefits:

• Identification and resolution of a critical network issue that could have significantly impacted the company’s daily operations - employees would have had difficulty accessing needed systems and data, leading to downtime.
• Increased security and stability of IT infrastructure.
• Kiddi Caru gained a trusted IT partner, allowing the company to focus on growing its core business.

Best practices for conducting IT audits

How can you maximize the benefits of audits? It’s worth following proven practices and high standards of execution. Here are some tips that will help you achieve good results:

1. Thoroughness and detail - a meticulous analysis of configurations, logs, permissions, or documentation can uncover seemingly minor gaps that actually pose significant risks.
2. Optimization - tailor the scope and methodology of the audit to your needs and capabilities. Focus on critical systems and processes, and use automated tools where possible.
3. A culture of continuous improvement - treat audits as part of your IT development strategy. Regularly monitor progress, measure results, and learn from them. Build a culture of openness to assessment and change.
4. Management involvement - an audit is a strategic project for the entire company. Management involvement sets the tone for the organization and underscores the importance of IT security and quality.

IT audit - an investment that pays off

IT audits are a real shield of protection for a company. Regular checks of systems guard against digital threats and help you get more out of every dollar invested in technology. By showing clients that you take the security of their data seriously, you build trust and stand out from the competition.

If your company doesn’t yet conduct regular IT audits, it’s time for a change. Technology and its associated risks are constantly evolving, so only regular reviews will allow you to keep up with them.

Wondering if your company needs such an audit? Let’s talk about it. Our experts will assess your infrastructure, identify areas that need attention, and tailor solutions to your organization’s needs. Contact us, and we’ll present the available options and answer all your questions. Together, we’ll find a way to improve IT management in your company.