Why should you carry out ISO 27001 Internal Audits?

Have you adopted ISO 27001 or looking for implementing the standard? In both cases, you may need to perform an internal auditing program. If you have already implemented the standard, then it is important for your business to maintain the standard requirements. Internal audits can help you ensure the ongoing improvement of the standard. On the other hand, if you are getting prepared for ISO 27001 certification, then you may perform internal audits to determine whether everything within the system is lined up with the standard requirements or not.

 

Sometimes the process catches a company off guard as the company fails to realize how frequently things can change once an Information Security Management System or ISMS is implemented. The management, therefore, should always keep an eye on the system. Internal audits are a method through which the management can thoroughly examine the ISMS to ensure its compliance with ISO 27001 Standard.

We have already learned what is internal auditing. Now, let’s try to understand what ISO 27001 internal audits are. This auditing program reviews the ISMS of an organization to verify whether the system is meeting the standard’s requirements or not. When a company is trying to achieve the ISO 27001 certification, this auditing program provides the company ample scopes of filling the gaps (if there are any). 

We have listed some key benefits of internal audits. Let’s have a glimpse of them:

• Helps the management improve internal control

• Points out gaps, non-conformities, and areas that need further improvement

• Makes a business process-dependent and reduces the person-dependent inclination

• Provides an organization with early warnings so that they can rectify the shortcomings before the certification audit program takes place

• Motivates accountability in the organization

• Fulfills the requirements of ISO management system

No matter whether you are concerned about ISO 27001 or ISO 14001 internal audits; such method is associated with the risk management process of an organization. After all, internal audits are performed based on the risk levels of an organization’s activities. However, it is also important to ensure that the internal auditing team is competent enough. The program should be scheduled and planned in the initial stage and the findings should be reported to the management within the promised timeframe.

There are five stages that can lead an organization to a successful internal auditing program. These stages are:

In this stage, the auditing team will review the documentation thoroughly to learn how the ISMS was implemented and how it is maintained. This way, they will be able to set clear limits on the scope of what should be audited.

The auditing team and management should develop a detailed checklist of what they should include in the program. This plan should formalize the timing and use of resources for the auditing program.

This is time for the real assessment. The auditing team should examine the system deeply, talk to the employees, check the devices, and observe how the ISMS is working. It is also important to perform audit tests for validating the garnered evidence.

Now, the gathered evidence should be stored and reviewed in terms of risk and control objectives.

In this last stage, the findings should be documented properly in the form of the audit report and the management should be provided with the report.

 

To do or not to do- that’s the question!

Many organizations suffer from this dilemma. Sometimes, top management assumes that ISO 27001 internal audits are a costly affair. Well, this is not true. A business does not need to create a brand new unit for performing the audit. These days, many firms are providing cost-effective ISO internal auditing services. In fact, outsourcing internal auditing resources is a wise decision since it saves time and money. This way, an organization will be able to help the management reap most benefits out of the internal auditing within a short period. As external professionals are assigned to the task, the company does not need to arrange any training programs for their employees. 

Now, you might have gained confidence and decided to opt for the internal auditing program, right? All the best!!

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