What are compliance audits?
Compliance audits are a formal process that verifies whether an organisation has met the requirements of a compliance standard, regulation, or framework. This is achieved by examining implemented controls, policies, and operational processes, against those outlined by the standard.
Audits are typically conducted by external third-party auditors, however businesses may choose to have an internal audit using their own compliance team before going for certification to check correct implementation.
Different compliance standards may have specific audit requirements. For example, SOC 2 involves an external auditor assessing how well an organisation protects customer data, either at a specific point in time, or over a longer time period (6-12 months). Some audits, like those for Cyber Essentials Plus, also include a penetration test that simulates basic hacking and phishing attacks against the organisation, to confirm that the proper security measures are in place.
Audits are typically conducted by external third-party auditors, however businesses may choose to have an internal audit using their own compliance team before going for certification to check correct implementation.
Different compliance standards may have specific audit requirements. For example, SOC 2 involves an external auditor assessing how well an organisation protects customer data, either at a specific point in time, or over a longer time period (6-12 months). Some audits, like those for Cyber Essentials Plus, also include a penetration test that simulates basic hacking and phishing attacks against the organisation, to confirm that the proper security measures are in place.
Updated on: 18/02/2025
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