To be specific, IT audits may cover a wide range of IT processing and communication infrastructure such as client-server systems and networks, operating systems, security systems, software applications, web services, databases, telecom infrastructure, change management procedures and disaster recovery planning.

The general structure of an audit is to identify risks, assess the design of controls and then test the effectiveness of the controls. Each of these aspects of an audit can add value when performed by skillful auditors.

The key drivers or motivations for an IT audit function are generally the need for assurance and internal control within a company. As organizations make huge investments in technology, IT auditing can provide the assurance that risks are being controlled and that huge losses are not just around the corner. An organization itself may assess a high risk of outage, security threat or vulnerability. There may also be regulatory or compliance requirements such as the Sarbanes Oxley Act or industry specific requirements from the SEC or Federal Reserve.

Below we discuss five key areas in which IT auditors can add value to an organization. Of course, the quality and depth of a technical audit is a prerequisite to adding value. The planned scope of an audit is also critical to the value added. Without a clear mandate on what business processes and risks will be audited, it is hard to ensure success or added value.

So here are our top five ways that an IT audit adds value:

1. Reduce risk. IT audits that are planned and executed based on best practices will identify and assess the risks in an organization’s IT environment.

IT audits generally cover risks associated with the confidentiality, integrity and availability of information technology infrastructure and resources. There are also risks related to the effectiveness, efficiency and reliability of IT.

After identifying and assessing risks, the next logical step is to develop a course of action to reduce or mitigate the risks through controls, risk transfer (e.g. insurance) or risk acceptance (e.g. built into the business).

An essential point here is to understand that IT risk is business risk. Threats and vulnerabilities in IT operations can have a direct impact on the overall organization. An organization needs to understand its risks and then have a clear strategy to address those risks.

Best practices in IT risk used by auditors are ISACA COBIT and RiskIT frameworks (www.isaca.org) and the ISO/IEC 27002 standard ‘Code of practice for information security management’ (www.iso.org).

2. Strengthen controls (and improve security). After risks are assessed as discussed above, controls are identified and assessed. This allows for poorly designed or ineffective controls to be redesigned and/or strengthened.

The comprehensive COBIT framework consists of four high level domains covering 32 control processes that can be used to reduce IT risk. This framework covers all aspects of information security including control objectives, key goal indicators, critical success factors and key performance indicators.

An auditor can use COBIT to assess the controls in an organization and make recommendations that add real value to the IT environment and to the organization as a whole.

Another control framework is the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) model of internal controls. IT auditors can use this framework to get assurance on (1) the effectiveness and efficiency of operations, (2) the reliability of financial reporting and (3) the compliance with applicable laws and regulations. The framework contains two elements out of five that directly relate to controls – control environment and control activities.

3. Comply with regulations. Wide ranging regulations at the federal and state levels include specific requirements for information security. The IT auditor serves a critical function in ensuring that specific requirements are met, risks are assessed and controls implemented.

Sarbanes Oxley Act (Corporate and Criminal Fraud Accountability Act) includes specific requirements on all public companies. The act requires companies to ensure that internal controls are adequate as defined in the framework of the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission’s (COSO) mentioned above. The IT auditor provides the assurance that such requirements are met.

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) has three areas of IT requirements – administrative, technical and physical. It is the IT auditor who plays a key role in ensuring compliance with these requirements.

Various industries such as the credit card industry have requirements such as the Payment Card Industry (PCI) Data Security Standard e.g. Visa and Mastercard.

All of these compliance and regulatory areas require the IT auditor to play a key role. It is critical to an organization to have assurance that all requirements are met.

4. Facilitate communication between business and technology management. An audit promotes better communication between an organization’s business and technology management. The audit procedures of interviewing, observing and testing result in valuable information in written reports and oral presentations. Senior management is thus informed of how their organization is functioning.

Technology professionals in an organization also need to know the expectations and objectives of senior management. Auditors help this communication from the top down through participation in meetings with technology management and through review of the current implementations of policies, standards and guidelines.

It is important to understand that IT auditing is a key element in management’s oversight of technology. An organization’s technology exists to support business strategy, functions and operations. Alignment of business and supporting technology is critical. IT auditing maintains this alignment.

5. Improve IT Governance. The following definition is from the IT Governance Institute (ITGI):

‘IT Governance is the responsibility of executives and board of directors, and consists of the leadership, organizational structures and processes that ensure that the enterprise’s IT sustains and extends the organization’s strategies and objectives.’

The leadership, organizational structures and processes referred to in the definition all point to IT auditors as key players. Central to IT auditing and to overall IT management is a strong understanding of the value, risks and controls around an organization’s technology environment. More specifically, IT auditors review the value, risks and controls in each of the key components of technology – applications, information, infrastructure and people.

The framework of IT governance consists of four key objectives which are also discussed in the IT Governance Institute’s documentation:

*IT is aligned with the business *IT enables the business and maximizes benefits *IT resources are used responsibly *IT risks are managed appropriately

IT auditors focus on providing assurance that each of these objectives is met. All of these objectives are critical to an organization and are therefore within the scope of IT auditing.

To sum up, IT auditing is extremely valuable to reduce risks, improve security, comply with regulations and facilitate communication between business and technology management. Overall IT governance is improved and strengthened through the IT audit function.

References:

ISACA. Control Objectives for Information and related Technology (COBIT). www.isaca.org.

ISO/IEC 27002 Code of practice for information security management. www.iso.org

Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) Framework. www.coso.org

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Control panel and FTP commands – Linux and Windows servers provide support to these equally well, but some of the FTP command have slight variations in each operating system as the FTP programs are often designed with either Windows or Linux in mind. This could be the reason for some error messages you may encounter when attempting to run certain FTP commands on each server.

* Support – compared to Windows, Linux has limited support for some of their technology which proved to be expensive and limited at times. As opposed to Windows, which uses more generic technologies, Linux used much more specific ones.

* Reliability and Security – Linux has the reputation of having better technology for security protocols, as it is generally utilized by system engineers and developers exclusively, while Windows proves to be the main system employed on personal computers in homes, so its security protocols are typically not so advanced. It is much more likely that you will have a successful attack against you when using Windows than Linux if no other reason than the fact that there are a much larger number of Windows based attacks than Linux ones.

-Performance- Linux is generally thought to be a slightly better performing system primarily due to the manner in which the Linux server is packaged. Linux plans are more specifically designed for their target customers. Windows usually operates in a different manner and prefers to offer a one size fits all approach with a more generalized set of tools.

* Conversion – if there are plans for you to change your OS in the near future, then having a Linux web server now is fine as this conversion should be smooth and easy to have your website converted from Linux hosting to Windows hosting. On the other hand, however, it can be much more difficult to say the least to convert your website form a Windows hosting system to that of Linux.

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Tracking a mobile phone number is truly not any different for a home telephone number. The notion is pretty much the same if you can get your hands the person’s number that you are attempting to lookup.

If you already have the number you are attempting to search, you will then need to seek a reverse telephone search service. The no cost reverse directories are all over, but they are purely a lure and switch for the paid services. You will most likely not find the data you are looking for from doing a free reverse phone search.

The easiest way to achieve fast results is to go directly to the paid services. It can save you a lot of time and disappointment.

There are unique plans on how many lookups you can carry out. If you are planning on executing more than one search, you may want to sign up for the limitless membership alternative. This preference will give you unrestricted searches.

The ease of doing a reverse phone lookup is easy to use. You insert the person’s phone number into the system and the list results are generated. You will be given background data as well as address data.

The software is capable of searching people across the whole United States and some cases Canada. There are several reasons for executing a phone lookup. You may be want to search lost loves, old buddies or investigate your new boyfriend.

Tracing cellular telephone numbers can give you the info you need almost instantly from the convenience of your home computer. It does not matter your reason for the inquiry, the capacity to investigate a mobile number to receive valued info on anybody is definitely a bonus.

Before you pay a private researcher, employ reverse telephone lookup as a find address tool and carry out a reverse telephone lookup today! You are welcome to reprint this article – but get your own unique content version here.