10 May 2019

Continuous auditing: risk detection and elimination in the shortest terms

Today modern companies face the problem of risk optimization more often. That’s why improving the quality of management remains a number 1 priority for most companies. Even if you stick to all the information security rules, there are still risks of various malfunctions and even data leakage. In order to be ALWAYS informed about the current state of the organization’s information security and to be able to instantly respond to potential threats, we recommend you to try a new internal auditing method from InDevLab – continuous auditing.

What is continuous auditing?

Continuous auditing is an audit method which implies an evenly distributed security check that allows to detect and eliminate vulnerabilities from the moment they occur faster. If an external audit is a one-time security risk assessment of an enterprise, then continuous audit provides constant management monitoring of your company’s activities. It is like an antivirus program, which, at the slightest hint of a threat, immediately warns you about the invasion of a malicious program and allows you to neutralize it quickly. Thus, you can always predict the danger and avoid a possible information attack.

Basic components of continuous auditing

Continuous auditing is divided into 3 main parts:

  1. Continuous Data Assurance

The task of CDA is to verify the integrity of data passing through information systems. To ensure the integrity of information while stored in automated systems, such methods as fault tolerance and secure recovery methods are used. The fault tolerance method allows the system to continue operating in case an error occurs. To ensure this we use redundancy, which helps to improve the reliability and durability of equipment; data duplication, which allows you to save information in case of its loss; equipment and data mirroring, which provides reliable protection against media failures. As for the secure recovery method, here we will use backup and electronic archiving of information. Thus, you don’t have to worry about the integrity or a possibility of losing the documents, files or other important information in case of failures.

  1. Сontinuous Сontrol Monitoring

CCM provides ongoing monitoring of the resource usage by comparing them with predefined key indicators in order to identify abnormal situations. The most prevalent choice of the CCM is to build the Security Operation Center, which aims to detect information security incidents, analyze them and respond to them properly. CCM also includes regular scanning of IT infrastructure components for vulnerabilities. These matters are mainly dealt with by our system administrators and technical support.

  1. Continuous Risk Monitoring and Assessment

Analytics of the obtained results of CCM and CDA, risk analysis and forecasting, analysis of possible losses are carried out as part of CRMA. It also includes risk management process that involves accepting and implementing management decisions aimed at reducing the likelihood of incidents and minimizing costs. The most frequently used risk management tool is insurance. That is, you can ensure information risks which will allow you to stabilize the income of your company and avoid the negative influence of the external environment.

We can say for sure that the implementation of continuous auditing will help your company not only to minimize risks and prevent the loss of company revenues but also to detect and correct errors in time. Therefore, this method will be useful primarily for dynamically developing companies whose work processes need to increase productivity and optimize risks in real time.

If you want to introduce a method of continuous auditing in the work of your company, please call or email us and we will gladly consult and help you.

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