Let’s face it—security audits aren’t exactly what most of us dream about at night. The words “ISO standards” and “audit methodology” might make your eyes glaze over faster than a mandatory compliance training video. But here’s the thing: behind all that technical jargon lies something incredibly important—making sure your organization’s sensitive information stays protected in an increasingly risky digital world.
So grab your favorite beverage, and let’s break down this audit business into something that actually makes sense to those of us without “auditor” in our job titles.
Think of ISO 27001 as your security playbook—it tells you what you need to do to keep information safe. It’s like the recipe for a security cake.
ISO 19011, on the other hand, is your cooking technique—it doesn’t tell you what ingredients to use, but rather how to mix them together properly. It’s all about the method.
Together, they’re like having both a great recipe AND knowing how to cook. One without the other leaves you with either ingredients you don’t know how to use or excellent technique but nothing to make!
Before diving headfirst into audit-land, take a breath and ask yourself three simple questions:
Pro tip: Write these down somewhere visible. When things get complicated later (and they will), you’ll thank yourself for having this clarity.
Now it’s time to map out your journey. This isn’t something you do on the fly—it needs structure:
Remember how your parents always said they’d check your room more often if it was usually messy? Apply that same logic here. High-risk areas deserve more frequent check-ins than the parts of your organization that rarely see issues.
You wouldn’t ask a plumber to fix your car, right? The same principle applies to auditors.
Your audit team needs to understand both security AND how to conduct an effective audit. They should be:
And please, rotate your auditors occasionally. Even the most objective person develops blind spots over time.
This is your detailed battle plan that answers all the who-what-where questions:
Share this plan with everyone involved—nobody likes surprise audits showing up like unexpected in-laws.
The opening meeting sets the tone for everything that follows. If you come in like a stern teacher looking for troublemakers, guess what? People will hide things.
Instead, kick things off with:
Remember: “We’re all in this together” beats “I’m here to catch you doing something wrong” any day of the week.
This is where the rubber meets the road. You’re looking for evidence that security is actually happening, not just talked about in meetings.
Look at:
Don’t try to look at everything—you’ll drown in details. Instead, use smart sampling to get the big picture. It’s like checking a few apples to judge the whole barrel.
Be straightforward about what you find:
For problems, be crystal clear: “The password policy requires 12 characters, but the system is configured to accept 8-character passwords” is much more helpful than “password controls are inadequate.”
When wrapping up, remember that how you deliver feedback is just as important as the feedback itself:
Think of it less as a final judgment and more as a helpful review from a critical friend.
Your audit report shouldn’t put people to sleep. Use clear language, visual aids, and a logical structure. Include:
Pro tip: A good report is one that someone can actually use, not just file away and forget.
The whole point of an audit is positive change. For each issue:
When you combine ISO 19011’s approach with ISO 27001’s requirements, you get something powerful—a security program that actually works in real life, not just on paper.
Remember that behind every policy, control, and procedure are people trying to do their jobs. The best audits don’t just find problems—they help build a culture where security becomes second nature.
In a world where cyber threats keep getting scarier and regulations tighter, good security isn’t just a technical requirement—it’s a business necessity and a human responsibility.