In my experience as IT Auditor with expertise in cybersecurity, and in the application of standards and frameworks, I just want to add some key features to the process: -Information System Auditing Process where the auditor plans the audit to determine whether information systems are protected, controlled, and provide value to the organization; therefore, he conducts the audit in accordance with IS audit standards and a risk-based IS audit strategy. -Governance and Management of IT will be critical to evaluate the IT strategy for alignment with the organization's strategies and objectives, and also evaluate the effectiveness of IT governance structure and IT organizational structure. There are other features to detail later.

I am a Cisco Cyber Security expert and while doing an IT Audit or fighting any Cybercrime case I always rely on standards IT audit standards and guidlines to be able to protect your Business and I always rely on IT audit standards and frameworks.

Ensuring compliance and effectiveness in our audit reports involves adhering to a range of IT audit standards and frameworks. These include internationally recognized benchmarks such as COSO's Internal Control Framework, COBIT (Control Objectives for Information and Related Technologies), and ISO/IEC 27001 for information security management systems. By leveraging these frameworks, we can comprehensively assess IT controls and provide valuable insights to our stakeholders.

Audit teams planning to evaluate multiple frameworks should take into account the commonalities that exist between different frameworks, rather than auditing each one in isolation. This approach can save both time and effort. For instance, the SOC 2 framework and ISO 27002 share many controls. Auditing these shared controls once can meet the requirements of both frameworks. This strategy can be applied to other frameworks as well.

In IT audits, several key standards and frameworks are referenced to ensure thoroughness and compliance. COBIT (Control Objectives for Information and Related Technologies) is frequently used for aligning IT with business goals and managing risk. ISO/IEC 27001 provides a robust framework for information security management systems (ISMS). The NIST Cybersecurity Framework offers guidelines for managing and mitigating cybersecurity risks. ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library) outlines best practices for IT service management. PCI-DSS ensures secure handling of credit card information, while SOX (Sarbanes-Oxley Act) mandates IT controls for accurate financial reporting.

COBIT, by ISACA, guides IT governance and management, aligning IT with business goals, managing risks, and ensuring compliance. Key Components: Framework: Principles, processes, and control objectives with maturity models. Alignment: With ISO/IEC 27001, ITIL, and NIST Cybersecurity Framework. Benefits - Improved Governance: Enhances accountability and decision-making. Enhanced Risk Management: Structured approach to mitigate IT risks. Optimized Resource Allocation: Efficient IT resource allocation. Demonstrated Compliance: Facilitates regulatory compliance. In summary, COBIT aids organizations in improving IT governance, risk management, and compliance, fostering alignment with business objectives and driving efficiency.

In my opinion, no single information security standard fits every organization's unique risks and processes. However, the NIST Risk Management Framework (RMF) provides a solid, step-by-step approach for identifying, assessing, and treating risks. The NIST Cybersecurity Framework is also valuable for mapping an organization's existing controls to a standard. Ultimately, as a risk professional, it's important to balance the cost of implementing a control against the potential impact of a risk when making recommendations. Rather than blindly following any one standard, we must tailor solutions to address each organization's specific risk landscape, processes, and budget constraints.

ISO 27001 and ISO 20000 is more common than others, and there are also substandard such as 27002 - controls, 27017 - cloud, 27018 - cloud privacy, 27102 - cyberinsurance. It is also note that ISO requires more on the general plan-do-check-act cycles and risk evaluations. In general, it requires management involvement and roles in IT management by defining the objectives and how to achieve them.

If your auditing the information security aspects, it is recommended to use the iso 27001:2022 standard as the baseline. It consists of 93 controls spread across 4 domains. People (8 controls) Organisational (37 controls) Technological (34 controls) Physical (14 controls) Implementing these controls would improve information security management of the organization. Continually strength the existing controls through reviews and enhance the effectiveness. Achieving the standard compliance could be a value addition to the organization as it is a recognized body. I personally recommend to focus on the effectiveness of the controls rather than just trying to comply with the standard to get the best outcome.

Here are few of the common frameworks; 1- ETGRM – Enterprise technology Governance and Risk Management Framework (Regulatory Framework applicable in Pakistan) 2 - ISO/IEC27001 3 - COBIT 4 - NIST Cyber Security 5 - PCI DSS and PA DSS 6 - ITIL 7 - Various research articles and reports published by competent authorities and organizations

It is also note that IT Audit are frequently required to cover regulatory requirements such as SOX - financial reporting systems, HIPAA - Insurance data protection, PCI-DSS - payment card related systems, and other financial regulatory. On the other hand, AICPA SOC 2 Type II is also a common standard pursuited.

I believe that unless your organization has a particular need to adhere to a specific framework such as PCI-DSS or CMMC v2, it’s best to start with a simpler approach. Begin by establishing the basics using frameworks like the NIST Cyber Security Framework 2.0 or Cyber Essentials. Once these are in place, consider bringing in an external auditor for validation. From there, you can gradually incorporate additional frameworks that align with your organization’s requirements. Attempting to implement a comprehensive framework like NIST SP-800-53, which has over 1000 controls, right off the bat could potentially lead you no where.

There’s no one-size-fits-all framework. It’s crucial to select the one that best aligns with your business requirements. If your business operates in a regulated environment and needs to comply with a specific framework like PCI-DSS, then it’s a mandatory requirement. For voluntary frameworks like ISO 27001 or SOC 1 & 2, make a judicious choice based on what fits your organization best. Once you’ve chosen a framework, it will need to be adjusted to determine which parts are relevant to your organization and which are not. Avoid implementing everything blindly just for the sake of adhering to a framework.

One of the most important aspects in respecting Standards and playing by the rules to protect a business is to conduct repetitive awareness workshop for the employees and always update them about the latest threats and hacking techniques