Choosing a trusted auditor: 5 key questions to ask your potential auditor

Choosing a trusted auditor is a critical step in your compliance journey. A thorough audit not only validates your security posture but also helps you build trust with your customers. The right auditor can provide valuable insights into your operations, identify potential risks, and suggest improvements to enhance your overall security framework.

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Vanta believes it's important to empower you with the knowledge you need to make informed decisions when selecting an auditor. By understanding the key questions to ask and the essential factors to consider, you can confidently choose an auditor who aligns with your organization's needs and objectives. 

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Below are the top five questions to ask when determining if a potential auditor is the right fit for your organization:

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#1 What frameworks and standards do you support?

Your goal in an audit is to successfully obtain a certification or report demonstrating compliance with a framework that will benefit your business. Ensure the auditor is experienced with and offers their audit services for your required needs—whether it be SOC 2, ISO 27001, or any frameworks your company may need.

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You’ll want to continue building a relationship with this audit firm and ensure they have the experience to meet the needs of your business today and as your organization evolves. If the audit firm does not meet your needs, there is no reason to proceed with additional questions. 

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#2 What is the pricing structure for the specific audit needed?

You’ll want to understand how this auditor goes about pricing their services. Clarify upfront whether costs are a flat fee or hourly rate, and ask about additional costs to avoid surprises. 

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We also want to caution you from choosing an auditor based on price alone, as this may compromise audit quality and accuracy. A thorough audit will identify areas for improvement in your organization's operations and risk profile and provide the necessary information to attain the compliance framework you’re working toward. If you choose an auditor that fails to thoroughly check your security controls, you’ll be exposing your organization to significant risks and potential compliance issues that could have been resolved to protect your company. 

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#3 What is the expected timeline?

When selecting an audit firm, it's crucial to establish a clear timeline for the audit process. This includes confirming the audit firm's availability and start date, estimated duration of the audit, and the expected turnaround time for the final report or certification. The audit firm should ideally agree to include the issuance date of the report or certification in the engagement letter.

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It's essential to verify that the proposed timeline aligns with your organization's compliance objectives and reporting deadlines. Delays in the audit process can have significant consequences, including missed filing deadlines, regulatory penalties, and reputational damage. Therefore, it's crucial to choose an audit firm that can commit to and deliver on the agreed-upon timeline as well as set clear expectations for the process as a whole to minimize the risk of delays.

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#4 How will the audit firm leverage tools and automation throughout the audit process? 

You want to ensure that the audit firm uses tools to streamline the audit process, centralize audit management, and simplify real-time collaboration with your auditor. Vanta automates up to 90% of the audit preparation with continuous monitoring, automated evidence collection, and automated tests, delivering faster, more accurate results to maintain audit readiness. 

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Companies undergoing an audit regularly interact with their auditor to share evidence and fulfill audit requests, which include custom documentation requests. Vanta allows organizations to share relevant information with auditors while maintaining control over disclosures through a single platform. 

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Even if your auditor does not work within the Vanta platform, the Vanta API allows auditors the flexibility to automate data syncing between the auditor’s preferred tools and Vanta to eliminate any duplicative work and ensure up-to-date information, resulting in a complete and accurate audit. 

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#5 How can I verify if an audit firm is credible and meets the standards for SOC 2 and ISO 27001?

To ensure that a potential SOC 2 auditor maintains high quality standards, independence, and has the required expertise, they should be a member of the AICPA Peer Review program. Additionally, you should confirm that they passed their last peer review and that it was completed within the last three years. In addition, you should be able to speak with a CPA at the company who will be responsible for signing off on the final report. 

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To ensure that an audit firm meets the standards for ISO 27001 or other ISO frameworks, you should confirm that the firm is an accredited certification body. This means that they are recognized by entities such as ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) or United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS). This accreditation confirms that their certifications meet globally recognized standards.

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How to find the right auditor

When selecting an audit firm, it's crucial to thoroughly vet their qualifications and experience to ensure a successful partnership. Choose a firm with extensive experience in your required framework, and ensure the auditor assigned to your project holds the appropriate qualifications. 

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Most audit firms will allow you to meet the auditor(s) during your evaluation process, which we suggest doing to help validate their legitimacy. Additionally, request references or case studies to ensure the audit firm can work with businesses of your size and industry. To provide a smooth and efficient audit process, understand how the firm communicates and utilizes tools like Vanta throughout the process. 

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By carefully evaluating these factors, you can confidently choose the right audit firm to meet your needs and protect your organization’s interests.

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Vanta simplifies the audit process by automating key tasks like control tests and evidence gathering, making audits faster and more efficient. The platform enables easy collaboration with auditors, helping you address issues and complete audits with ease. And with Vanta’s Seamless Audit you can simplify the procurement and audit process by getting access to the Vanta platform along with an independent, Vanta-vetted SOC 2 or ISO 27001 auditor.