An information security audit is one of the most important routine in the process of maintaining information security in any organization. Information security audit is not a function of the initial implementation of the information security.

An information security audit is carried out to ensure the smooth execution of information security policies in the organization. Therefore, an information security audit is essential to be conducted periodically by qualified individuals. In an organization, there are many ways and parties doing such audits and let s have a look at each type.

There are home information security auditors who conduct an information security audit periodically to make sure the organization’s information assets are safe from cyber-terrorist, computer viruses, and other forms of attacks. When executing daily responsibilities and tasks, every individual and department of the organization are required to adhere to the information security policies (processes and procedures). This is basically due to the fact that many information security breaches of organizations are straight outcomes to not adhering to the information security policies and procedures. Therefore, the information security audit assures that the relevant stakeholders do adhere to the defined information security policies and procedures.

There is another party involved in information security audit as well. These are the companies or institutions that offer different types of software and network security certifications. Once a company is issued such an information security certification, then the issuers asks the adherence to the policies and procedures that were fixed and agreed at the time the certificate was published. To ensure whether the company follows the defined standards, the issuer of the certification conduct periodic information security audits. In most of these cases, the company who got the certification spends for the periodic information security audits.

There are a number of software development processes that need such information security audits to be carried out periodically if the company is to be certified by the process controlling body. These instructions are there in the procedures of the software process where the company which implements should agreed at the time of the implementation.

Information security audits have various advantages for the business organizations if properly followed. First of all, the customers and partners will be comfortable to do business with the company if there is an assurance for their information assets stored and invested in the company. For this regular information security audits are essential to show how secure they are with the company that they do business with.