Now that your company has decided to start performing regular IT Security Audits to ensure compliance and enhance cybersecurity, the next step is to find the right Security Auditor. Although it can seem like a stressful and daunting task, it is important to find an Auditor who is a suitable fit for your company. Focusing solely on low price may result in a poorly matched Security Auditor for your team. The right Security Auditor will be able to understand the specificities of your product and the challenges your company’s IT systems may be up against. 

What are some factors to consider when choosing a Security Auditor?

1) Qualifications

Auditors may be qualified to perform different levels of tests. It is first important to determine what compliance certifications your nature of business needs; it is common to see cloud-based service businesses needing SOC 1, SOC 2 and ISO 27001 as well as CCPA as compliance necessities. Do your research beforehand to see which Audit companies are qualified to run the tests you require.

2) Reputation

The key to vetting an Auditor’s reputation is to do thorough customer reference checks. You will want to ask those who have worked with the auditor a few of the following questions:

• How flexible has this auditor been while working with you?
• How would you rate them compared to other Security Auditors you have worked with?
• Did their services and delivery measure up to what they promised?

It is usually well worth the price to partner with a reputable, more expensive Audit company and known brand than an unknown auditor with no references at a lower price.

3) Time Commitment

Your engagement with a Security Auditor could range anywhere from three months to several years as most security accreditation standards require annual renewals. It is relatively uncommon for companies to switch auditors once a match is made. The bulk of the work for an auditor is in the first year, and it reduces over time. It is a good opportunity to also consider long-term pricing arrangements which can either start low with a good deal and increase or lower over time.

4) Tools

What kind of tools and programs will the Security Auditor be using? Are these programs up to-date and in full support of cloud-based services?  If your company uses modern infrastructure and software, your auditor needs to fully understand those. Likewise, it is important that your own IT department understands these tools, and that they are scalable and easy to use.

Choosing the right IT Security Auditor can lead to a long-term beneficial partnership and relationship for your company. While evaluating choices, it is crucial to consider not only the price, but the timeline of the relationship, the Auditor’s reputation and reliability, their qualifications and the programs that they will use to maximize the value of the audits specific to your company’s needs.

By: Joanna Ambros, MBA