The adoption and use of IT audits are needed by businesses to help them gain a competitive edge, protect them from data breaches and stay on top of IT trends and technological advancements. Technological advancements are constantly progressing, meaning that cyber crime and security breaches are also advancing according to these technologies. Performing periodic IT audits is essential for protecting your company from security threats.
What is an IT audit?
An IT audit is the process of evaluating and reporting on IT systems, procedures, and infrastructure. The primary purpose of an IT audit is to assess the effectiveness of the systems used to manage risks, ensure compliance with relevant regulations, and optimise IT management practices. IT audits help businesses by providing insights that lead to improved operational efficiency and reduce IT-related risks.
When is an IT audit required?
An audit is a statutory requirement if two of the following apply:
- The company has an annual turnover of more than £10.2m
- The company has assets of more than £5.1m
- The company has more than 50 employees on average
However, some companies require an IT audit if they are:
- A public company
- An authorised insurance company
- A company involved in banking
- A company whose shares are traded in a European state
Why is an IT audit important?
IT audits play a vital role in safeguarding your business operations, providing accurate insights into your infrastructure, and supporting future growth. Different areas of IT, such as Networking and Server & Storage (S&S), may require distinct approaches. Networking audits often focus on cybersecurity, while S&S audits are more geared towards ensuring hardware accuracy and assisting partners or service providers in quoting accurately for services. Below are the key benefits of conducting regular IT audits.
Identify and mitigate IT risks
IT audits help manage and mitigate risks such as cyber attacks and system failures by implementing controls and business continuity plans. For Server & Storage systems, regular audits ensure that hardware remains updated and functional.
Ensures compliance with laws and regulations
Most industries must adhere to specific laws and regulations governing their IT systems and data management. IT audits help organisations remain compliant with these requirements and avoid legal repercussions.
Improve the efficiency of IT operations
IT audits often identify opportunities for optimisation, reducing inefficiencies and leading to cost savings. For Server & Storage, this includes ensuring hardware is accurately tracked and managed, preventing miss quotes and missed opportunities.
Ensures data integrity
Audits verify that organisational data remains accurate and reliable, supporting informed business decisions and regulatory compliance.
Aligns IT with business goals and objectives
Regular audits ensure that your IT infrastructure is aligned with your broader business objectives, allowing for more efficient achievement of strategic goals.
Smart CT and IT auditing
At Smart CT, we offer tailored Server & Storage (S&S) audits alongside our Networking audits. Our audits are designed to capture essential hardware information, ensuring that your infrastructure is both accurate and up to date. Unlike Networking audits that often focus on cybercrime risks, S&S audits emphasise capturing detailed hardware data to facilitate accurate quoting for partners and uncover potential upselling opportunities.
Accurate Audits for Partners: Partners and service providers rely on precise audit information to quote new business and prevent over- or under-charging. Smart CT’s S&S audits are designed to assist partners with reliable hardware data collection.
Non-Intrusive Audits: Our S&S audits are non-intrusive, ensuring that important hardware details are gathered efficiently without disrupting operations. These audits can be tailored to suit specific business needs, even in multi-vendor environments.
End-to-End Audit Support: We offer pre- and post-contract audit services, providing full support from initial data collection to ongoing maintenance. Whether you need assistance with new deployments or managing legacy systems, Smart CT is here to help.
Our highly trained engineers at Smart CT conduct high-quality IT audits across Networking, Server & Storage, and Workplace Technologies. We analyse and evaluate your entire IT infrastructure to ensure optimal performance, security, and cost savings. To learn more about how Smart CT can support your IT needs, get in touch with us today.
