Information Systems Audit - Review Your IT Controls Before Someone Else Does
An information systems audit (IS audit) is an independent review of your organisation's IT controls - access management, data security, change management, backup and recovery, and overall systems reliability - conducted per relevant professional standards. It's the kind of review typically performed by an IT audit professional with CISA-level expertise, and it matters whether you're preparing for SOC or ISO 27001 certification, responding to a client's vendor security questionnaire, need the IT general controls (ITGC) component of your statutory audit strengthened, or simply have never had your systems checked by someone outside your own IT team.
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The key facts, in one place
Everything a founder usually has to piece together from five different pages, in one place.
- Scope
- Access, security, change mgmt, reliabilityCore IT general controls (ITGC) domains
- Who conducts it
- IT audit professionalsWorking to relevant professional IS audit standards
- Common trigger
- SOC / ISO 27001 readinessOr a client's vendor security questionnaire
- Typical turnaround
- 2-4 weeksDepends on systems landscape and access to logs/evidence
- Government fee
- NoneThis is a professional advisory service, not a filing
- Starting price
- ₹19,999Custom quote based on systems scope and complexity
- Deliverable
- Risk-ranked IT controls reportFindings, risk rating, and remediation recommendations
What is an information systems audit?
An information systems audit (also called an IT audit) is an independent review of an organisation's IT environment - covering access controls (who can get to what data and systems), data security practices, change management (how updates and changes to systems are controlled), backup and disaster recovery, and overall systems reliability. It is typically performed by an IT audit professional, often one with CISA (Certified Information Systems Auditor)-level expertise, working to relevant professional IS audit standards and frameworks.
IS audits show up in a few different contexts. As part of a statutory financial audit, the IT general controls (ITGC) review checks whether the systems that feed into financial reporting are reliably controlled. As standalone due diligence, an IS audit is often a prerequisite step before pursuing SOC 2 or ISO 27001 certification, or a direct response to an enterprise client's vendor security questionnaire that asks pointed questions about your access controls and data handling. It's also simply good practice for any growing company whose IT environment has expanded faster than its documented controls.
It's worth being precise about what this service is and isn't. We conduct the review per relevant professional IS audit standards and staff it with IT audit professionals - we do not issue a SOC 2 report or an ISO 27001 certificate ourselves, since those require accredited certification bodies. What we deliver is an independent controls review and a remediation roadmap that puts you in a materially stronger position to pursue formal certification, or to answer a client's security questionnaire with confidence.
Who needs an information systems audit?
IS audits are relevant any time your IT controls need to be independently verified, not just self-reported.
- Companies preparing for SOC 2 or ISO 27001 certification who want an independent gap assessment before engaging a certification body
- Businesses responding to an enterprise client's vendor security questionnaire or due diligence request
- Companies whose statutory auditor's IT general controls (ITGC) review has flagged gaps, or where you want to strengthen that review proactively
- SaaS, fintech, and other technology companies handling sensitive customer data at scale
- Organisations that have grown their IT environment quickly (new systems, more integrations, more admin users) without formal access reviews keeping pace
- Companies that have never had an independent, outside review of who has access to what systems and data
- Businesses preparing for a funding round or acquisition where technical/security due diligence is expected
What do we review during an information systems audit?
Common to every entity
- List of key systems, applications, and infrastructure in useMandatory
- Access control lists / user access matrix for critical systemsMandatory
- IT policies (information security policy, access control policy, data retention, etc.)
- Change management records for a sample periodMandatory
- Backup and disaster recovery documentation and recent test logs
- Incident/security event logs, if any
- Details of third-party vendors with system or data access
- Prior audit or penetration test reports, if available
How our information systems audit works
We scope the review to your systems landscape and the reason you need it before starting.
Scoping call
We understand your systems landscape, why you need the review (certification readiness, a client questionnaire, ITGC support, or a general check), and agree the scope and timeline.
Evidence and access collection
We collect system lists, access control matrices, IT policies, change logs, and backup/DR documentation relevant to the agreed scope.
Controls testing
We test access controls (who has access to what, and whether it's appropriately restricted), review a sample of changes for proper approval, check backup and recovery evidence, and assess data security practices against the agreed framework.
Findings and risk rating
Every gap is documented and risk-rated - a weak password policy is treated differently from unrestricted admin access to production data - so you know what to fix first.
Report walkthrough and remediation roadmap
We walk you through the findings and hand over a remediation roadmap, including guidance on what a formal SOC 2 or ISO 27001 process would additionally require.
We conduct this review per relevant professional IS audit standards, but we do not issue SOC 2 reports or ISO 27001 certificates ourselves - those require an accredited certification body. Our engagement is an independent controls review and gap assessment that strengthens your position going into formal certification or a client's due diligence, not a substitute for it.
How much does an information systems audit cost?
There is no government fee for an IS audit - it is a professional advisory service. Pricing is a custom quote based on your systems landscape, number of applications in scope, and the reason for the review.
Focused Review
Single system or narrow scope (e.g. one client questionnaire)
- Access control review for systems in scope
- Data security practices check
- Findings summary with risk rating
- Suitable for a single client security questionnaire
Full IT Controls Review
Broader ITGC-style review across core systems
- Access, change management, and backup/DR review
- Coordination with your statutory auditor's ITGC needs
- Risk-ranked findings report
- Remediation roadmap walkthrough
Certification Readiness
Pre-SOC 2 / pre-ISO 27001 gap assessment
- Full controls review mapped to SOC 2 / ISO 27001 domains
- Detailed gap assessment against certification requirements
- Remediation roadmap and prioritised timeline
- Support liaising with your chosen certification body
Full fee breakdown
| Particulars | Government fee | Professional fee |
|---|---|---|
| Information systems audit (government fee) | Nil - no government fee applies | N/A |
| Focused Review (single system / narrow scope) | N/A | Starting ₹19,999 |
| Full IT Controls Review | N/A | Starting ₹49,999 |
| Certification Readiness assessment | N/A | Custom quote based on scope, from ₹99,999 |
Not included in any tier:
- ✕ The formal SOC 2 audit or ISO 27001 certification itself, issued by an accredited certification body
- ✕ Penetration testing or vulnerability scanning (available as a separate, specialised engagement)
- ✕ Implementation of remediation items (e.g., configuring access controls) - we advise, your team or ours implements as a follow-on
- ✕ Ongoing continuous monitoring or managed security services
Which IS audit scope fits you?
Answer three quick questions and we'll recommend the right plan.
What's driving the review?
How many core systems/applications are in scope?
How soon do you need this done?
Why get an information systems audit
Certification and sales enablement
- Puts you in a materially stronger position before engaging a SOC 2 or ISO 27001 certification body, reducing surprises and re-work
- Gives you evidence-backed answers ready for enterprise clients' vendor security questionnaires
Risk reduction
- Identifies over-permissioned access and weak change management before they lead to a security incident
- Strengthens the IT general controls that feed into your statutory financial audit
Operational clarity
- Gives management an independent, outside view of the IT control environment, rather than relying solely on internal IT's self-assessment
- Surfaces backup and disaster recovery gaps before they matter in an actual incident
Why get your IS audit done through us
Frequently asked questions
An information systems audit (IS audit or IT audit) is an independent review of an organisation's IT controls - access management, data security, change management, backup and recovery, and systems reliability - conducted per relevant professional standards, typically by an IT audit professional with CISA-level expertise.
No. SOC 2 reports and ISO 27001 certificates must be issued by an accredited certification body. Our information systems audit is an independent controls review and gap assessment that prepares you for that formal certification process - it is not a substitute for it.
The review is conducted by IT audit professionals, working per relevant professional IS audit standards - the kind of review typically associated with CISA (Certified Information Systems Auditor)-level expertise.
Core areas include access controls (who can access what systems and data), data security practices, change management (how system changes are approved and tracked), backup and disaster recovery, and overall systems reliability.
Pricing starts from ₹19,999 for a focused, narrow-scope review and scales up to a custom quote (typically from ₹99,999) for a full certification-readiness assessment, depending on your systems landscape and the depth of review required.
No. An information systems audit is a professional advisory service, not a government filing or registration - there is no statutory or government fee involved.
A focused review on a narrow scope typically takes 2-4 weeks. A full certification-readiness assessment across multiple systems and domains can take longer, depending on how quickly evidence and access can be provided.
No. A penetration test actively attempts to exploit vulnerabilities in your systems from an attacker's perspective. An IS audit is a controls-and-process review - it checks whether appropriate access, change management, and security controls exist and are being followed. The two are complementary but different engagements.
It's not mandatory, but strongly recommended. A pre-certification gap assessment identifies where your current controls fall short of ISO 27001 requirements, so you can close gaps before the formal certification audit, reducing the risk of findings or delays during certification.
ITGC review is the component of a statutory financial audit that checks whether the IT systems supporting financial reporting have reliable controls around access, change management, and operations. We can conduct or support this review to strengthen the IT controls component of your broader statutory audit.
Yes. Even small companies handling customer data, especially SaaS and fintech businesses, benefit from an independent access and security controls review - client security questionnaires and early-stage due diligence don't wait for you to reach enterprise scale.
At minimum: a list of your key systems and applications, access control lists for critical systems, and change management records for a sample period. IT policies, backup/DR documentation, and prior audit reports strengthen the review where available.
Yes, cloud infrastructure access controls, configuration, and security practices are typically included in scope where your systems are cloud-hosted, as part of the broader access and data security review.
We walk you through the risk-ranked findings on a call and hand over a remediation roadmap. You can act on it internally, or engage us for follow-on support on specific remediation items or a subsequent certification-readiness assessment.
A statutory financial audit examines your financial statements, with an IT general controls (ITGC) review as one supporting component. An information systems audit is a dedicated, deeper review focused specifically on IT controls, data security, and systems reliability - useful on its own for certification readiness or client due diligence, beyond what a standard ITGC review covers.
Written by Nikhil Bhat, IT Audit & Security Advisory Lead · Reviewed by Rohit Sinha, IT audit professional, conducts IT controls reviews per relevant professional IS audit standards for SaaS and financial services clients
Last updated 9 September 2026
Sources
- ISACA - Information Systems Audit and Control Association
- ISO/IEC 27001 - Information Security Management
- AICPA - SOC 2 Trust Services Criteria
- ICAI - Standards on Auditing (for ITGC context within statutory audits)
This page describes an independent IT controls review conducted per relevant professional standards; it does not constitute a SOC 2 report, ISO 27001 certification, or a guarantee of certification outcomes, which are issued only by accredited certification bodies. Confirm scope with our team before engagement.
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