EFFECTIVE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (IT) AUDIT
Auditing IT Systems, Processes, and Controls to Ensure Compliance, Security, and Operational Resilience
Course Schedule
| Date | Venue | Fees (Face-to-Face) |
|---|---|---|
| 12 – 16 May 2025 | London, UK | USD 3495 per delegate |
Course Introduction
As organizations become increasingly dependent on digital infrastructure, IT audits play a critical role in verifying system integrity, cybersecurity, compliance, and risk management. A well-executed IT audit ensures that technology assets are protected, data is secure, and IT operations support business goals.
This intensive 5-day course provides auditors, IT professionals, and compliance teams with the knowledge and tools to assess IT governance, evaluate controls, identify vulnerabilities, and ensure regulatory compliance. Participants will be introduced to frameworks such as COBIT, NIST, ISO 27001, and ITIL, and will practice audit planning, execution, and reporting in an IT environment.
Course Objectives
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
• Plan and perform IT audits in alignment with business and regulatory requirements
• Evaluate IT governance, risk management, and control frameworks
• Assess security controls for networks, databases, applications, and cloud systems
• Identify vulnerabilities and audit findings with appropriate remediation actions
• Report on IT audit results clearly and effectively to both technical and non-technical stakeholders
Key Benefits of Attending
• Build hands-on experience in auditing IT environments and technologies
• Learn to align IT audit procedures with international frameworks (COBIT, NIST, ISO 27001)
• Detect weaknesses in cybersecurity, system access, and data protection
• Develop audit programs for networks, data centers, and IT operations
• Enhance compliance with GDPR, SOX, HIPAA, and other IT-related regulations
Intended Audience
This program is designed for:
• Internal and external auditors involved in IT systems
• IT managers, security officers, and risk professionals
• Governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) specialists
• Cybersecurity and information assurance professionals
• Anyone responsible for IT audit, monitoring, or assurance activities
Individual Benefits
Key competencies that will be developed include:
• IT audit planning, execution, and documentation
• Assessment of general and application controls
• Understanding of cybersecurity threats and mitigation
• Knowledge of IT governance and risk management frameworks
• Report writing and communication of audit findings
Organization Benefits
Upon completing the training course, participants will demonstrate:
• Improved IT control effectiveness and security posture
• Reduced risk of cyber incidents and data breaches
• Enhanced regulatory compliance and audit readiness
• Stronger alignment between IT functions and business goals
• Consistency in IT auditing across systems and departments
Instructional Methdology
The course follows a blended learning approach combining theory with practice:
• Strategy Briefings – Key IT audit concepts, frameworks, and global standards
• Case Studies – IT failure incidents, cybersecurity audits, system breaches
• Workshops – Risk assessment, audit planning, vulnerability evaluation
• Peer Exchange – Audit scenarios and tool sharing across sectors
• Tools – IT audit checklists, risk registers, control matrices, NIST templates
Course Outline
Training Hours: 7:30 AM – 3:30 PM
Daily Format: 3–4 Learning Modules | Coffee breaks: 09:30 & 11:15 | Lunch Buffet: 01:00 – 02:00
Day 1: IT Audit Foundations and Frameworks
Module 1: Introduction to IT Auditing (07:30 – 09:30)
• Scope, objectives, and types of IT audits
Module 2: Governance and Control Frameworks (09:45 – 11:15)
• COBIT, ISO 27001, ITIL, NIST overview
Module 3: IT Risk Assessment Methodologies (11:30 – 01:00)
• Threat identification, risk appetite, heat maps
Module 4: Workshop – Map an IT Risk Register (02:00 – 03:30)
• Identify and prioritize IT risks for an enterprise
Day 2: IT General Controls and Infrastructure
Module 5: Assessing IT General Controls (07:30 – 09:30)
• Change management, backup, recovery, logical access
Module 6: Auditing Data Centers and IT Assets (09:45 – 11:15)
• Physical security, environmental controls, asset tracking
Module 7: IT Operations and Incident Management (11:30 – 01:00)
• Monitoring tools, SLAs, helpdesk and ticketing reviews
Module 8: Workshop – Develop a General Controls Checklist (02:00 – 03:30)
• Design audit procedures for core IT services
Day 3: Application and Cybersecurity Controls
Module 9: Application Control Auditing (07:30 – 09:30)
• Input, processing, and output validation techniques
Module 10: Cybersecurity Threats and Mitigation (09:45 – 11:15)
• Firewall, antivirus, intrusion detection, patching
Module 11: User Access Management (11:30 – 01:00)
• Segregation of duties, privilege escalation, authentication
Module 12: Workshop – Evaluate Cybersecurity Controls (02:00 – 03:30)
• Conduct a gap analysis on a sample IT environment
Day 4: Cloud, Emerging Tech & Data Protection
Module 13: Cloud Auditing Principles (07:30 – 09:30)
• SaaS, IaaS, PaaS risks, shared responsibility model
Module 14: Auditing Emerging Technologies (09:45 – 11:15)
• AI, IoT, blockchain risks and control frameworks
Module 15: Data Privacy and Regulatory Compliance (11:30 – 01:00)
• GDPR, HIPAA, SOX IT requirements
Module 16: Workshop – Audit a Cloud Implementation (02:00 – 03:30)
• Assess vendor contracts, access, and data handling
Day 5: Reporting, Follow-Up, and Integration
Module 17: IT Audit Reporting Best Practices (07:30 – 09:30)
• Report structure, executive summaries, risk ranking
Module 18: Corrective Actions and Follow-Up (09:45 – 11:15)
• Action plans, root cause analysis, validation testing
Module 19: Aligning IT Audit with Enterprise Strategy (11:30 – 01:00)
• Bridging technical findings with business impact
Module 20: Final Workshop – Simulate an End-to-End IT Audit (02:00 – 03:30)
• Deliver a mock IT audit from planning to reporting
Certification
Participants will receive a Certificate of Completion in Effective Information Technology (IT) Audit, validating their ability to conduct structured, compliant, and risk-focused IT audits that enhance cyber resilience, data protection, and IT governance.