Pre-Audit Information for Independent Consultant

A.

When an independent consultant is hired to conduct an ad hoc audit of an enterprise's information security office, it is important to provide them with the necessary information before the audit begins to ensure that the audit is comprehensive and effective. The most important thing to provide to the consultant before the audit begins is the scope and stakeholders of the audit.

Answer: A. The scope and stakeholders of the audit.

Explanation: The scope of the audit defines what is being audited and what is not. It includes the goals, objectives, and boundaries of the audit. Providing this information will help the consultant to determine what areas of the security office need to be audited, what information they need to collect, and what standards and regulations they need to comply with.

Stakeholders are the people or groups who have an interest in the audit and its results. These may include the IT governance committee, the board of directors, and other relevant stakeholders. It is important to identify the stakeholders at the outset of the audit so that the consultant can communicate with them effectively and provide them with the necessary information.

Answer B, the organizational structure of the security office, is important to provide to the consultant as well, as it will help the consultant to understand how the security office is structured, how it operates, and what areas of the organization it is responsible for. This will help the consultant to identify potential areas of risk and to ensure that the audit is comprehensive.

Answer C, the policies and framework used by the security office, are also important to provide to the consultant as they provide a basis for evaluating the security office's performance. These documents will help the consultant to determine if the security office is complying with relevant standards and regulations and if it has appropriate policies and procedures in place.

Answer D, acceptance of the audit risks and opportunities, is also important, but it is not as important as providing the scope and stakeholders of the audit. Acceptance of the audit risks and opportunities involves identifying potential risks associated with the audit and developing strategies to mitigate those risks. It is important to address these issues, but they can be addressed during the audit process, rather than before the audit begins.

In summary, providing the scope and stakeholders of the audit is the most important information to provide to the consultant before the audit begins, as it sets the foundation for the entire audit process.