Which of the following should be an IS auditor's PRIMARY concern when evaluating an organization's information security policies, procedures, and controls for third-party vendors?
Click on the arrows to vote for the correct answer
A. B. C. D.A.
When evaluating an organization's information security policies, procedures, and controls for third-party vendors, an IS auditor's primary concern should be ensuring that the organization is still responsible for protecting the data, as stated in answer B.
Here's why:
A. The third-party vendors have their own information security requirements. While third-party vendors may have their own security requirements, this does not necessarily affect the organization's responsibility for protecting their own data. The IS auditor should ensure that the organization has appropriate controls in place to manage the risk associated with working with third-party vendors and that these controls are adequate to protect the organization's data.
B. The organization is still responsible for protecting the data. This answer is the most appropriate because it acknowledges that the organization ultimately holds the responsibility for ensuring the security of its data. The IS auditor should evaluate the organization's policies, procedures, and controls for third-party vendors to ensure that they meet industry standards and are effective in mitigating risks associated with third-party access to data.
C. Noncompliance is easily detected. While it is important for the IS auditor to be able to detect noncompliance, this is not the primary concern when evaluating an organization's information security policies, procedures, and controls for third-party vendors. The primary concern is to ensure that appropriate controls are in place to protect the organization's data.
D. The same procedures and controls are used for all third-party vendors. Using the same procedures and controls for all third-party vendors may not be appropriate as different vendors may pose different levels of risk to the organization. The IS auditor should evaluate the organization's policies, procedures, and controls for third-party vendors to ensure that they are tailored to the specific risks associated with each vendor.
In summary, the IS auditor's primary concern when evaluating an organization's information security policies, procedures, and controls for third-party vendors should be to ensure that the organization is still responsible for protecting its data. The IS auditor should also evaluate the adequacy of the controls in place to manage the risks associated with working with third-party vendors.