Reviewing the Relationships between Critical Business Processes and IT Systems

B.

The relationship between critical business processes and IT systems is an important area for an IS auditor to review, as it helps to ensure that the IT systems support and align with the organization's objectives. Among the options given, the MOST useful information to an IS auditor reviewing this relationship is likely to come from Enterprise Architecture (EA).

EA provides a framework for understanding and analyzing the organization's business processes, information flows, and IT systems. It allows the auditor to see how the IT systems are integrated with each other and with the business processes they support. EA typically includes documentation on business processes, data flows, system interfaces, and technical infrastructure.

By reviewing the organization's EA, an IS auditor can gain insight into how critical business processes are supported by IT systems, which can help to identify potential risks and control deficiencies. For example, an auditor may identify areas where there is a lack of integration between IT systems, which could result in data integrity issues or gaps in business process continuity. Alternatively, the auditor may identify areas where IT systems are not adequately aligned with business objectives, which could result in inefficient or ineffective processes.

While IT portfolio management, IT service management, and Configuration Management Database (CMDB) can all provide useful information to an IS auditor, they are more focused on specific aspects of IT management rather than the broader relationship between critical business processes and IT systems.

IT portfolio management typically focuses on managing and optimizing IT investments, while IT service management is concerned with the delivery and support of IT services. CMDBs are databases that contain information about the configuration of IT systems and their relationships to each other.

In summary, Enterprise Architecture (EA) is likely to provide the MOST useful information to an IS auditor reviewing the relationships between critical business processes and IT systems, as it provides a comprehensive framework for understanding and analyzing these relationships.