Category: Research Digest

Tech Risks Crowd Audit Plan ‘Hot Spots’ for 2019

As internal audit teams work on their audit plan for 2019, a new report sheds light on where some of the trouble spots are likely to occur for companies, and where internal audit may want to consider focusing its scrutiny and assurance efforts. Last week, technology research firm Gartner issued Read More

cybersecurity phone image

Study Identifies Top Ten Cybersecurity Threats

Despite record spending on cybersecurity, a new study finds that IT security breaches remain at epidemic levels. According to a new report conducted by Osterman Research, a whopping 70 percent of the more than 200 medium and large organizations surveyed reported being the victim of at least one successful cyber-attack Read More

Alarm clock image

What’s Keeping Audit Chiefs Up at Night?

A new survey of the top risks that most concern chief internal auditors finds that cybersecurity and data privacy are among the issues that still cause the most headaches for company officials. The research, conducted by the Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors and based on responses from more than 300 Read More

As SOX Costs Rise, Internal Audit Still Lags on Automation

It’s been 16 years since the Sarbanes-Oxley Act took effect in 2002, and companies are still wrestling with SOX compliance. Now, a new study shows they are paying more to meet the regulation’s requirements and have generally not done a good job of using technology to automate controls and ease Read More

automated controls

Companies Push to Automate Financial Reporting Controls

Companies are moving to add more automation to their internal controls over financial reporting and plan to increase their investment in automation of ICFR in the next 6-to-18 months, according to a new study. The survey, conducted by the Financial Executives Research Foundation (FERF), found that more than 80 percent Read More

research digest

What’s Eating Internal Audit Executives?

The tops risks that chief audit executives face, as identified by a new report, are likely to be familiar foes for most internal audit leaders. Chief audit executives (CAEs) are unlikely to be alarmed by a new report listing the top five risks confronting internal audit; they’ve been battling them Read More

Survey Finds Upstream Supply Chain Risks Increasing

Audits of the extended enterprise can yield benefits, such as greater flexibility, innovation, brand confidence, and even revenue gains. There are big risks lurking in your supply chain and in interactions with the vast network of third parties with whom companies do business. A new survey by Deloitte finds that Read More

Think Your Company’s High-Value IP Is Safe from Hackers? Think Again!

New survey results from the Ponemon Institute are likely to send shivers down the spines of IT auditors, cybersecurity professionals, and risk managers. The alarming results say companies are losing the battle to protect digital assets and intellectual property from hackers and online thieves. Here’s the lowlights: A whopping 82 Read More