auditingin

Auditingin is a term used to describe the practice of embedding auditing activities within business processes and information systems to provide ongoing assurance rather than periodic review. The term combines auditing with the idea of being “in” the process, signaling integration and real-time oversight. While not a formal standard, auditingin is used in professional discourse to refer to approaches that blend traditional auditing with continuous monitoring, automated controls testing, and data analytics.

Auditingin encompasses a broad scope of activities. It covers internal controls testing, IT governance, operational processes, and compliance requirements. It relies on data from enterprise systems, logs, and external data sources to assess risk and gather evidence for assurance purposes.

Methodologies associated with auditingin include risk-based planning, continuous data collection, automated sampling and analytics, issue tracking, remediation workflows, and reporting to governance bodies. The aim is to detect control weaknesses and compliance gaps more promptly and to provide timely guidance for improvement.

Benefits and challenges. Proponents argue that auditingin enables faster detection of control failures, stronger governance, and potential cost savings over time through more efficient testing. Challenges include ensuring data quality, protecting privacy, integrating diverse tools, and managing organizational change and resource demands.

Standards and governance. Auditingin implementations typically align with established frameworks such as the Institute of Internal Auditors standards and COSO for internal control guidance, while also drawing on broader auditing guidance like ISO 19011 for auditing principles and processes.

History and adoption. The concept emerged with increased digitization and automation of business processes, with early forms of continuous auditing appearing in academic and professional discussions in the 1990s and gaining broader adoption alongside big data analytics and ERP systems in subsequent decades.

See also internal auditing; continuous auditing; internal controls; governance; risk management.