sisekontroll

Sisekontroll, or internal control, refers to the processes and procedures that an organization uses to manage risk, safeguard assets, ensure reliable financial reporting, and comply with laws and regulations. It encompasses governance, risk management, and compliance activities.

The objective of sisekontroll is to provide reasonable assurance that the organization's objectives are achieved and that financial, operational, and compliance risks are kept at acceptable levels. A common basis for sisekontroll is the COSO Internal Control - Integrated Framework, which organizes control activities into five components: control environment, risk assessment, control activities, information and communication, and monitoring.

Controls can be preventive, detective, or corrective, and are implemented through mechanisms such as segregation of duties, authorization procedures, physical and logical access controls, reconciliations, approvals, data backups, and monitoring systems. Sisekontroll is part of governance and risk management in both private and public sectors, with responsibility generally shared by management, the board or audit committee, and internal audit.

In practice, sisekontroll covers financial reporting, compliance with applicable laws, information security and privacy, operational efficiency, and safety and quality requirements. Ongoing evaluation through testing, audits, and monitoring is used to assess effectiveness and drive improvements, recognizing that internal control is a dynamic process in response to changing risks.