IT internal auditors – those who focus specifically on auditing risks within the IT environment and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of management’s control environment to determine how well risk is mitigated – continue to emerge as integral parts of an organization’s internal audit plan and ongoing activities. Like all of those involved in the internal audit profession, IT internal auditors must be innovative thinkers who are ready to meet a wide range of challenges, explore new technologies, identify and help to mitigate emerging risks, develop creative solutions to complex business and technology challenges, and encourage their organizations to embrace best practices that can enhance all business and IT functions.

In order to achieve these objectives, IT internal audit professionals must demonstrate a strong level of competency in key knowledge areas. To gauge how these professionals perceive their present skills, Protiviti conducted a survey of IT internal auditors who were asked to assess their current capabilities and areas for improvement by responding to more than 70 questions in three subject areas: General Technical Knowledge, IT Audit Process Knowledge, and Personal Skills and Capabilities.

This survey was adapted from Protiviti’s Internal Audit Capabilities and Needs Survey study.

Download 2009 IT Internal Audit Capabilities and Needs Survey (PDF).  (requires Acrobat Reader; please disable your pop up blocker)