Which of the following should be the FIRST step when planning an IS audit of a third-party service provider that monitors network activities?
Which of the following should be the FIRST step when planning an IS audit of a third-party service provider that monitors network activities?
When planning an IS audit of a third-party service provider that monitors network activities, the first step should be to review the roles and responsibilities of the third-party provider. This step is crucial as it establishes a clear understanding of what the third-party provider is responsible for and sets the foundation for further audit activities. Understanding these roles and responsibilities will help the auditor to define the scope of the audit, identify potential areas of risk, and determine the necessary controls to be reviewed in subsequent steps.
B. Review the roles and responsibilities of the third- party provider.
Once the roles and responsibilities of the third-party provider are understood, the IS auditor can proceed to evaluate the organization's third-party monitoring process (Option C) to assess how effectively the organization manages and oversees the activities of the third-party service provider. However, reviewing the roles and responsibilities of the third-party provider comes first as it establishes the foundation for understanding the context and scope of the audit.