IT Security Audit Scoping & Framework Selection
We agree scope and benchmark your audit against ISO 27001, NIST or CIS so results are meaningful and comparable.
- Audit plan
- Control framework mapping
Cybersecurity & Risk Management
IT Security Audit Services
Our auditors review your policies, access rights, system configurations and logs against recognised frameworks, and give you a clear findings report with severity ratings and a remediation plan.
- Controls review
- Configuration audit
- Policy assessment
- Remediation plan
- Years of delivery
- 8+
- Years of delivery
- Projects shipped
- 350+
- Projects shipped
- Clients across US, UK, AU & SG
- 200+
- Clients across US, UK, AU & SG
What’s included
Everything You Need for an Independent, Evidence-Based Security Audit
A structured review of your controls, policies and configurations, with a prioritised report your board and auditors can use.
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Policy & Documentation Review
We check whether your security policies, procedures and records are complete, current and actually followed.
- Policy gap findings
- Document checklist
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Access Control & Privileged Account Audit
We review user rights, admin accounts and joiner-mover-leaver processes to find excessive or orphaned access.
- Access review report
- Privileged account list
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Infrastructure & Configuration Audit
We inspect servers, databases, endpoints and network devices against hardening standards to expose unsafe settings.
- Config audit results
- Hardening gaps
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Cloud & SaaS Environment Audit
We examine your cloud accounts and key SaaS tools for misconfigurations, shadow IT and weak data controls.
- Cloud audit findings
- SaaS inventory
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Logging, Monitoring & Backup Controls Review
We test whether you can detect incidents and recover from them, using real log and backup evidence.
- Monitoring assessment
- Recovery test notes
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Audit Findings Report & Risk Ratings
You receive rated findings with evidence and owners, plus an executive summary that supports board and insurer discussions.
- Findings report
- Executive summary
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Remediation Roadmap & Follow-Up Audit
We provide a fix-by-priority plan and return to verify closure of high-risk findings.
- Remediation plan
- Follow-up verification
Need something specific?
Why Kramate
Why Business Owners Choose Kramate for a Security Check-Up
An outside, unbiased look at how safe your business really is.
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An Outsider With No Reason to Flatter
Instead of
a check done by the people who built it
With Kramate
We have no stake in your current setup, so we tell you what we actually see.
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Every Finding Backed by Proof
Instead of: opinions with nothing to back them up
With Kramate: We show the proof behind each finding, so nobody can argue it away later.
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A Summary Your Board Can Read
Instead of: a heavy report nobody reads past page one
With Kramate: You get a short summary for leaders, with the detail kept for your technical team.
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A Clear Order for the Fixes
Instead of: a long list with no sense of urgency
With Kramate: Each finding gets a risk rating and a suggested owner, so work can start straight away.
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We Come Back to Check the Fixes
Instead of: paying for a report and hearing nothing after
With Kramate: Once your team has fixed the serious issues, we return to confirm they are closed.
Our approach
How We Carry Out Your IT Security Audit, Step by Step
A structured check of your IT against good practice, with a clear written result.
6 clear steps 6 deliverables you keep
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Audit Scope Agreement
We agree which systems, sites and teams the audit covers and which standard we judge them against.
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Document Review
We read your security policies, asset lists and past reports to see what you say you do.
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Staff Interviews
We talk to IT staff and managers to learn what really happens day to day.
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Technical Checks
We inspect settings on servers, devices and accounts to confirm what the documents describe.
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Written Audit Results
We write each finding in plain English, with its risk level and a suggested fix.
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Action Plan
We turn findings into an owner-by-owner to-do list with a sensible order of work.
Tools & technologies
Technologies We Use for IT Security Audits
We use independent scanning and log tools to test controls and gather clear evidence.
- Qualys: Cloud-based scanning of servers, apps and cloud assets for weaknesses.
- Nmap: Maps which devices and services are reachable on your network.
- Ansible: Automates server setup and configuration without manual steps.
- Bash: Shell scripting that automates routine operations tasks.
- Splunk: Searches and analyses logs to find issues and threats.
- Elastic: Searches and analyses security logs at scale.
- Wireshark: Inspects network traffic to spot misuse and misconfiguration.
- Microsoft Entra ID: Microsoft's identity service for sign-in, MFA and access policies.
- Okta: Single sign-on and multi-factor login for staff and customers.
- Keycloak: Open-source single sign-on and user access management.
- AWS: Amazon cloud hosting and services.
- Azure: Microsoft cloud hosting and services.
- Google Cloud: Google infrastructure for data, AI and applications.
- Jira: Tracks work, priorities and delivery progress.
- Excel: Spreadsheets many back-office processes still depend on.
- GitHub: Hosts code and manages reviews, access and branch rules.
Expert guide
IT Security Audit Services: A Complete Guide for Businesses
IT security audit services give an organization an independent, evidence-based view of whether its security controls exist, are configured as intended, and work in daily practice. An auditor compares what your policies say, what your systems are set up to do and what staff actually do, then reports the gaps.
Most IT security audit services differ from a penetration test and a vulnerability scan, though it may use both as evidence. Its purpose is to measure your controls against a chosen yardstick, such as a recognized framework or your own policies.
This guide follows an audit from scoping to remediation, compares audit types, covers regional considerations for the USA, UK, Australia and Singapore, and explains how to prepare and how to pick a partner.
What an IT security audit is, and when to commission one
A security audit asks one question: do our controls match what we say they are? It reviews governance, technical configuration and operating practice, and produces findings tied to evidence.
Common triggers include:
- A customer, insurer or partner asks for an independent review.
- You are preparing for a framework assessment and want to know your gaps first.
- A merger, new cloud platform or leadership change alters your risk picture.
- Nobody has independently checked access rights, backups or configurations for a long time.
- A recent incident raised doubts about how well controls work.
How an audit runs, step by step
- Scope and criteria. Agree which systems, sites, teams and suppliers are in scope and which yardstick applies, such as the NIST Cybersecurity Framework (opens in a new tab) or the CIS Critical Security Controls (opens in a new tab).
- Document and interview review. The auditor reads policies and speaks with system owners, HR, IT and engineering.
- Evidence collection. Screenshots, configuration exports, access lists, change tickets and logs show what is true today.
- Technical testing. Sampled configuration checks and scans confirm what documents claim.
- Analysis and rating. Each gap is rated by likelihood and impact.
- Reporting and walkthrough. Findings are explained in a meeting, not just delivered as a file.
- Remediation support and re-check. Fixes are prioritized and later verified.
The NIST SP 800-30 risk assessment guide (opens in a new tab) describes a widely used approach to rating risk, which helps keep ratings consistent from one audit to the next.
Types of audit and how they differ
| Type | Question it answers | Typical evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Policy and governance audit | Do we have the right rules, owners and reviews? | Policies, risk register, training records, meeting minutes |
| Technical configuration audit | Are systems set up securely? | Settings compared with CIS Benchmarks (opens in a new tab), patch status, firewall rules |
| Access and identity audit | Who can reach what, and should they? | User lists, role mappings, leaver records, privileged accounts |
| Cloud environment audit | Is our cloud account configured safely? | Account settings, storage permissions, logging configuration |
| Third-party audit | Do our suppliers protect our data? | Contracts, assurance reports, questionnaires |
An internal audit is run by your own staff and keeps knowledge in-house; an external audit adds independence, which is what customers and regulators generally value more.
Audit, vulnerability scan and penetration test: choosing the right tool
The three are complementary. A scan finds known weaknesses automatically; our vulnerability assessment work does that continuously. A penetration test shows whether weaknesses can be chained into real access, following approaches such as NIST SP 800-115 (opens in a new tab). An audit checks that the controls and processes around those technical results exist and operate.
Reading the report and acting on findings
A useful report states each finding in plain language, shows the evidence, explains the business impact, rates priority and recommends a specific fix. Be cautious of long lists of generic findings copied from scanners.
Turn the report into a remediation plan with owners and dates. Quick wins, such as removing unused accounts or enabling logging, come first; structural work, such as redesigning network segments, goes on the roadmap. Track closure in the same register you use for other risks, and plan a re-check so improvements are verified rather than assumed.
How to prepare for an audit
- Name one internal coordinator and the owners of each in-scope system.
- Gather policies, network and data-flow diagrams, and an asset list.
- Check that admin access lists and leaver processes are current.
- Confirm logging is on and logs are retained.
- Tell staff what to expect; an audit is a fact-finding exercise, not an inspection of individuals.
- Decide upfront how findings will be shared and who may see the report.
The NCSC Cyber Essentials (opens in a new tab) basics, such as secure configuration, patching and access control, are a sensible self-check before any broader review.
Regional considerations: USA, UK, Australia and Singapore
Audit demand is often driven by contracts and regulators rather than law alone. In the USA, customers frequently request a SOC 2 report (opens in a new tab), and sector rules apply to health and finance. In the UK, the ICO (opens in a new tab) expects appropriate security under UK GDPR, and public-sector and supply-chain work often references Cyber Essentials. Australian organizations face the Privacy Act 1988 and, for some sectors, additional critical-infrastructure duties. In Singapore, the Personal Data Protection Act and sector regulators set expectations.
Audit scope and evidence handling should respect where data is stored and who may view it. Confirm obligations with legal counsel before sharing logs or personal data with an external auditor.
Cost factors and budget planning
Pricing for IT security audit services follows scope: the number of systems, locations, cloud accounts and suppliers; the depth of technical testing; how ready the evidence is; and whether remediation support or a re-check is included. A narrowly scoped first audit of the most critical systems is often more useful than a broad one that stays shallow.
Commercial models include a fixed fee per defined scope, time-and-materials for open-ended reviews, or a recurring annual cycle. Budget for the fix work that follows, since the audit itself reduces no risk until findings are closed.
How to choose a partner for IT security audit services
- Is the auditor independent of the team that built or operates the systems being reviewed?
- Do they state the criteria used and show how findings are rated?
- Can they provide a sample report structure with evidence references?
- Do they explain findings to both executives and engineers?
- How do they protect the evidence and credentials they handle?
- Will they help with the next step, such as cybersecurity consulting for a roadmap?
How Kramate delivers IT security audit services
A free consultation sets scope, and an NDA is signed before detailed discussions. A detailed estimate follows within 24 hours, with fixed-price, dedicated-team or hourly options. Each audit has a dedicated project manager, daily updates on Slack or Teams, and a progress review at the end of every two-week round. Intellectual property in deliverables transfers to you. See how we run engagements.
Delivery overlaps four to six hours with US Eastern time and a full working day with the UK, Australia and Singapore, and Kramate can lead the audit or work alongside your internal team. Our own working practices use least-privilege access and encrypted devices when handling your evidence.
Frequently asked questions
What is included in an IT security audit?
Typically a review of policies and governance, access rights, system and cloud configuration, logging and monitoring, backup and recovery, supplier controls, and staff practices. The exact list depends on the scope and the framework chosen as the yardstick.
How often should we run a security audit?
Many buyers of IT security audit services audit annually and add reviews after major changes such as a migration, merger or new product. Frameworks that require periodic assessment set their own cycle, so check what your customers and regulators expect.
What is the difference between a security audit and a penetration test?
An audit measures controls and processes against criteria. A penetration test tries to reach systems the way an attacker might, within agreed limits. Audits ask whether controls exist; tests ask whether they hold up under pressure.
How do we prepare for an IT security audit?
Appoint a coordinator, collect policies and diagrams, confirm access lists and logging are current, and brief staff. Do not rush to hide gaps; auditors value honest context because it speeds up the plan to fix them.
Should the audit be internal or external?
Internal audits build knowledge and cost less per cycle, while external audits provide independence that customers, insurers and regulators tend to prefer. Many organizations do internal checks regularly and bring in an external auditor on a set schedule.
What happens after the audit report?
You receive a prioritized list of findings, each with a rating and recommendation. Assign owners and dates, fix quick wins first, schedule structural changes, and arrange a re-check to confirm fixes worked.
Sources and further reading
- NIST Cybersecurity Framework (opens in a new tab)NIST
- CIS Critical Security Controls (opens in a new tab)Center for Internet Security
- NIST SP 800-30 Guide for Conducting Risk Assessments (opens in a new tab)NIST
- CIS Benchmarks (opens in a new tab)Center for Internet Security
- NIST SP 800-115 Technical Guide to Security Testing (opens in a new tab)NIST
- NCSC UK Cyber Essentials (opens in a new tab)NCSC UK
- SOC 2 - Trust Services Criteria (opens in a new tab)AICPA
- ICO Security Guidance (opens in a new tab)ICO
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Price depends on the number of systems, sites and users in scope, the audit standard used, and how much evidence must be reviewed. Technical configuration checks cost more than policy-only reviews. Follow-up verification adds time. Send us your audit scope and a no-obligation estimate follows within 24 hours.
We agree scope and criteria, collect documents, interview staff, check system configurations, rate findings and present a report with remediation advice. Duration depends on scope, number of locations and how quickly evidence is supplied. A re-check after fixes can follow.
You own the report and working papers we produce. Before detailed audit talks, Kramate signs an NDA and transfers IP and deliverables to you. Access is limited to named auditors, and audit data is stored securely and removed afterwards as agreed.
We schedule interviews and checks around your operations, use read-only access where possible and share a request list early. Your IT staff keep control of any system changes. We confirm findings with them first so there are no surprises in the report.
It checks policies, access controls, network and server configuration, patching, backups, logging, third-party risk and staff awareness against a chosen standard or best practice. The result is a list of gaps ranked by risk, with suggested fixes.
An internal audit is run by your own staff or a hired helper to find and fix gaps. An external audit is performed by an independent party, often for customers, regulators or certification. An internal pre-audit helps you prepare for the external one.
Most organisations audit at least yearly, and again after major changes such as a migration, acquisition or new system. Regulated sectors may have set intervals. Between audits, track fixes so the next review starts from a better position.
Taking new projects
Let’s talk about your IT Security Audit Services needs
Tell us about your project and get a free consultation and estimate within 24 hours.
- We reply within 4 business hours A real consultant reads your brief — no bot, no queue.
- 30-minute discovery call We dig into goals, constraints and budget. NDA signed on request.
- Proposal in 24 hours Scope, timeline, team and price — clear enough to decide on.
NDA on request You own the IP No obligation Free estimate