Proven Tactics for a Smooth Security Audit

Going through a security audit for the first time can be daunting, but with the proper preparation, you can make it a much smoother experience. I recently led my company through our ISO 27001 and SOC 2 audits. Along the way, I learned a lot about how to make the process less painful for everyone involved—especially yourself as a security leader. Here are my top tips to help you prepare.

1. Know the Framework

The first step is understanding the framework you’re being audited against. Whether it’s ISO 27001, SOC 2, or something else, get familiar with the required controls and expectations. For ISO 27001, for instance, we purchased the ISO/IEC 27001:2022 and ISO/IEC 27002:2022 standards to study them in detail.

• Do a Gap Analysis: Create a simple spreadsheet to track compliance with each required control. This will help you identify gaps to address before the audit.
• Prioritize Remediation: Focus on high effort and high-cost gaps first. These often require management buy-in and more time to implement.
• Get Buy-In Early: Present your plan to stakeholders early so you have the resources to remediate gaps well before the auditors arrive.

2. Document Everything

Auditors love documentation, and having it ready makes your life infinitely easier.

• Policies: For ISO 27001, there are mandatory policies that must be documented (as I describe in my LinkedIn Learning course, ISO 27001:2022-Compliant Cybersecurity: Getting Started). Allow enough time to draft, review, and get these approved by your Information Security Steering Committee or equivalent.
• Other Documentation: Even if a policy or process isn’t mandatory, write it down. Answering auditors' questions is easier when you can point to a specific document. For instance, I wrote a 47-page ISMS Program document that detailed exactly how we comply with every clause in ISO 27001. During the audit, we walked the auditors through the document and answered their questions by pointing to the relevant sections. They told us it was the most thorough ISMS documentation they’d ever seen.
• Pro Tip: Map out your documentation in a policy architecture diagram (as I explain in my LinkedIn Learning course, Writing Security Policies and Standards) to keep everything organized.

3. Think Like an Auditor

Empathy for your auditors goes a long way. They’re sifting through mountains of evidence from multiple clients, so make it as easy as possible for them.

• Clear Evidence: When submitting screenshots or logs, annotate them with arrows and notes to highlight the relevant details. For example, when showing an encrypted laptop, we put an arrow in the screenshot pointing out that BitLocker was enabled. This small step earned us praise from the auditors: "We really appreciate that. Thank you for taking the extra steps."
• Pre-Audit Assessments: If your auditors offer this option, take it. We did a pre-audit assessment a few months before the actual audit, which helped us—and the auditors—feel confident about the process.

Lessons Learned

The biggest takeaway from my experience is that preparation is everything. Document thoroughly, think like an auditor, and start remediation efforts early. These steps will not only help you pass your audit but also strengthen your overall security program.

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