The Analytic Staircase for Auditors

Building a successful audit analytics program is like climbing a staircase.

The staircase is a set of steps that consist of several items having increasing levels of maturity.

The staircase steps not only help you build your program, but enable you to measure that maturity.

As you view the staircase graphic, mentally insert the word “analytics” before each step.

Always Attack the Lone Reed

In nature, predators watch for young, weak, or isolated animals. So do attackers. So should you.

When scoping a security assessment or audit, always keep an eye out for the lone reed. In other words, take special note of the one item (process, account, device, etc.) that has the same function as others in its category or class, but is a bit different. That item often has weaknesses the others don’t have.