How to Scope Your First Internal IT Audit
Not every business has an internal auditor. That doesn’t mean you can’t—or shouldn’t—run an internal IT audit.
For small businesses, internal audits help you catch issues early, prepare for compliance, and build trust. You don’t need a complex system. Just a structured approach, some documentation, and a bit of time.
In this post, we’ll show you how to scope and run your first IT audit, even without in-house audit staff.
What Is an Internal IT Audit?
An internal IT audit is a self-driven review of your IT systems, policies, and controls. It answers questions like:
- Are we following our own policies?
- Are our systems configured securely?
- Are we tracking the right logs?
- Could we pass an external audit?
Think of it as a health check for your IT environment—before an external auditor does it for you.
Step 1: Choose a Purpose
Start with why. Your first audit should be narrow and goal-oriented.
Examples of scope include:
- “Are our password and MFA policies being followed?”
- “Are backups completed and tested regularly?”
- “Is access to sensitive data restricted properly?”
Tip: Use compliance frameworks (like NIST CSF or SOC 2) as guides—but don’t try to cover everything at once.
Step 2: Define the Scope
Now write it down.
- What systems will be reviewed?
- What controls or policies are in focus?
- What timeframe are you looking at?
Example scope:
“Review user access management for cloud systems (Google Workspace, AWS) between January and March 2025. Focus on account provisioning, MFA enforcement, and access reviews.”
Keep it tight. Small scope = faster results and less burnout.
Step 3: Collect the Evidence
For each policy or control, ask: Can we prove we’re doing what we said?
Examples of evidence:
- Screenshots of MFA settings
- Logs from system access reviews
- Exported reports from cloud platforms
- Copies of reviewed and signed policies
You don’t need fancy GRC software. Many small teams use Google Sheets to track findings and status.
Example Tracker (Google Sheets-style):
| Control | Status | Evidence | Owner | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MFA Enabled for Email | ✅ Yes | Screenshot from Google Admin | IT Lead | Enforced for all users |
| Access Review Quarterly | ⚠️ Partial | Q1 log exported | HR | Q2 review not documented |
| Password Policy Reviewed | ✅ Yes | Policy PDF dated Jan 2025 | Security | Aligned with NIST guidance |
For more on this, see our post: Automate Your Policy Review
Step 4: Write Findings and Actions
Each control you review gets a result:
- Compliant (Meets expectations)
- Needs Improvement (Missing something)
- Non-Compliant (Not implemented)
For each, suggest a next step:
- Update a policy
- Change a setting
- Document a procedure
- Schedule training
Tip: Keep your tone constructive. The goal is improvement, not blame.
Step 5: Share and Review
Share your findings with the appropriate team:
- IT and Security
- Business leadership
- Legal or compliance staff
Ask:
- Are these priorities right?
- Who owns the remediation work?
- What should we audit next?
You can use this to build toward more formal audits or certifications.
Why This Matters to You
If you’ve ever wondered, “Are we really secure?”, this process is your answer.
Internal IT audits help you:
- Catch gaps before an external review does
- Demonstrate accountability to stakeholders
- Build a security culture—without hiring full-time auditors
Anchor Cyber Security helps small teams build internal audit workflows and prep for external compliance. We use simple tools you already know.
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Final Thought
Your first internal audit doesn’t need to be perfect. It just needs to start.
Start small, keep it clear, and take action.
Need help defining your audit scope or collecting evidence?