Choose the questions
Identify the systems, controls and requirements to examine. A customer evidence request, an internal improvement review and preparation for independent assessment may each need different work.
Proxar · UK expertise
Security audit
Are your security controls working as intended, and what evidence supports that answer? We review agreed systems and records so you can see the findings, the gaps and the work that needs to follow.
How it works
Be clear about what the audit is meant to establish
An internal technical review is different from a certification audit. We agree the purpose and criteria first, so the report answers the right questions without overstating what it proves.
Collect relevant evidence
Configuration, access records and operational reports can all contribute. Agree permissions and information handling before collection. Intrusive testing or scanning requires its own explicit scope and authorisation.
Make the findings usable
Explain what was observed, why it matters and the recommended next action. Distinguish a confirmed finding from an unanswered question, and make any work needed to implement or recheck changes clear.
Technology partnerships
Technology partners you know
We help you choose and look after the technology your team uses every day.
Know the difference between a finding and an assumption
The audit begins with agreed criteria and the systems that can be examined. That establishes what evidence is needed and what the report can reasonably conclude. A configuration review should not be presented as proof of every organisational or compliance requirement.
Each finding needs a traceable basis. Information supplied by another team, a setting inspected directly and a system that could not be accessed are different kinds of evidence. Keeping those distinctions visible makes the result more useful to the people who must decide what happens next.
Security consultancy can help with a particular technical decision. Security assessment focuses on understanding and prioritising risks. The right starting point depends on the question you need answered, not on choosing the most reassuring label for the engagement.
Reviewing evidence during an IT security audit · Illustrative image
Client experience
What our clients say
“I’ve worked with Proxar for a number of years and have always found them to be honest, knowledgeable and informative.”
Your service
A report your team can act on
We agree what will be examined and how the resulting evidence, findings and limitations will be presented.
Criteria and coverage
The controls and systems reviewed, including sampling, excluded areas and any access limitations.
Supporting evidence
The configuration, record or observation behind each finding, handled according to the agreed information requirements.
Actions and ownership
Why the finding matters, the recommended next step and the person or team needed for follow-up. Implementation and rechecking are identified separately.
Before you decide
Your questions, answered
Does a technical security audit certify compliance?
No. It can supply evidence and identify work relevant to compliance, but it is not itself certification. Where formal assurance is required, the applicable scheme, assessor and evidence requirements need to be established separately. The report should be clear about its technical purpose and the limits of the review.
Is an audit the same as a penetration test?
No. An audit examines agreed evidence and controls. Penetration testing uses different methods and requires specific permissions and boundaries. Neither intrusive testing nor vulnerability scanning should be assumed to be included merely because the engagement is described as a security audit.
What happens if some systems cannot be inspected?
The limitation should be recorded and its effect on the findings explained. An inaccessible system cannot simply be treated as checked. We agree the available access and coverage beforehand, then distinguish evidence actually reviewed from information supplied by others or areas that still need investigation.
Will you fix the problems found during the audit?
Implementation and rechecking need to be agreed explicitly. Some actions may belong with your team or an application supplier; others may need a separate project or approval. The findings should make those next steps clear without suggesting that writing down a problem means it has already been resolved.
Your next step
What do you need a security audit to establish?
Tell us who needs the findings and which systems or controls are in question. We will help you choose a review that produces useful evidence and a clear route to follow-up, rather than another unexplained checklist.