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An organization is preparing for an external audit of its cloud infrastructure to demonstrate compliance with ISO 27001. The audit team has requested access to various logs, configuration files, and incident reports. What is the PRIMARY purpose of this audit process from the organization's perspective?
- ATo train internal staff on the latest cloud security best practices.
- BTo independently verify the effectiveness of security controls and compliance with standards.
- CTo ensure the cloud provider is meeting its contractual obligations.
- DTo identify new features and services offered by the cloud provider.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. To independently verify the effectiveness of security controls and compliance with standards.
The primary purpose of an external audit, especially for compliance standards like ISO 27001, is to independently verify that the organization's security controls are effective and that it is adhering to the specified standard or regulation.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Training is a separate activity, not the purpose of an audit.
- C. While an audit might indirectly reveal this, the primary purpose from the organization's perspective for an ISO 27001 audit is its own compliance.
- D. This is a business development activity, not an audit purpose.
External Audit Purpose
The primary purpose of an external audit in a cloud environment is to provide an independent, objective assessment of an organization's security posture, control effectiveness, and compliance with specific regulations, standards, or contractual obligations.
- Performed by independent third parties.
- Verifies compliance with standards (e.g., ISO 27001, SOC 2).
- Assesses effectiveness of implemented controls.
Memory trick: Audits verify, they don't develop or teach.