Question Tag: IT Governance

Hillary Professional Services is a medium-sized firm on a retreat having successfully combined business operations to take advantage of mandatory audit rotation guidelines. At the retreat, it was agreed that a robust software to reduce paperwork was inevitable. All along, one of the combined firms has an Information Technology (IT) Unit which has been strengthened with state-of-the-art equipment.

All auditors are now encouraged to show more interest in information technology, especially in areas relating to data analytics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. Undoubtedly, understanding the business information system used by management is necessary as they affect risk assessment involved in the financial reporting process. It was also concluded that obtaining an understanding of the field of information technology is a standard audit procedure to be followed; otherwise, it will be difficult to evaluate the adequacy of the expert’s work as recommended by International Standards on Auditing. The purpose of the merger will be defeated if the firm will not be able to win jobs and perform well in a highly competitive market. The after-effect of the COVID-19 pandemic has also revealed that one could work with flexibility anywhere if there is a robust audit software in place.

The IT Audit Partner made a presentation on “COBIT (Control Objectives for Information and Related Technologies) – a globally accepted suite of tools that a client might use in order to ensure IT is working effectively.” He stated that COBIT is all about doing the right things the right way in order to deliver benefits to the client.

You are a staff of Hillary Professional Services. Based on the presentation made on COBIT at the retreat, you have been divided into groups and the groups are to debrief the main group after one hour.

Required:

a. State the purposes of COBIT (Control Objectives for Information and Related Technologies).
(3 Marks)

b. Identify and explain the specific components of COBIT.
(8 Marks)

c. Explain how COBIT will be applied in the business process.
(4 Marks)

Total: 15 Marks