Effective operating systems for data processing are the basis of secure and focused corporate management.

In addition to our activities in the areas of transformation assurance, outsourcing assurance and regulatory assurance, we analyze the IT environment of our clients as part of annual audits from the aspect of compliance, efficiency and increasing demands of tax authorities. We examine IT business processes and assess IT system weaknesses. In this context, we identify opportunities for our clients to improve their IT environment. Physical and organizational security testing and consulting on security management issues are also part of our range of services.

Supported by our CISA and CRISC-trained staff, we also offer you the option to outsource all or part of your internal audits to us.

Software certification
Cyber security management
Business continuity management
Data protection audit
GoBD audit
IT internal audit

Regulatory requirements

There is almost no industry left in which IT has not become a key element for the implementation of strategic goals. In addition to the realized advantages of efficiency, dependence also increases - in which company does an IT failure still lead to significant disruptions in business? The availability of IT support is only one aspect of the many factors that are critical to business success.

Regulatory bodies use the means of regulatory requirements, i.e. defining minimum requirements (not only) for IT, to improve the level of IT security and deliberately establish risk-oriented decisions in IT management processes. This applies entirely to regulatory requirements, regardless of whether these requirements are formulated by BaFin for the financial sector (such as VAIT in the insurance sector and BAIT in the banking sector), BSI for critical infrastructures (such as the Security Act and Regulation KritIS) or is uniformly specified throughout Europe by the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). In addition to the purely cost-oriented, quantitative basis of assessment, decisions must therefore also take qualitative aspects into account.

Challenges and opportunities

Implementation and compliance with IT regulatory requirements cannot be managed by the IT department alone, but regularly affects several business areas and therefore requires a holistic approach. To assess the existing risks, as well as to define the necessary measures, it is necessary to understand the impact on the business. For example, what business processes depend on the use of e-mail? Which business processes depend on the functions of the document management system? What effect does the failure have - Has it affected regulatory requirements? How do customers react?

Companies are regularly positioned in the respective operational areas to deal with individual requirements. However, there are often weaknesses in overall control and accountability, both within a specific area (tactical gap) and at the company-wide level (strategic gap). In our experience, assigning measures to the required level of management leads to more effective and efficient implementation. Ideally, regulatory compliance measures are implemented in the form of a management system (eg data protection management system, tax compliance management system, information security management system). Risks and control objectives are often addressed by joint controls – therefore, if management systems are well planned and integrated, redundant manpower can be avoided and multiple requirements can be covered by the same measure.

Regulatory requirements are regularly extended to all levels of company management. At what level of control are measures needed to optimize their effectiveness?

We offer you a proven approach to transparently identify deficiencies in meeting regulatory requirements - as well as hidden potential - and implement them with appropriate measures.

A one-time implementation at the moment does not correspond to the ideas of the regulator. Within companies, such an approach leads to frustration and additional costs due to repetitive comments from revisions and ultimately failed projects. Companies with the right processes in place can implement new or changed regulatory requirements quickly and cost-effectively. A continuous improvement process (CIP) ensures that regular adjustments are made and that even changed requirements are recognized and taken into account promptly.

The business must meet the legal requirements – but successful implementation is the responsibility of the employee. To be able to successfully deal with the topic of regulatory requirements in the long term, the organization should "live" with the appropriate awareness. We support you with workshops and coaching in successful implementation!

BDO makes a difference

Our IT Control and Assurance team uses interdisciplinary expertise from audit and consulting projects to help you determine the status of your company's implementation and identify and understand gaps. Together with you, we discuss the appropriate measures that will enable you to implement them quickly and efficiently. Starting from the strategic level, through tactical measures to operational processes.