Operating Effectiveness Testing (AUD-004-R003) - AUD-004

Requirement Details & Guidance

AUD-004-R003 · AUD-004

Why This Requirement Exists

This requirement exists to ensure testing whether a control operated consistently and as intended during the review period is consistently governed, documented, and capable of producing reliable assurance. Without it, audit activities may be inconsistent, difficult to evidence, or insufficient to support management, regulatory, and stakeholder decisions.

Implementation Guidance

Document the required testing whether a control operated consistently and as intended during the review period; assign accountable roles and approval points; define minimum records and evidence; apply the approved audit methodology and risk criteria; and retain evidence of execution and review. Periodically review the process for changes in organizational risk, regulatory expectations, and audit scope.

Practical Application & Audit Readiness

AUD-004-R003 · Field Guidance

Business Examples

Common Audit Findings

Common Mistakes

Best Practices & Ownership

AUD-004 · Recommended Approach

Recommended Practices

Typical Owner

Cross-Mapped Regulatory Frameworks

Harmonized Control Mappings

FRAMEWORK CODE	FRAMEWORK NAME & DETAILS	FAMILY / CATEGORY	VERSION	ACTION
COBIT2019	COBIT COBIT is an enterprise governance and management f... Clause: 4.5 – Monitor, Evaluate and Assess (MEA) > MEA04 – Managed Assurance > MEA04.07 – Execute the assurance initiative, focusing on operating effectiveness.	COBIT Governance Framework	v2019	View →
DORA	Digital Operational Resilience Act The EU Digital Operational Resilience Act establis... Clause: Article 6(6) – Regular internal audit of ICT risk management framework Article 9(1) – Continuous monitoring/control of ICT security and functioning	EU Regulation	vCurrent	View →
IRDAI	IRDAI Information & Cyber Security Guidelines IRDAI information and cyber-security requirements... Clause: §2.16-3.6 – Information Security assessment	India Guideline	vLatest	View →
ISO22301	ISO/IEC 22301 ISO 22301 specifies requirements for a Business Co... Clause: 9.2.1 – General; 9.2.2 – Audit programme(s)	ISO Standard	v2019	View →
ISO27002	ISO/IEC 27002 ISO/IEC 27002 is a guidance standard containing a... Clause: 5.28 – Collection of evidence	ISO Standard	v2022	View →
NIS2	NIS2 Directive The NIS2 Directive establishes EU-wide cybersecuri... Clause: Article 21(2)(f) – Policies and procedures to assess the effectiveness of cybersecurity risk-management measures	EU Directive	vCurrent	View →
NIST-CSF	NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) The NIST Cybersecurity Framework provides high-lev... Clause: GV.OV – Oversight \| GV.OV-03 – Organizational cybersecurity risk management performance is evaluated and reviewed for adjustments needed ID.IM – Improvement \| ID.IM-01 – Improvements are identified from evaluations PR.PS – Platform Security \| PR.PS-04 – Log records are generated and made available for continuous monitoring	NIST Framework	v2	View →
NIST80053	NIST SP 800-53 NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 5 presents control families, i... Clause: 3.4 – ASSESSMENT, AUTHORIZATION, AND MONITORING; CA-8 – PENETRATION TESTING	NIST Control Catalog	vRev. 5	View →
NPCI-ISR	NPCI Information Security Requirements NPCI information-security requirements define cont... Clause: Operational Review; Testing – Validation and Benchmarking	India Standard	vLatest	View →
PCI-DSS	PCI DSS PCI DSS is an industry security standard maintaine... Clause: 11.4.1 – A penetration testing methodology is defined,; 11.4.4 – Exploitable vulnerabilities and security	PCI Standard	v4	View →
RBI-CSF	RBI Cyber Security Framework / Master Directions RBI cyber-security requirements and directions set... Clause: Circular §13 – Cyber security preparedness indicators; 18) Vulnerability assessment and Penetration Test and Red Team Exercises – 18.4 Management monitoring of VA/PT findings and follow-up actions	India Regulation	vLatest	View →
SEBI-CSCRF	SEBI Cyber Security & Cyber Resilience Framework SEBI’s Cybersecurity and Cyber Resilience Framewor... Clause: 4.4 Cyber Audit	India Regulation	vLatest	View →
SOC2	SOC 2 Trust Services Criteria SOC 2 is an independent examination and reporting... Clause: CC4.1 – Monitoring of Controls – COSO Principle 16: The entity selects, develops, and performs ongoing and/or separate evaluations to ascertain whether the components of internal control are present and functioning. CC4.2 – Monitoring of Controls – COSO Principle 17: The entity evaluates and communicates internal control deficiencies in a timely manner to those parties responsible for taking corrective action, including senior management and the board of directors, as appropriate.	AICPA Audit Framework	vLatest	View →

Parent Domain Context

Governance Domain Baseline

Domain Name:

Audit & Assurance (AUD)

Purpose:

To provide confidence that security controls are effective and operating as intended.

Scope:

Enterprise

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Parent Control Context

Control Baseline

Control Name:

Control Assurance & Validation (AUD-004)

Summary:

Establishes control assurance including design effectiveness review, operating effectiveness testing, continuous assurance, performance monitoring, validation reporting, exception management, assurance review, metrics reporting, and continuous improvement.

Business Description:

Establish and maintain processes for validating, testing, monitoring, and continuously assessing the design, implementation, operating effectiveness, and maturity of organizational controls.

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