Remote Auditing: The Future Is Now

FAQ

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Audit Preparation & Audit TIme
At what point would a business know if their auditor is familiar enough with the business practices that are being audited if they have no prior knowledge of our industry?
If the audit is for an accredited certification audit, Certification Bodies are obligated to assign auditors that have prior knowledge of the client's industry, and in particular have experience to audit the scope of clients activities. The client can and should interview auditors prior to an audit.
Do you recommend processing confidentiality agreements with the auditee ahead of time?
Would there be some type of rehersal to ensure the remote audit will go smoothly?
How is the audit time calculated? Will extra time apply for remote audits?
Is there a clause in any of the standards that forbids remote audits?
Due to COVID-19, what exceptions will be made, if any, to maintain or renew ISO 9001 certification?
Should internal audit frequency increase if certification audits are conducted remotely?
When the documents are provided to the auditor in advance, does that reduce the amount of audit time?
Is there specific auditor qualification required for remote auditing?
For multiple sites, would each location have to undergo a separate risk assessment?
Is there a checklist to help with preparation and planning?
Auditor Qualifications & Challenges
What are some of the biggest challenges that you expect to encounter with remote auditing?
  • Meeting and exceeding client objectives and satisfaction
  • Inexperience of individuals to be audited in a remote methodology
  • Auditee(s) not preparing in advance for a Remote Audit,
  • IT challenges due to bandwidth, or connectivity
What will happen if you run into an issue during a remote audit that would require you to review something that can only be reviewed on-site?
At what point would a business know if their auditor is familiar enough with the business practices that are being audited if they have no prior knowledge of our industry?
What is the expectation for how audit evidence should be provided to the auditor?
During a remote audit, what is a typical sample size in reviewing their QMS processes?
Are all auditors who have been doing regular on-site audits going to be trained to do remote audits?
Is there specific auditor qualification required for remote auditing?
Would difficulties such as a hearing impairment affect the ability to conduct virtual audits?
Documentation
When uploading documentation, would the content be uploaded to the remote auditor's environment?
The documents should be shared in the client's preferred environment with proper security measures, such as a safe and secure online FTP site. Clients should feel comfortable that their data is safe and used for the audit purpose only, and that there is no record retention by external parties.
What is the expectation for how audit evidence should be provided to the auditor?
Do we need to consider some specifics regarding the documentation for this kind of audit?
Is there a clause in any of the standards that forbids remote audits?
How does DEKRA manage the increased security risks of remote auditing?
When the documents are provided to the auditor in advance, does that reduce the amount of audit time?
Can screenshots or recordings be saved as observations?
Is there a checklist to help with preparation and planning?
Technology & Tools
What are some of the biggest challenges that you expect to encounter with remote auditing?
  • Meeting and exceeding client objectives and satisfaction
  • Inexperience of individuals to be audited in a remote methodology
  • Auditee(s) not preparing in advance for a Remote Audit,
  • IT challenges due to bandwidth, or connectivity
When uploading documentation, would the content be uploaded to the remote auditor's environment?
What is the expectation for how audit evidence should be provided to the auditor?
Would there be some type of rehersal to ensure the remote audit will go smoothly?
How does DEKRA manage the increased security risks of remote auditing?
When the documents are provided to the auditor in advance, does that reduce the amount of audit time?
Is there specific auditor qualification required for remote auditing?
Can screenshots or recordings be saved as observations?
How do you handle worker interviews remotely?
Would difficulties such as a hearing impairment affect the ability to conduct virtual audits?