The International Organization for Standardization is a leader in developing standards across industries. This helps to ensure that our products and processes are safe, efficient, and sustainable. ISO certification is available for numerous standards, such as ISO 27001 2015.
An ISO Audit is beneficial to UAE companies. In this article, we are going to define ISO audits and discuss different audit types that audit companies in Dubai and UAE and other users may use.
Understanding ISO Audit
An ISO audit reviews how your company complies with the International Organization for Standardization's (ISO) standards. It develops standards and control structures that guide industry best practices in areas ranging from information security to safety in car seats. An audit services Dubai team will assess your company's compliance with any ISO standard. A few standards are also available for ISO certification via third-party audit.
Importance of ISO Audit
An ISO audit is important for several reasons. It can help Dubai firms determine if they are complying with ISO requirements and exposing weaknesses in your organization's operations to create the best risk management strategy. An ISO audit is not only a part of the risk assessment process but can also help you to develop new systems and reach new customers. A good audit schedule can help you get ISO certification.
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Types of ISO Audits
There are four types: certification, internal, external, surveillance, and certification. A company’s compliance and certification goals, scope, budget, and other factors will influence the type of audit.
Internal Audits
An authorized auditor can only do an internal ISO audit within your company. If ISO compliance is your goal, an audit might be sufficient to ensure your company follows ISO best practices. Use an internal audit checklist to assess how your organization is meeting ISO guidelines quickly. Internal audits are important in preparation for certification, surveillance or recertification audits.
External Audits
External audits are carried out by outsourced audit companies in the UAE to evaluate a firm’s ISO compliance. There are many external audit types. These include customer and supplier audits. Many ISO standards require compliance from all members of the supply chain. Surveillance and certification audits are also included under the umbrella of "external auditor".
Audits For Certification and Recertification
Certification for ISO standards requires a special certification audit. When you apply for ISO 27001, a certification agency will conduct an audit and issue a certificate valid for three years. Your organization must maintain the certificate's coverage, which means that it guarantees that your Dubai, UAE company will continue to use the products, processes, and systems. You would need to keep your ISO 27001 information security management system for three years.
Surveillance Audits
After your organization achieves ISO certification, the next step is to plan an audit surveillance audit at least once per year. The goal of the audit is to check the management and action for mitigating or correcting nonconformities. It also analyzes how UAE companies can respond to internal audits.
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How Audit Service UAE Conducts ISO Audits
An ISO audit can be carried out either onsite or remotely, based on the type of audit. The organization can conduct an internal audit as a self-audit. It can also be done remotely. Remote internal audits are a possibility for some external audits. Certification or surveillance is usually done onsite by a registrar.
What Happens During An ISO Audit
ISO audits focus on products and processes, but the steps may differ depending on whether they are evaluating an information security management system or product safety. The auditor will inspect your systems and determine if they are compliant with the audit checklist. Conduct an external or internal ISO audit. Audit services in Dubai will also assess the progress made in mitigating any non-conformities.
How Audit firms in Dubai prepare ISO Audits
Preparation is crucial when conducting an ISO audit. Each audit helps you prepare for the next. You can prepare for surveillance audits with internal audits. Surveillance audits will help companies in Dubai, and UAE prepare to recertify audits. Below are some tips to help you prepare for your first ISO audit.
Here are five tips to prepare for an ISO audit: A helpful checklist
Make an Audit Schedule
If certification is your goal, create a schedule to manage your audits. Keep it up! Begin with an internal audit schedule, add flexibility to complete projects or minimize problems, and work towards a timeline for engaging a certification body.
Make Audit Checklists
The audit checklists guide you step by step through the process of auditing according to the ISO guidelines. The audit checklist helps you understand the relationship between the audit and your overall business goals. It covers every component of the ISO standard you seek compliance with and evaluates whether your products, processes, and systems comply.
Set Your Goals
When creating your audit schedule, keep your goal to attain certification. Certification can be time-consuming, especially if you need to conduct gap analysis and address nonconformities. Knowing your goals will allow you to save time and money when ISO audits are conducted.
Get Organized
Having a clean and organized space is good if you invite a third-party auditor to your workplace. Your auditor will be able to review your documents quickly and provide valuable feedback.
First Perform an Internal Audit
An internal audit is the best preparation for surveillance audits or certification. Auditors want to see how you progress toward your goals and what your systems have been doing to conform to ISO standards. Your auditors will be able to see the results of an internal audit, which will help them understand how serious your organization is about ISO compliance.
Theshani is a Senior auditor and has experience of 4+ years in providing audit assurance and advisory services to a wide range of industry clients. She continues to stay on top of ever-changing industry dynamics by continuously learning and developing expertise.
