What Is an IT Audit?
An IT audit is a deep, systematic evaluation of your company’s technology:
- Is it secure?
- Is it reliable?
- Is it compliant?
- Is it working the way leadership thinks it’s working?
Think of it like a home inspection, except for your entire digital environment.
A Real Example
A Houston-based financial services firm called Uprite, because their systems were “acting weird.”
During their IT audit, we found:
- A misconfigured Microsoft 365 tenant
- 27 user accounts are still active after offboarding
- No Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
- Backups running… but not actually restoring
Two months later, one of those unused accounts was targeted in a phishing attack. The audit caught the risk before the attackers could.
Schedule your IT audit consultation
What an IT Audit Covers
Here’s a clean breakdown of what’s inspected during a proper IT audit:
| Area | What We Evaluate | Why It Matters |
| Cybersecurity | MFA, firewalls, patching, endpoint security | 82% of breaches are preventable with basic controls |
| Cloud (Microsoft 365, Azure, AWS) | Permissions, sharing, configurations | 45% of cloud breaches stem from misconfigurations |
| Infrastructure | Servers, backup systems, networks | Downtime costs SMBs ~$9,000 per minute |
| Compliance | SOC 2, HIPAA, PCI, NIST | Clients + cyber insurers now require proof |
| Policies & Processes | Onboarding, offboarding, access reviews | 1 in 5 breaches involve a former employee account |
| Business Continuity | Backup testing, DR plans | 60% of businesses without DR close within 6 months of a major outage |
Types of IT Audits (Choose What Fits Your Business)
| Type of Audit | Best For | What It Includes |
| General IT Audit | Most SMBs | Full technology, security, and compliance review |
| Cybersecurity Audit | Businesses handling sensitive data | Controls, vulnerabilities, and identity management |
| Cloud Security Audit | Microsoft 365 / Azure / AWS users | Configurations, permissions, MFA, Zero Trust |
| Compliance Audit | Regulated industries | SOC 2, PCI, HIPAA, SEC, FINRA, CMMC readiness |
| Risk Assessment | Pre-audit or leadership reporting | High-priority risks + remediation roadmap |
Why Every Business Needs an IT Audit (With Data)
1. Cyber threats are rising—fast
Ransomware attacks increased 73% between 2022 and 2024 -SonicWall.
Most SMB breaches occur from:
- Weak passwords
- Missing MFA
- Unpatched software
- Unsecured cloud files
An IT audit finds these issues before attackers do.
2. Cloud misconfigurations are the #1 cause of modern data breaches
80% of companies use Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace.
46% have incorrectly configured sharing settings
An audit checks:
- Who has access
- What’s shared publicly
- Data loss prevention settings
- Conditional access policies
3. Compliance requirements are tightening
Even non-regulated businesses now face:
- Vendor security questionnaires
- Cyber insurance control requirements
- Client audits (especially in finance, healthcare, and legal)
An IT audit provides the documentation you need to pass all three.
4. Technology debt adds up silently
Here’s a real scenario we see weekly:
“Our systems are slow.”
After auditing:
- Server at 92% capacity
- Switches from 2013
- Firmware is 7 versions behind
- SMB backups are running, but never validated
The business had no idea.
Audits reveal hidden risks that quietly accumulate.
5. IT audits reduce downtime and unexpected costs
Organizations with annual audits reduce downtime costs by up to 38% because they catch issues early.
Signs You Need an IT Audit Now
If any of these sound familiar, you’re overdue:
- You haven’t had an audit in 12+ months
- Remote workers access company data from personal devices
- MFA isn’t enforced for all accounts
- You recently moved to Microsoft 365 or Azure
- You’ve had recurring outages or slow systems
- A client asked for your security controls
- Your cyber insurance renewal is coming up
- You’ve onboarded/offboarded people rapidly
Even one “yes” is enough to justify an audit.
Schedule your IT audit consultation
How to Prepare for an IT Audit (Quick Checklist)
1. Gather essential documentation
- Network diagrams
- Device inventory
- Policies (AUP, backup, password, incident response)
- Admin lists
2. Ensure auditors get read-only access (where required)
This speeds up the process and keeps everything secure.
3. Notify staff
Let employees know what to expect. Audits shouldn’t interrupt operations.
4. Be transparent
The more honest you are about issues, the more valuable the audit becomes.
IT Audit vs. IT Assessment (Simple Comparison)
| Feature | IT Audit | IT Assessment |
| Goal | Validate controls, reduce risk | Improve systems and strategy |
| Depth | Formal, detailed | Broader and consultative |
| Focus | Security, compliance, reliability | Optimization and alignment |
| Output | Findings + risk ratings | Recommendations + roadmap |
Most companies benefit from both:
- Audit annually
- Assessment quarterly or semi-annually
What’s Next: Want a Clear Picture of Your IT Risks?
If you haven’t had an IT audit in the past year, your business is operating with blind spots (some of which may be costly).
Start with an IT Audit from Uprite.
Get:
✔ A full cybersecurity and infrastructure review
✔ A prioritized remediation plan
✔ Clear documentation for insurance, clients, and compliance
Schedule your IT audit consultation
IT Audit FAQs
1) How often should a business get an IT audit?
At least once a year. More often if you handle sensitive data or have rapid growth.
2) How long does an IT audit take?
- Small business: 1–2 weeks
- Mid-sized: 2–6 weeks
It’s mostly behind-the-scenes work with minimal disruption.
3) Will it affect our team’s day-to-day work?
Not much. Auditors collect data quietly and schedule interviews around your calendar.
4) Is an IT audit expensive?
Costs depend on size and complexity, but the average breach costs $4.45M (IBM). Audits are a fraction of that.
5) Is an IT audit the same as penetration testing?
No.
Pen tests simulate attacks.
Audits evaluate your controls and readiness.
6) Do we need an IT audit for cyber insurance?
Increasingly, yes. Insurers look for proof of controls such as MFA, backups, and incident response plans.
Stephen Sweeney, CEO of of Uprite.com, with 20+ years of experience brings tech and creativity together to make cybersecurity simple and IT support seamless. He’s on a mission to help businesses stay secure and ahead of the game!