What is the purpose of security auditing?

The purpose of security auditing is to formally examine information systems to ensure that they comply with established security policies, regulations, and standards. This process involves evaluating the effectiveness of security controls, identifying vulnerabilities, and measuring adherence to legal and regulatory requirements. Conducting security audits helps organizations understand their security posture and provides insight into potential risks, allowing them to implement necessary improvements or corrective actions to enhance their overall security framework.

While enhancing system performance, monitoring employee productivity, and analyzing financial transactions might be important activities in their own right, they do not specifically address the core objective of security auditing, which centers around compliance and risk management in relation to information security practices.