Audit
An audit is a systematic and independent examination performed to determine whether processes, products, or activities comply with specified requirements or standards.
“An independent examination performed by a third party on a work product or process to assess whether it complies with specified criteria.”
(Definition reproduced from the ISTQB Glossary. Copyright belongs to ISTQB.)
View the complete ISTQB GlossaryWhat is Audit?
Audits evaluate compliance with organizational procedures, regulatory requirements, or industry standards. They provide objective evidence about whether expected practices are being followed.
Independent assessment: Audits are typically performed by personnel independent of the work being evaluated.
Compliance focus: Audits verify adherence to defined processes, standards, or regulations.
Outcome: Audit findings may identify nonconformities and opportunities for improvement.
Real World Example
A financial services company is preparing for an external ISO 9001 quality audit ahead of a regulatory review.
The test team has been tracking reviews and defect sign-offs informally through Slack messages and personal notes, so when the third-party auditor asks for evidence linking requirements to test cases to results, nothing can be produced on the spot.
Ahead of the visit, the test manager has the team build real traceability: every requirement linked to its test cases, every test case linked to its execution result and any resulting defects, with sign-offs recorded independently of any one person's word.
The Audit passes because the auditor can independently verify compliance from objective, traceable records — the outcome an audit is actually designed to test, rather than simply trusting the team's verbal assurance that quality practices were followed.
Practice Questions
Question 1
Which artifact MOST supports a successful quality audit?
Question 2
What is the BEST tester contribution to an upcoming process audit?
Test your knowledge with real ISTQB-style questions
You’ve learned Audit. Test your understanding with topic-specific questions in our Mock Exams.