The Continuous Audit of Online Systems¹

Abstract

The evolution of MIS technology has affected traditional auditing and created a new set of audit issues. This paper describes the Continuous Process Auditing System (CPAS) developed at AT&T Bell Laboratories for the internal audit organization that is designed to deal with the problems of auditing large paperless real-time systems. The paper discusses why the methodology is important and contrasts it with the traditional audit approach. CPAS is designed to measure and monitor large systems, drawing key metrics and analytics into a workstation environment. The data are displayed in an interactive mode, providing auditors with a work platform to examine extracted data and prepare auditing reports. CPAS monitors key operational analytics, compares these with standards, and calls the auditor’s attention to any problems that may exist. Ultimately, this technology will utilize system probes that will monitor the auditee system and intervene when needed.

Citation

Vasarhelyi, M.A. and Halper, F.B. (2018), "The Continuous Audit of Online Systems¹", Chan, D.Y., Chiu, V. and Vasarhelyi, M.A. (Ed.) Continuous Auditing (Rutgers Studies in Accounting Analytics), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 87-104. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-78743-413-420181004