My IT Audit Notes

1. Functions/Areas under purview for IT Audit
   

• Application Software Development (Development methodologies, Change control procedures,
  
• Service Continuity
  
• Problems/Incidents reporting
  
• Access to Computer resources
  
  
  • Logical Access (written policies & Procedures, resignations, New User requests, password storage)
    
  • Physical Access (Access to computer systems, Document with password storage areas)
    
  • Manage Software & Hardware (Inventory , policy for installation etc)
    
• System software controls (Forced Password change controls, block bad internet access, dial-in access control)
  
• Operating System installation procedures
  
• Software licences
  
• Operational procedures
  

Steps in performing IT Audit (Information Technology Audit Process)

1. Planning
   
2. Studying and Evaluating Controls
   
3. Testing and Evaluating Controls
   
4. Reporting
   
5. Follow-up
6. Establish Terms of Engagement
7. Preliminary Review
8. Establish Materiality and Assess Risk
9. Plan Audit Perform Audit Procedure
   

Fact or Myth?

My last toastmaster speech was on Global warming. It was a project in which we are supposed to do some research and I chose this topic for the simple reason that I wanted to find out a bit more about global warming myself.

What I found out while researching for that project really amazed me. It amazed me because of the amount of crap that is being put out in the world by vested interests and the credence given to it by the populace.

I will try my best to put out my findings in as few a sentences as possible below.

1. In the so called green house gases which trap the reflected radiation from the earth and cause global warming, the major constituent is water vapour, on which we have no control.
The humanly possible reduction in carbon emission can only reduce 2% of the reflected radiation.

2. From the forties to seventies there is recorded evidence of global cooling and scientists were talking about the impending ice age.

3. Analysis of artic ice has proved that there has been cyclic changes in global temperature over centuries. The Nobel prize winning IPCC, the greatest proponent of the ill effects of global warming, in their assessment report state that it is expected that the average increase in global temperature is about 0.017 degree Celsius. (About 1 degree increase in about 50 to 60 years). Any evidence of global warming (given the extremely small increase) can not be proved by temperature measurements of over a period of 30 years or so.

4. Finally, it is ‘not conclusively’ proven that global warming is taking place due to man made causes such as carbon emissions. However, it must be said that it also not conclusively proven that global warming is not taking place. In a survey conducted, over 75% of the scientific community (not the Al Gore type) do not believe that there is conclusive evidence to prove that global warming is caused by carbon emissions and other man made activities.

Is all these hue and cry about global warming justified? Is the coercion of the developing world to cut down on their developmental activities and carbon emissions by the world bodies dominated by few developed nations justified? I don't think so. I leave it to you to judge for yourself.

I for one strongly believe, it is simply a political game being played by a few western nations to protect their long term economic interests. It is a lie being orchestrated and played on a grand scale. Never underestimate the power of these nations. They will go to any extent to protect their interests, remember WMD?

Jai Hind

Today’s article in the Times of India , ‘India World Leader in greasing palms' (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/2091020.cms , made me quite angry. If you don’t care to read it, here is the gist of that article in one sentence.

India leads in an NGO Transparency International’s Bribe Payers index 2006 as also in its list of most corrupt societies in the world.

Transparency International has constantly been putting India among the most corrupt societies. Every time they do so, it is given wide coverage in Indian press and people get taken in by its findings, without giving a thought as to how authentic the survey could have been, who are behind this NGO and what their motives can be.

The same article states that the ranking table was compiled by asking 11,000 top business executives (who are these executives and how were they chosen?) in 125 countries (which are these countries, on what basis they were chosen and how many from each of these – to ensure a fair basis) to rank foreign companies in order of their ‘propensity’ (this is the most important key word to watch, a ranking based on some people’s ‘propensity’?? without any quantifiable evidence? It is totally unacceptable).

There are people and organisations in this world, who can not tolerate the country’s progress and economic development. This perhaps is an attempt to malign the nation which is increasingly successful in obtaining overseas business through export of goods and services.
It is obvious that most of the so called advanced nations have serious corruption charges levelled against even their heads of state. We all know the questionable deeds of Bill Clinton, while in office, Tony Blair has allegations against him, a former chancellor of Germany was alleged to have swindled government funds and the French president had his share as well. All these serious misdeeds have cleverly been swept under the carpet by various means and these nations claim to be corruption free or least corrupt.

Unfortunately, the only people who glorify these findings seem to be our own countrymen. If there is a world championship award for self criticism, it will undoubtedly go to the Indians!

My dear fellow countrymen, think about the scandals, blatant lies and corruption charges against heads of governments emanating from various countries, and how their citizens take them in their stride and feel and talk proudly about their countries. Never go blasting around about a small time politician making a small amount of kickbacks out of selling a few cows or goats or such silly things in India.

Jai Hind!

My First Post

I am an Indian and I am based in Bahrain.