Latest Cutting-edge Research
Latest Research and Products
As a vital cornerstone of the Internal Audit Foundation, research remains an essential element of our offerings since our inception in 1976. The Foundation has delivered more than 250 research reports covering the full spectrum of issues facing the profession.
Risk in Focus 2025
Risk in Focus 2025 reveals that climate change and digital disruption (including AI) are expected to be the fastest climbing risks worldwide in the next three years, according to internal audit leaders. Download regional reports and presentations for more insights.
Solving the Riddle: Harnessing Generative AI for Internal Audit Activities
Solving the Riddle: Harnessing Generative AI for Internal Audit Activities
The Internal Audit Foundation and Wolters Kluwer TeamMate conducted a study to examine the use of generative AI within organizations and internal audit functions. The survey’s findings provide valuable insights into who is using this groundbreaking technology, how it is being used, and if it is governed. While the ultimate solution to the AI riddle remains somewhat clouded, clues are emerging as to how it can be applied to improve internal audit efficiency, productivity, and quality.
Demystifying AI: Internal Audit Use Cases for Applying New Technology
Demystifying AI: Internal Audit Use Cases for Applying New Technology
The Internal Audit Foundation and AuditBoard sought to identify practical use cases of generative AI for internal audit functions. This report highlights the insights and experiences of four internal audit leaders who have integrated or explored AI within their teams. Before detailing how AI is applied based on their input, the report provides a high-level overview of global practitioners’ perspectives on the use of new technologies in the profession, drawing on recent research from Internal Audit: Vision 2035.
Internal Audit: Vision 2035 – Creating Our Future Together
Internal Audit: Vision 2035 – Creating Our Future Together
The Internal Audit Foundation has embarked on a groundbreaking initiative called, Internal Audit: Vision 2035 – Creating Our Future Together. This project is designed to envision the future state of the Internal Audit profession and chart the steps necessary to make that future a reality.
Perspectives from Educators and Practitioners
Fueling the Internal Audit Student Talent Pipeline: Perspectives from Educators and Practitioners
The Internal Audit Foundation and Deloitte collaborated on a study to identify where new internal auditors will come from and position the profession to attract talent with the relevant skills and passion. The report and companion infographic provide insights into the key findings of the study and a career pathway for future internal auditors.
Benchmarks for Internal Audit Leaders
2024 North American Pulse of Internal Audit: Benchmarks for Internal Audit Leaders
The 2024 North American Pulse of Internal Audit, published by the Internal Audit Foundation, reveals data about post-pandemic recovery and audit priorities. The profession appears to be growing again, with significantly more internal audit functions now increasing their budgets (36%) rather than decreasing them (13%). High priority is placed on audit activities related to cybersecurity and IT, and more than 40% are researching use of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Remote work has become the norm, and nearly one-third of respondents reported hiring recent college graduates.
Insights Into Effective Collaboration Between Internal Auditors and Data Privacy Professionals
Privacy and Data Protection: Part 3
Part 3 of the Privacy and Data Protection series – a collaboration between the Internal Audit Foundation and Crowe – highlights the importance of developing a collaborative approach between privacy professionals and internal auditors.
Sharpen Your View of Today’s Risks
Global Risk in Focus 2024
Risk in Focus 2024 is your source for the most current information about today’s risk landscape. Based on survey responses from more than 4,000 CAEs and directors worldwide, these data-driven reports reveal the world’s highest risk areas and internal audit’s response.
Action Steps for Internal Audit Leaders
Increase Your Data Analytics ROI
The Internal Audit Foundation and Grant Thornton brought together nearly 200 chief audit executives and directors to weigh in on how they use data analytics to create and enhance value. Their insights can serve as a guide for enhancing analytic success and overcoming common roadblocks.
Supporting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion from the Inside Out
Supporting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion from the Inside Out
From the Internal Audit Foundation and Deloitte, this third and final whitepaper in a series details how internal audit can practically apply audit techniques within its own function, at the enterprise level, and among stakeholders to support management in achieving its DEI objectives.
2023 North American Pulse of Internal Audit: Benchmarks for Internal Audit Leaders
2023 North American Pulse of Internal Audit: Benchmarks for Internal Audit Leaders
A premier source of data for internal audit leaders, the Pulse of Internal Audit report provides insights about internal audit budgets, staff, audit plans, risks, and more. This year’s report also features all-new data about audit frequency for key risk areas. Internal audit leaders can use this benchmarking report year-round as they plan and manage their internal audit activities.
ACFE/The IIA: Building a Best-In-Class Whistleblower Hotline Program
ACFE/The IIA: Building a Best-In-Class Whistleblower Hotline Program
The ACFE and The IIA collaborated on a study to identify key elements of a best-in-class whistleblower hotline program, especially as it pertains to fraud detection. The report includes practical, data-driven guidance on how internal audit leaders, anti-fraud professionals, and others can most effectively manage and support these programs within their organizations. This report and companion inforgraphic provide insights into the key findings of the study.
DEI 101: Internal Audit’s Role in Recruiting, Retaining, and Developing Diverse Talent
DEI 101: Internal Audit’s Role in Recruiting, Retaining, and Developing Diverse Talent
From the Internal Audit Foundation and Deloitte, this second whitepaper in a series delivers best practices from leading experts in internal audit and DEI to elevate the impact of recruitment, retention, and employee development for diverse talent.
2022 Premier Global Research
Internal Audit: A Global View
2022 Premier Global Research Study - Internal Auditing: A Global View
The Internal Audit Foundation and The IIA conducted a global survey to inform the new report, Internal Audit: A Global View, to gain a clearer perspective of our profession and its professionals. The report captures the breadth and depth of internal auditing and the nuances of industries, sectors, and regions with feedback from more than 3,600 auditors in 159 locations.
Internal Control and Organizations in Transformation
Transformation, including the adoption of digital enablers, is altering the way that processes are undertaken. Rapid response to changing customer and economic factors is a reality. In this joint report by the Internal Audit Foundation, Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), and Institute of Management Accountants (IMA), we explore emerging trends, their impact on internal control, and the need for internal controls to be agile and future-ready to support business transformation and growth.
DEI 101: Internal Audit’s Invaluable Role in Creating a Sense of Belonging at Work
DEI 101: Internal Audit’s Invaluable Role in Creating a Sense of Belonging at Work
Understand the fundamental concepts in DEI and how internal audit can provide value-added activities for your organization.
A new report, "Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion 101: Internal Audit's Invaluable Role in Creating a Sense of Belonging at Work," from the Internal Audit Foundation and Deloitte, explains why it's essential for internal audit to be more involved in the organization's ESG efforts, and helps you get started today with tangible action items to add value and improve outcomes of DEI initiatives.
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Fraud and the Pandemic: Internal Audit Stepping Up to the Challenge
In this follow-up report to Fraud Risk Management (2020), the Internal Audit Foundation and Kroll collected post-pandemic data and compared it to the original pre-pandemic results. The intent was to determine if internal audit’s ability to prevent, detect, and investigate fraud had changed, and identify lessons that can be learned and applied to fraud risk management today.
An Internal Audit Foundation & Grant Thornton Report: Are We Speaking the Same Language? An Integrated Approach to Supply Chain Risk Management
How does an organization transition from viewing supply chain risk management as a checklist of activities to an ecosystem of functions and roles that work together towards a goal? The report, “Are We Speaking the Same Language? An Integrated Approach to Supply Chain Risk Management,” shows practitioners how getting everyone on the same page by developing common terminology within the organization is a critical first step. It also outlines key steps in starting the process of enhancing communication and shares insights from survey respondents on important lessons learned about supply chain risk management garnered during the current, global pandemic.
Privacy and Data Protection, Part 2: Internal Auditors’ Views on Risks, Responsibilities, and Opportunities
This second report in a three-part series reveals a number of potentially valuable opportunities for internal auditors to take an earlier, proactive role in helping to recognize, manage, and mitigate these risks, while still fulfilling their role as defined by the International Professional Practices Framework.
Prioritizing ESG: Exploring Internal Audit’s Role as a Critical Collaborator
Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) is a hot topic globally, across all industries and organizations. This new report, “Prioritizing ESG: Exploring Internal Audit’s Role as a Critical Collaborator,” by the Internal Audit Foundation, The IIA, and EY reveals how internal audit functions are currently involved in their organization’s ESG efforts, current barriers within their organization that may hinder this involvement, and ways to move forward given impending regulations.
The Remote Auditor: Challenges, opportunities, and new ways of working
As we approach the third year of the pandemic, the question “When do we return to normal?” has largely been replaced with “How do we capitalize on the lessons learned over the past two years to further empower and support the hybrid workforce moving forward?” This report presents poll and survey results that help assess the impact of remote work in the internal audit profession.
Are We Ready? It’s Time for Internal Audit to Focus on Resilience Amid Extreme Change
The Internal Audit Foundation, in collaboration with Protiviti, has released “Are We Ready? It’s Time for Internal Audit to Focus on Resilience Amid Extreme Change.” This report helps readers understand business resilience versus business continuity, and how stakeholder and board expectations have changed with recent disruption. It’s imperative to learn how internal audit can shift the paradigm of thought to transform the organization and remain resilient.
Premier Global Research Study
The Internal Audit Foundation, in collaboration with Deloitte, conducted a global survey, Assessing Internal Audit Competency, to complement the launch of The IIA’s Internal Audit Competency Framework© and to identify areas in which internal auditors were highly developed and those where gaps existed. The resulting Premier Global Research Study, “Assessing Internal Audit Competency: Minding the Gaps to Maximize Insights,” provides a summary of the state of internal audit competency, where internal auditors across all levels, around the world assessed their level of competency as compared to The IIA’s new competency framework. The comprehensive report outlines five key insights that help identify areas where gaps exist in competency and relevance to the auditor’s current position, as well as the perception of their ability to audit key digital technologies.
New Report Shares How Evolving GRC Software Can Support Internal Audit
To stay relevant in today’s business environment, internal audit functions must maintain an innovative mindset, update existing audit methods, and use evolving technologies such as governance, risk, and control (GRC) to improve collaboration. This report shares how GRC software can support risk management and internal audit and explores practical applications of GRC from a value perspective across The IIA’s Three Lines Model.
Future Ready: Upskilling Today for the Profession of Tomorrow
As Charlie T. Wright, 2021–22 Chairman of The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) Global Board of Directors, set out to accept his new responsibilities, he made a future-focused commitment. Along with the Internal Audit Foundation, Wright presents “Future Ready: Upskilling Today for the Profession of Tomorrow,” a white paper connecting findings from research in the field and the Foundation’s global study, Assessing Internal Audit Competency, to highlight the critical skills and competencies internal auditors must develop today to compete in the workforce of the future.
Internal Audit’s Digital Transformation Imperative: Advances Amid Crisis – Analyzing the Impact of 2020 on Internal Audit Functions’ Implementation of Technology
In November 2020, the Internal Audit Foundation, in collaboration with AuditBoard, conducted a survey to understand how internal audit leveraged technology to respond to the year’s challenging and fast-changing conditions, in addition to examining how technology was used prior to the pandemic. The survey was designed to gather data and provide answers to three key questions.
Moving Internal Audit Deeper Into the Digital Age: Part 3, Beyond Theory — Scaling Automation Capabilities in Internal Auditing
The final report in the three-part series outlines a six-step approach designed to assist internal auditors in overcoming common hurdles to move analytics and automation beyond theory, toward actualization. It walks through proven ways today’s leaders can create an agile, insightful, and resilient internal audit organization that adds value to the business. Read the report to get a blueprint for scaling digital capabilities and transforming the audit lifecycle.
Agile Auditing – Transforming the Audit Process Executive Book Summary
This new Internal Audit Foundation and IIA-Chile executive book summary highlight essential elements of Rick Wright’s new book, Agile Auditing: Transforming the Internal Audit Process. Get an overview of the implementation and design of the agile auditing, along with the case to adopt this process.
Internal Audit Supports Fraud Risk Management
New from the Internal Audit Foundation and Kroll, “Fraud Risk Management in Internal Audit” offers global perceptions on internal audit’s role in assessing, preventing, detecting, and investigating fraud risk. Its survey says deeper engagement by internal audit leads to stronger fraud risk management.
Defining, Measuring, and Communicating the Value of Internal Audit: Best Practices for the Profession
This new Internal Audit Foundation report, based on the findings of a global survey and in-depth interviews with world-class internal audit functions, addresses the question, “What is the added value of internal auditing?” It provides advice on how to define and measure your added value, and how to communicate that value to stakeholders.
Moving Internal Audit Deeper Into the Digital Age: Part 2 – What Internal Audit Needs to Think About When Auditing Automation
This second part of the three-part series is based on an online survey of IA leaders across a broad range of companies. When modern automation tools enter an organization, they do not arrive alone. They bring with them a number of new risks. Key findings shed light on where many IA organizations are making progress and where gaps may still remain by identifying critical components of the automation that auditors should focus their efforts on.
Privacy and Data Protection Part 1: Internal Audit's Role in Establishing a Resilient Framework
The 3-part research is intended to assist internal auditors in assessing their current level of preparedness regarding privacy and data protection issues, particularly as their approaches relate to the current state of the profession overall. One component of this self-assessment involves understanding the current environment and potential changes in their approach to auditing material areas such as third-party relationships and technology, to name a few. In addition, the report also is intended to help internal auditors understand specific risks and threats, and to help them see that relevant controls are developed, implemented, and operated effectively.
Methodology to Leverage Man and Machine
In a world being overrun by bots, it’s hard to trust our instincts. Gain perspective on the impact of robotic process automation (RPA) and artificial and cognitive intelligence (AI/CI) on internal audit. This report explores how AI and machine learning can add value to organizations.
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