Remote audit

Remote audit (or remote auditing) is a form of auditing in which Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) are used "to gather information, interview an auditee, etc., when “face-to-face” methods are not possible or desired".ISO19011 ISO 19011:2018 Guidelines for auditing management systems; International Organization for Standardization (ISO): Geneve, 2018. Such audits are used as part of financial audits, quality audits, audits for health and safety or environmental management.
Remote auditing has been widely adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic due to travel restrictions. According to the survey of conformity assessment bodies, about 50% of conformity assessment bodies have adopted remote auditing.Koch, C.; Asna-Ashari, P.; Blind, K.; Castka, P.; Mirtsch, M., National Quality Infrastructures in the COVID-19 Pandemic: Insights from a Multinational Study on Impacts and Institutional Responses of Conformity Assessment Bodies. . In 10th Annual Eu-SPRI Conference: Science and innovation – an uneasy relationship? Rethinking the roles and relations of STI policies, Oslo, Norway, 2021. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, remote audits were employed occasionally, mainly in extraordinary circumstances (such inspections of remote areas or in dangerous circumstances).IAF, IAF Informative Document For Management of Extraordinary Events or Circumstances Affecting ABs, CABs and Certified Organizations - ID3:2011. In Forum, I. A., Ed. 2011. Some research studies debated the use of technologies more broadly yet also acknowledged a limited uptake in the industry prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The adoption of remote auditing during the pandemic is discussed in several academic studies. For instance, in the domain of voluntary sustainability standards or in food industry.Castka, P. Z., X.; Bremer, P.; Mirosa, M. and Wood, L. Remote auditing and assessment during the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand and China. Learnings from the food industry and guidance for the future. ; A report for New Zealand China Food Protection Network (NZCFPN). Wellington, New Zealand, 2021. https://ir.canterbury.ac.nz/handle/10092/102272
== Important international documents pertinent to remote auditing ==
Remote auditing and remote assessment practices are described in a series of documents issued by International Accreditation Forum https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Accreditation_Forum]. These documents form basis for the operational practices of conformity assessment bodies across the globe. 
 Key Documents used in remote auditing
Title 	Issue date 	Content
IAF Informative Document For
Management of Extraordinary Events or Circumstances Affecting ABs, CABs and Certified Organizations IAF ID 3:2011	Issued: 8 November 2011 	0.	Introduction 1.	Scope 
2. Definition 3. Extraordinary event or circumstance affecting a certified organization 4. Extraordinary event or circumstance affecting the CAB 5. Extraordinary event or circumstance affecting the AB
IAF Informative Document: Principles on Remote Assessment IAF ID 12:2015	Issued: 23 December 2015 	1.. Introduction
2. Scope 
3. Definitions
4. Objectives
5. Criteria for Initiating a remote Assessment
6. Planning and Scheduling of Remote Assessments
7. Conducting Remote Assessments
8. Post Assessment Activities
IAF MANDATORY DOCUMENT FOR THE USE OF INFORMATION AND
COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT) FOR AUDITING/ASSESSMENT PURPOSES IAF MD 4:2018
ISO 9001 Auditing Practices Group Guidance on: REMOTE AUDITS	Issued: 04 July 2018 Application Date: 04 July 2019
Edition 1 Date: 2020-04-16	0. Introduction
1. Scope 
2. Normative References
3. Definitions
4. Requirements
ISO 9001 Auditing Practices Group Guidance on: REMOTE AUDITS 	Edition 1 Date: 2020-04-16	Introduction
Background Information on ISO 19011:2018 and IAF MD4
General Recommnedations for Remote Auditing 
AUDIT PROGRAM 
AUDIT PLANNING
AUDIT REALIZATION
AUDIT CONCLUSION
Annex: Example of identification of Risks and Opportunities for using remote audit techniques ....
Category:Information and communications technology