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CPL-07.3: Audit Planning Activities

CPL 5 — Medium Identify

Mechanisms exist to thoughtfully plan audits by including input from operational risk and compliance partners to minimize the impact of audit-related activities on business operations.

Renumbered: Formerly CPL-04 in SCF 2025.4.

Control Question: Does the organization thoughtfully plan audits by including input from operational risk and compliance partners to minimize the impact of audit-related activities on business operations?

General (7)
Framework Mapping Values
AICPA TSC 2017:2022 (used for SOC 2) (source) CC4.1
COSO 2013 16.0
CSA CCM 4.1.0 A&A-05
ISO 27002 2022 5.35 8.34
ISO 27017 2015 12.7.1 18.2.1
ISO 27018 2025 5.35 8.34
NIST AI 100-1 (AI RMF) 1.0 GOVERN 1.5
EMEA (4)
Framework Mapping Values
EMEA Germany C5 2026 COM-02.02B.1
EMEA EU DORA RTS 2024 Article 8.2(b)(iv)
EMEA LUX CCSF 20/750 2020 3.3.6-26
EMEA LUX CCSF 22/806 2022 96.a 98 99
APAC (2)
Framework Mapping Values
APAC Japan ISMAP 12.7
APAC Malaysia RMiT 2025 13.1 13.2

Capability Maturity Model

Level 0 — Not Performed

Practices are non-existent, based on the inability to demonstrate an implemented and operational capability. A reasonable person would conclude the control is not being performed.

Level 1 — Performed Informally

SCR-CMM Level 1 criteria definitions are not available for this control: ▪ A reasonable person would conclude this control requires a structured process. ▪ At this level of maturity, the "ad hoc" nature of performing a capability informally would indicate the intent of the control is not met due to a lack of consistency and formality.

Level 2 — Planned & Tracked

Compliance (CPL) capabilities are requirements-driven, but are not standardized across the entity (e.g., local/regional level consistency). Capability criteria associated with this control reasonably expect the following criteria to exist: ▪ Policies and standards associated with CPL domain capabilities are formally documented and centrally-managed by the entity. ▪ Standardized Operating Procedures (SOP) associated with CPL domain capabilities are documented and maintained by process owners. ▪ IT and/or cybersecurity personnel work with business stakeholders and process owners to appropriately scope and reasonably implement cybersecurity and data protection controls associated with CPL domain capabilities to address applicable statutory, regulatory and/or contractual requirements for Technology Assets, Applications, Services and/or Data (TAASD). ▪ Compliance management controls-related controls are primarily administrative and preventative in nature (e.g., policies, standards and procedures & guidelines). ▪ Compliance management may be a defined function (e.g., team or department) or assigned as an additional duty to existing IT and/or cybersecurity personnel. ▪ External compliance requirements for cybersecurity and data privacy are identified and documented, based on applicable laws, regulations and contractual obligations.

Level 3 — Well Defined

Compliance (CPL) capabilities are standardized across the entity for applicability to People, Processes, Technologies, Data and/or Facilities (PPTDF) to ensure consistency for Technology Assets, Applications, Services and/or Data (TAASD). Capability criteria associated with this control reasonably expect the following criteria to exist: ▪ Policies and standards associated with CPL domain capabilities are formally documented and centrally-managed by the entity's Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) team, or similar function. ▪ Standardized Operating Procedures (SOP) associated with CPL domain capabilities are well-documented and kept current by process owners. ▪ A Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) team, or similar function, is appropriately staffed and supported to implement and maintain CPL domain capabilities. ▪ Technology is leveraged to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of governance, risk management and compliance operations (e.g., GRC platform). ▪ The entity's Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) team, or similar function, works with business stakeholders and process owners to appropriately scope and reasonably implement cybersecurity and data protection controls associated with CPL domain capabilities to address Minimum Compliance Requirements (MCR) (e.g., applicable statutory, regulatory and/or contractual requirements) and Discretionary Security Requirements (DSR) (e.g., entity-required controls). ▪ An implemented and operational capability exists to thoughtfully plan audits by including input from operational risk and compliance partners to minimize the impact of audit-related activities on business operations.

Level 4 — Quantitatively Controlled

Utilize SCR-CMM Level 3 criteria definitions: ▪ There are no defined Level 4 criteria, since it is reasonable to assume a quantitatively-controlled process is not necessary to operationalize this control. ▪ While it may be possible to develop “metrics-driven” capabilities for this control, the criteria would be organization-specific to define.

Level 5 — Continuously Improving

Utilize SCR-CMM Level 3 or Level 4 (if available) criteria definitions: ▪ There are no defined Level 5 criteria, since it is reasonable to assume a continuously-improving process is not necessary to operationalize this control. ▪ Level 5 capabilities should be considered “world-class” where the control builds on Level 4 capabilities, but are continuously improving through Artificial Intelligence (AI) and/or Machine Learning (ML) technologies. ▪ While it may be possible to develop responsive capabilities for this control through the use of AI and/or ML technologies, the criteria would be organization-specific to define.

Assessment Objectives

  1. CPL-07.3_A01 audit-related priorities are formally defined with input from operational risk and compliance partners.
  2. CPL-07.3_A02 audits are planned in a documented manner that minimizes the impact of audit-related activities on business operations.

Technology Recommendations

Micro/Small

  • Internal audit program

Small

  • Internal audit program

Medium

  • Internal audit program

Large

  • Internal audit program

Enterprise

  • Internal audit program

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