A Tale of Compatible Twins! Success of E-Commerce & Information Systems/Internal Auditors

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to identify, ascertain and examine the role of IS/internal auditors in the success of e-commerce venture. The focus of this paper is limited to the internal/IS auditors (are also called compatible twins in this paper.) who are responsible for the internal control systems in any entity and extending continuous assurance to the processes involved. Any independent or external auditor would base its audit decisions of testing controls & compliance on the existing internal controls in the entity. The SDLC of EC needs to incorporate the role played by IS/internal auditors from its conceptualization stage itself. These very people would let system people know about the potential internal controls to be put in place so as to fulfill the regulatory and efficiency requirements. IS/internal auditors are the lot with mixed skills-set and responsible for providing continuous assurance of and about the processes. It is their responsibility to ascertain that the EC systems have controls without any dilution.

Keywords: Information systems assurance, Auditing, e-Commerce, Internal auditing

JEL Classification: M40, M41, M46, M49