Top security audit software — cut fatigue & streamline workflows

Security audits wear teams down when documentation stays scattered. Directors often juggle requests in Excel or email, losing hours to checklists and status updates. As the cycle repeats, fatigue sets in. Teams answer the same questions, hunt for old evidence, and worry about missing critical details.

The stakes keep rising: Nearly 32% of organizations now face financial liabilities over $1 million from audits, more than triple the 10% reported two years ago. Hackers don't stand still, and neither do cyberattacks. Every week brings new potential security threats. And right now, proving your organization's security matters more than ever.

Manual processes and point tools don’t keep up. Siloed systems create bottlenecks, which force teams to do time-consuming duplicate work. Each change in audit scope exposes more gaps, while auditors press for real answers. Chasing evidence becomes a full-time job, and the risk of a missed control grows with every handoff.

That's why cybersecurity and GRC spending keeps growing even when budgets get tight. Teams know scattered tools cost more than better software.

Modern security audit software rewrites that experience. It brings requests, documentation, and tracking into one organized space. When teams know what to expect and how to prepare for IT and cybersecurity audits, they can stay ahead of emerging threats, and have better visualization into their cybersecurity posture/regulatory compliance.

The right security audit software helps teams stay organized, on track, and confident throughout the audit process. In this article, we’ll cover what features make a real difference, what to look for in a platform, and how AuditBoard can help you stay prepared without extra hassle.

Core capabilities of modern security audit software

Today’s audit platforms fix the blockers that used to slow you down. Here’s what to look for when you’re tired of wasted time, missing files, and stressful audits.

Centralized documentation and evidence

Good audit software means every document and piece of evidence for data security finally lives in one spot. No more searching across folders or old chat threads about misconfiguration issues. Everything you need is readily available when an auditor asks.

Here’s how modern audit software remediates the headaches of manual processes:

• Teams upload evidence once, with automated approval workflows.
• Users are easily able to determine the most recent evidence uploaded, without asking, “Is this the right file?”
• Updates happen instantly, so nobody scrambles for the right evidence at the last minute.

Plus, enterprise-grade audit suites enforce role-based access, evidence integrity, and automated approval routing. Once audit evidence is submitted, it can’t be altered without a traceable justification.

If you’re in the middle of an audit and someone needs last year’s incident response plan, you can search and share directly. No back-and-forth, no headaches.

Real-time dashboards and status tracking

Forget static spreadsheets. With customizable, real-time dashboards, you track progress as it happens and generate audit reports instantly. One quick look tells you:

• How many requests are still open
• Who owns each item and what’s overdue
• Where things are stuck, so you can actually fix it

If IT falls behind on closing out a request, you can spot it before it becomes an emergency. Leaders see which teams are sailing along and who needs backup. With real-time dashboards, you avoid endless follow-up emails, missed deadlines, and guesswork on what’s complete. Instead, bottlenecks are flagged early, stakeholders can see progress in real-time, and view instant statuses for every request.

Workflow automation and request management

The word automation is constantly thrown around in the audit world, but what does it mean in practice? Automation means the platform does the chasing for you. When deadlines approach, reminders go out automatically. Requests and approvals move forward without nudging. Meanwhile, every update gets logged, so your paper trail builds itself:

• Monthly user access control reviews? The system tracks, reminds, and logs results every cycle.
• Miss a deadline? The right people get notified about security risks, fast.
• No more sticky notes, calendar reminders, or anxiety over missed steps.

You spend less time tracking tasks and more time reviewing what matters.

Collaboration features for auditors and internal teams

When everyone works in the same place, collaboration stops being a struggle. IT security and audit teams see the same requests, leave comments, answer questions, and attach evidence right in the platform. No more lost emails or confusion about which update matters.

Switching between frameworks for cloud security — moving from SOC 2 to NIST CSF, for example — gets easier because requirements and owners can be assigned in seconds. Teams see what’s new and where things connect, so you don’t waste time explaining who’s responsible for each step or untangling alignment between security and compliance.

Support for multiple frameworks for regulatory requirements

Most organizations answer to more than one standard at once. The best tools handle various use cases, keeping controls for SOC 2, ISO 27001, NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF), and any others in the same view.

You tag an endpoint security control for all three frameworks, update it once, and your evidence and reports are instantly up to date wherever you need them.

That means you can:

• Track the same requirement across multiple audits
• Update once and reflect across every standard
• Move confidently when external rules or guidance get updated

No copy-pasting or starting from zero when frameworks shift.

What security audit software should actually do

Most tools promise to “simplify” audits with better functionality, but real value comes from going beyond scanning and checklists. The right platform supports your entire audit — from scoping and risk prioritization to evidence collection, issue remediation, and final reporting — so you can focus on reducing risk.

Beyond scanning: Supporting end-to-end audit execution

It’s easy to find solutions that surface vulnerabilities or generate reports, but an effective audit platform supports every phase of the audit process. This means:

• Centralizing requests and evidence from the first audit step to the reporting phase
• Assigning owners so everyone knows what to do next (without reminders falling through the cracks)
• Rolling up all results, actions, and commentary into a single record for easy review later

For example, instead of juggling a spreadsheet for status, an inbox for requests, and a separate system for evidence, your team handles everything in one place, from tracking readiness to wrapping up findings.

Why point solutions don’t replace audit platforms

Traditional IT tools are built to find issues: missing patches, configuration gaps, unauthorized access, or exposure points. But these only solve a piece of the problem. Vulnerability scanning and network security tools spot problems with firewalls, endpoints, and potential risks from hackers or malware.

But these only solve a piece of the problem. Security audits require big-picture coordination across people, policies, and multiple control frameworks that protect against potential threats.

An audit platform links technical findings to business context. You see not only what’s broken but also who owns the fix, what security compliance requirements it affects, and how to document it in detailed reports for auditors. When teams work only in vulnerability scanning or configuration tools, important information gets lost or siloed, and the audit process stalls in back-and-forth, leaving potential risks unaddressed.

Real audit software fills those gaps by:

• Connecting technical risks to audit requirements and business goals
• Mapping scanner findings directly to controls and policies
• Keeping requests, evidence, responses, and timelines aligned, so nothing gets dropped along the way

In short, technical tools give you data. Audit software turns that data into a clear audit trail and helps teams show real progress on risk (see the full breakdown of what a security audit covers).

Top security audit tools

Security audits run smoother when your core software connects with the tools your teams already rely on. Integrations allow faster evidence gathering, keep audit progress visible, and eliminate extra steps. The right technology stack turns audit management from a juggling act into a continuous, predictable cycle.

AuditBoard

AuditBoard leads with end-to-end audit management. The platform connects requests, evidence, and teams, and keeps every security control visible in one place. Digital audit trails update when you upload evidence or close out findings.

Automated reminders, dashboards, and role-based access keep the process moving. You see status in real time. Auditors get answers fast, without scattered emails or missed steps. The result: audits close sooner, and teams stay ready year-round.

You rarely need point solutions once your audit program lives in AuditBoard. But some tasks sit outside the platform scope, like network discovery, configuration monitoring, or process visualization, for example. These complimentary tools help you cover those needs. Elizabeth McDowell, AVP, Internal Audit, Elevations Credit Union, says:

ServiceNow

ServiceNow powers IT incident and change management. Integrate with AuditBoard to sync audit-related tickets automatically. Every control gap, remediation task, or security incident opened in ServiceNow appears for audit review. No copying status updates by hand. You get a complete record from ticket creation to closure, supporting every audit requirement for IT operations.

NetSuite

NetSuite manages financial and operational data. Direct integration with AuditBoard pulls transaction records and evidence straight into your audit workspace. Teams spend less time finding documentation. Evidence is collected at the source, especially for SOX and regulatory compliance audits. Every action is tracked, and the audit trail is audit-ready with zero manual effort.

Azure / Entra ID

Azure Active Directory (now Entra ID) controls user access across your environment. Connected to AuditBoard, it automates access reviews and evidence gathering. You pull user lists, validate permissions, and tie results to controls — all in one workflow. Access certification cycles get faster, and you always have proof on hand for user and privilege audits.

Jira

Jira organizes project tasks and bug tracking. Link Jira with AuditBoard to connect audit findings, remediation tasks, security issues, and project timelines. When an auditor flags a control weakness, the task pushes to Jira for assignment and tracking. Status updates flow back to AuditBoard automatically. No details slip through the cracks, and every fix is documented from finding to closure.

Azure DevOps

Azure DevOps tracks code changes, security issues, release cycles, and development projects. When you integrate with AuditBoard, code or configuration changes tied to audit requests sync automatically. Development and audit teams see the same updates. You keep an automated record of fixes, releases, and approvals that map back to specific audit controls.

AuditBoard's integrations do more than share data. They turn disconnected systems into a closed loop: security, IT infrastructure, and audit work from the same source of truth. Audit cycles get tighter, and evidence is always traceable. This means your teams spend more time implementing security measures against malware, not chasing paperwork.

Make security audits boring (in the best way)

Security audits shouldn’t drain your team or stall your priorities. When every document and update lives in one system, the usual panic disappears. Evidence stays organized. Requests move forward. Everyone contributes, and no one wonders what’s next.

AuditBoard gives you a stable, connected foundation. Automated workflows, real-time dashboards, and deep integrations let you spot risk before it grows. Instead of scrambling, your teams take control — inspection-ready, anytime.

Stop juggling spreadsheets and scattered tickets. See how AuditBoard can cut the chaos and give you the confidence that comes with true audit readiness. Request a demo and experience a better way to work.

About the authors

Christian Burich, CISA, is a Customer Success Manager at AuditBoard. Prior to joining AuditBoard, Christian spent 5 years in the IT Audit/GRC space, specializing in information technology audits, cyber security, SOX, and regulatory compliance. Connect with Christian on LinkedIn.