Performing onsite testing from home | Assure UK

Like many others, government guidelines over the past year, have meant many of our team have been working from home. We wanted to update you on the measures Assure UK have implemented to ensure we continue to provide you maximum assurance on your internal controls. We understand that completing onsite testing is very important. Therefore throughout Covid-19, we endeavored to put in processes that allow for a quick easy transition to online assessments.

What Changes Have Assure UK made?

At Assure UK we recognise that homeworking doesn’t necessarily mean more availability, if anything, work life seems busier than ever! To address this we have ensured you are notified well ahead of the proposed meeting.  We provide you with the materials and guidance for the requirements of the online testing in advance, to allow extra time for preparation and collation of relevant documents.

At the beginning of an assurance project, we would usually provide an evidence list including the control wording evidence required, highlighting key observations, and testing to be completed onsite at your premises. We have now adapted our evidence list to cover various stages of the project. You will  receive a specific walkthrough and online testing   evidence list at  kick off allowing all involved in the project to ensure availability for meetings to be scheduled within agreed deadlines.

With the onset of home working, we quickly implemented Microsoft Teams into our daily routine, to ensure we have the ability to perform our usual testing requirements virtually. Microsoft Teams is an application allowing collaboration internally and externally through video conferencing, voice conversation and messenger. We believe Microsoft Teams has been essential in being able to provide you with our full attention, allowing testing to be complete in line with agreed deadlines.

Teams screensharing functionality has allowed clients to perform traditional walkthroughs.  In fact,  the ability to take screenshots throughout as evidence, means we can complete controls faster than ever without the requirement of the client spending additional time collating evidence. Teams enforces two-factor authentication and encryption of data in transit and rest, allowing you to provide relevant documents throughout the testing without the need of any further evidence lists and chasing.

If you would like to learn more about assurance reporting and our ability to perform remote testing, please contact us on 020 7112 8300 alternatively you can email info@assureuk.co.uk.