IT compliance for publicly owned companies is a continual effort. To comply with SOX laws on corporate operations, the IT auditor must assure that internal controls operate effectively. They must uphold the quality and integrity of information that is generated by corporate IT systems. They must be sure that IT systems also comply with SOX requirements. Best practices for IT compliance will protect security from threats, stop abuse by authorized or unauthorized users and protect against a host of other potential problems.

Compliance in the area of intelligent technology in a corporation needs to be constantly upgraded and watched for compliance effectiveness. Employees who abuse the IT access privileges may try to perform certain operations they are not approved to perform. Accidental errors due to mistakes in use may occur. Outsiders may tamper with the IT system and try to obtain access.

Technical glitches and attacks may affect the IT systems. There may be communication loss or data destruction. There could be a computer virus that alters data or shuts down the system. Deliberate attacks might occur from corporate spies, hackers, terrorist and others who wish to disrupt the corporation or its data storehouse.

Naturally occurring disasters like fire, flood, power loss, and failures or crashes would take down an IT system. Computers could be stolen or destroyed. Data may be successfully accessed by an unauthorized outsider.

IT compliance to government laws and regulations covers these possibilities and lays a framework for preventing corporate data losses. IT auditors use software to track IT systems and employee access and use. The goal is to reduce vulnerability or harm, and keep the probability of occurrences at a minimum. Controls are used to mitigate risk.

For best practices in the area of IT compliance, the corporation IT auditors use modern technology and systems to watch over all these areas of potential problems. The accuracy of data in publicly held organizations and corporations must be verified, protected and kept pure. Any deviation would impact the public trust of the corporation, present false data, and subject employees and the business to criminal or civil charges.