By Four Sides Group Published
Implementing an access control system is only the beginning. Over time, companies accumulate registered users who no longer work there, forgotten permissions, lost credentials that were never reported and outdated configurations. Without regular audits, even the most robust system becomes an illusion of security.
Why audit
A system that is never audited tends to degrade:
- Former employees with credentials that are still active
- Accumulated permissions no one reviewed when people changed roles
- Lost cards that were never deactivated
- Areas with broader access than necessary
- "Temporary" credentials that became permanent
- Access policies that no longer reflect current operations
Each one is a security risk and a potential finding in compliance audits (ISO 27001, SOC 2, regulatory).
Recommended frequency by type of review
Daily / weekly: active monitoring
- Automatic alerts on unauthorized access attempts
- Review of the day's unusual events
- Verification that backup systems are working
Monthly: operational review
- User additions and removals for the period
- Credentials reported as lost
- After-hours events
- Areas with the most failed attempts
- Equipment availability
Quarterly: permissions audit
- Review of permissions by profile
- Verification that permissions are appropriate for each role
- Identification of "accumulated" permissions
- Policy adjustments where needed
Semiannual or annual: comprehensive audit
- Full review of the entire user base
- Validation against current payroll
- Review of area and schedule configuration
- Review of the access control policy
- Effectiveness testing
- Review of vendors and their access
- System backup and recovery
The 12 critical checkpointsWhat every audit should always review
1Active users vs. current payroll
Compare the list of users with active credentials against current payroll. Every user not on payroll is a finding.
2Permissions by profile vs. actual needs
People accumulate permissions over time. Check whether each person has the access their current role requires.
3Lost or unreturned credentials
When someone left, was their card collected? Were their biometrics removed? Was their app access revoked?
4Visitor and contractor access
Temporary access is often left active by mistake. Check that an expiration date is defined and still valid.
5Authorized schedules vs. actual use
Access outside expected hours may point to a problem or a special project. Investigate.
6Areas and access levels
Does each area restrict access to the right people? Are sensitive areas too widely accessible? Are there obsolete areas?
7Equipment availability and status
Readers, controllers, cameras and turnstiles in working order. Offline equipment creates security gaps.
8Connections to other systems
Is it synchronized with payroll, HR and attendance? Sync gaps produce "former employees with active access."
9Logs and backups
Are event logs being stored correctly? Are there backups? How long are they retained? Traceability without backups is an illusion.
10Documented, up-to-date policies
The policy must be documented, approved and current. A missing or outdated policy is a finding.
11Team training
Responsible staff must know the procedures. Turnover without effective training is a source of failures.
12Contingency plans
Response plans for equipment failures, fires and loss of connectivity, documented and tested.
How to document findings
An audit without formal documentation is just a conversation. Every audit should produce:
Executive report
A summary of findings, identified risks and recommendations that leadership can read in 5-10 minutes.
Detailed findings
Each finding with a clear description, evidence, risk level (high/medium/low), recommended fix, suggested owner and recommended deadline.
Action plan
A consolidated list with owners and dates: an operational document that gets reviewed in subsequent audits.
Evidence of closure
When an action is completed, document how it was resolved and what evidence proves it is closed.
Tools that make auditing easier
A modern system should include reports designed for auditing:
- Active vs. inactive users report
- Permissions by profile report
- After-hours access report
- Offline equipment report
- Events by period report
- Full export for external analysis
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to audit if I'm a small company?
Yes, although the scope can be lighter. Even at small companies, improperly registered users are a real problem. A light semiannual audit is enough.
Can I do the audit myself?
It depends on the level of independence required. Internal audits are valid for operational improvement. For compliance with standards or certifications, an external auditor is often required.
How long does a full audit take?
A comprehensive annual audit at a mid-size company takes 2-5 days. It's faster if the system has automated reports, and much slower if everything is manual.
Which regulatory frameworks require audits?
ISO 27001, SOC 2, PCI-DSS, HIPAA and banking regulations. If you operate under any of them, auditing is not optional.
What if we find serious issues?
They're prioritized and remediated through an accelerated action plan. Documenting findings and how they were closed matters more than never having any.
Conclusion
An access control audit isn't a once-a-year formality. It's an ongoing mechanism that keeps the system aligned with operational reality. It catches problems before they turn into incidents and keeps your initial investment generating value.
Does your system produce the reports you need for audits?
We build access control systems with complete audit and traceability modules
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