93 Compliance help Concepts

Controls and the control matrix

For each requirement: the policy that covers it, the procedures that carry it out, and their runs in the period.

Concept
Control

A step in a procedure that checks something, shown as Check on a checklist. A control can require evidence, and can be kept apart from other steps so the same person can’t both do and check the work.

Requirement or risk
Policy that covers it
Procedures that carry it out
Runs in the period
with evidence

The control matrix is that chain for every item, with gaps flagged: a requirement with no policy, or a policy that no procedure carries out. Auditors see it in their portal under Controls, and it’s in the audit package. You can see the same view from Audits → Auditor’s view.

The control matrix in the auditor portal
  1. 1How many requirements have a policy, a procedure and runs behind them
  2. 2Sections: controls, policies, training, procedure runs, risks, vendors and systems
  3. 3A gap: the requirement has a policy but no procedure carries it out
  4. 4The same package the company downloads

Screens show Fernhollow Health, a made-up company we use for demos.

See a full example: an example control matrix.

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