IT Audit’s Perspectives on the Top Technology Risks for 2021

Responses from the annual IT audit technology risks study conducted by ISACA and Protiviti reveal the top technology risk issues IT audit leaders and professionals are facing over the next 12 months, showing that risk related to security, privacy, cloud and advanced technologies are top-of-mind for organizations.

In this report, IT Audit’s Perspectives on the Top Technology Risks for 2021, ISACA and Protiviti present the results of their global research and offer commentary on these and other notable industry trends, explore what it means to be a Digital Leader, as well as address the impact of the COVID-19 global pandemic, broader digital transformation efforts and the technology risk assessment process.

Top Tech Risks for 2021

As organizations plan for the year ahead, the COVID-19 world has reshaped the landscape of technology risks. In September/October 2020, ISACA and Protiviti conducted a global survey of more than 7,400 IT audit leaders and professionals to obtain their perspectives on the top technology risks their organizations will face in 2021. Explore these in the new report and in this video.

Report Details

Blog Post

IT Audit Technology Risk: Knowns and Unknowns

Knowns and unknowns. In a game of word association, some may think of the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). It was an associate administrator from NASA’s Office of Safety and Mission Assurance who heightened awareness of known/unknown risks in a 2003 presentation on safety and mission success.

21 December 2020
White Paper

IT Audits Perspectives on the Top Tech Risks 2021 | Digital | English

The most significant technology risks for 2021 reflect our COVID-19 world and its impact on business conditions and priorities. What’s increasingly apparent is that more digitally mature organizations have a clear advantage.
Infographic

IT Audit’s Perspectives on the Top Technology Risks for 2021

According to the Annual ISACA/Protiviti Global Survey of IT Audit Leaders and Professionals, cybersecurity, privacy, data and resilience dominate the top technology challenges for organizations.

15 December 2020
Press Release

Security, Privacy, Cloud and Technology Resilience Dominate Top IT Audit Risks Expected for 2021

According to a new survey from Protiviti and ISACA, concerns around security, privacy, cloud and technology resilience are being further fueled by shifting business priorities, the pandemic-induced remote work environment, and accelerated deployment of new technologies.

15 December 2020
Webpage

IT Risk

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Key Findings

Security, Privacy, Cloud and Advanced Technologies Dominate the Top Technology Risks


These issues, which already were top-of-mind risks for most organizations, have been fueled further by pandemic-driven times of remote work and new business processes, as well as increasing connectivity via the Internet of Things. The highest-rated risks also represent higher-velocity issues for organizations.

Digital Leaders Stand Out


Organizations at a higher level of digital maturity generally view the top technology risks to be more significant compared to other organizations, and they are far more likely to perform technology audit risk assessments on a continuous basis, understanding the need for such a dynamic approach in the current business environment.

COVID-19 and Digital Transformation Are Influencing Technology Risk Assessments and Outlooks


As expected, IT audit groups, particularly those with Digital Leaders, are refreshing technology risk assessments more frequently in response to pandemic-related impacts and digital transformation-driven changes in the organization.