The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) is transforming audit practices with its pioneering Information Systems Audit Standards, launching from February 2026. Claiming to be the first accounting body worldwide with such a comprehensive structure, ICAI is equipping professionals to tackle the complexities of modern digital environments.
Comprising 11 standards and three overarching documents, these guidelines will start as recommendations before becoming compulsory. They eliminate fragmented IT audit approaches by clearly delineating assurance services, agreed procedures, and advisory roles, fostering discipline and uniformity.
‘This is the new blueprint for audits in the digital age,’ declared ICAI President Prasanna Kumar D. Highlighting the inclusion of cyber security and data protection, he noted how audits will now scrutinize IT infrastructure security, data integrity measures, and cyber risk mitigations—essential in an era of cloud-based ERP and automated workflows.
The framework rests on governance, risk management, controls, and compliance pillars, establishing clear foundational principles for IT audits. It covers IT governance, internal controls, cyber defenses, and digital safeguards, drawing from global best practices to make audit reports more insightful and decision-oriented.
ICAI’s innovation underscores its leadership, with tailored standards for cyber threats making reports highly relevant. This positions Indian chartered accountants at the forefront of international digital assurance standards.