What does a negative observation indicate during an audit?

A negative observation during an audit indicates the identification of potential nonconformities. This means that during the audit process, the auditor has found issues or discrepancies that deviate from the established criteria, standards, or policies. Such findings are essential as they highlight areas needing corrective action or improvement within the organization's processes.

The identification of potential nonconformities provides a foundation for a deeper investigation into the underlying causes and enables the organization to address these issues proactively. This helps to enhance the effectiveness of the organization's information security management system (ISMS) and fosters continuous improvement, which is a core principle of ISO 27001.

In contrast, other responses such as finding no deviations or claiming effective compliance would indicate a positive observation, suggesting that processes are being followed as intended without any issues. An opportunity for training does not directly align with the idea of a negative observation, as it focuses on enhancing employee skills rather than addressing discrepancies in compliance.