What is an audit primarily aimed at doing?

An audit is primarily aimed at obtaining evidence to evaluate compliance with ISO standards. The essence of an audit lies in its systematic examination of policies, procedures, and controls to ensure that they conform to the requirements set forth by specific standards, such as ISO 27001 for information security management systems. This involves collecting objective evidence through various methods, including interviews, document reviews, and observations, to determine whether the organization's processes align with established criteria.

The focus of an audit is not on creating new company policies, as that typically falls under the purview of management or governance. While training employees about ISO requirements is vital for compliance and awareness, it is not the primary goal of an audit. Audits are assessments, not training sessions. Similarly, evaluating the effectiveness of marketing strategies serves a different purpose and is outside the scope of an audit aimed at compliance with ISO standards. Thus, obtaining evidence to evaluate compliance is central to an audit's role in maintaining and improving the standards within an organization.