Enterprise compliance teams are increasingly focused on raising the bar for their compliance strategy. Between a desire to pursue additional frameworks and grow their business, compliance professionals are piecing together the puzzle of a successful comprehensive compliance strategy. Audit quality is emerging as a key piece of this puzzle. 

Quality is key to a well-run compliance program. It’s intrinsically connected to an organization’s business deals, financial investment, and most importantly, its reputation. Enterprise organizations are uniquely challenged to maintain a high level of quality throughout their often complex compliance strategies. 

A-LIGN’s 2026 Compliance Benchmark Report found that 83% of respondents can spot the difference between low- and high-quality variations in auditors, suggesting that compliance professionals are attuned to what makes up a quality audit report and experience. The importance of quality isn’t fading. In fact, according to the report, 80% of respondents say the quality of a compliance report is extremely important, up from 70% in 2025.  

Why is maintaining quality important? And why should enterprise organizations take it seriously? Read on to learn: 

• Why quality is important to a successful compliance strategy 
• What is (and isn’t) quality during the audit experience and final report 
• How to pick a high-quality audit partner 

Why is audit quality important? 

More than half of all respondents to the 2026 Compliance Benchmark Report have had a vendor or prospect reject a report. There are many paths organizations might’ve taken to find themselves in this situation, but it’s most often due to selecting a budget auditor. 

The most common reasons vendors or prospects reject reports include: 

• Incomplete or missing documentation 
• Insufficient testing of controls 
• Lack of additional findings 
• Report was too templated and lacked relevant and appropriate insights 
• Lack of trust in auditor reputation 

It might seem like no big deal at first glance, but rejected reports have real consequences. The actual cost of a cheap audit can include lost business, costly remediation, or even worse, a weakened reputation if you experience a breach. 

Particularly for enterprise businesses, your reputation is everything. While you may be able to afford the loss of a customer, the damage a cybersecurity incident will cause is almost irreparable. 

Defining audit quality 

How do you distinguish between high- and low-quality audits? The definition of quality will vary depending on who you talk to, but there are a few factors that make up a high-quality audit experience and final report: 

Audit experience  

Auditor experience  
A trustworthy auditor has plenty of experience working in your chosen framework and its related regulations/guidance. Certifications and accreditations from reputable bodies also demonstrate an auditor’s experience. 

Technology  
Technology helps your auditor do their job better and opens lines of communication between the two of you. Whether it’s a partnership with a GRC/readiness tool or an in-house solution, technology is foundational to a high-quality audit experience. 

Experience with similar companies  
Particularly for enterprise organizations, experience with similar companies is key. Enterprise compliance strategies are complex and require high attention to detail and the ability to assess business priorities and streamline accordingly.  

Final report  

Depth and specificity of each control  
Thorough testing of controls is a crucial part of the audit process and demonstrates a rigorous, credible audit that holds up to customer requests to demonstrate compliance.  

Relevance and customization of report  
Cookie-cutter reports won’t suffice, especially at a high-performing enterprise organization. A high-quality report will provide custom recommendations and results. 

Demonstration of risk mitigation  
Compliance is an ongoing mission, and your final report should include recommendations for your organization to work through to strengthen your security posture. 

Discerning low-quality audits 

Though the definition of a high-quality audit may fluctuate depending on who you talk to, spotting a low-quality audit is straightforward. The traits that make up a low-quality audit include: 

Poor response time  
An experienced auditor will have defined check-ins and quick responses to questions. Poor response time indicates a low level of audit expertise and an inability to form relationships, two key elements of a successful audit. 

Outdated processes  
Technology drives efficiency and empowers auditors to conduct the best possible audit. A refusal to adopt methods that streamline the audit process demonstrates a lack of care for your bottom line. Technology empowers auditors to work quicker and reduce costs and time for your business. 

Insufficient references  
Auditors that have successful, quality audit cycles will always have customers who will advocate for them. If an auditor can supply happy customers or case studies, it’s a red flag. This potential partner might now be providing their customers with a quality experience or final report. 

Limited experience  
It’s tempting to go with an auditor that has lower rates and less experience. But this could lead to a report from an unaccredited certification body or vulnerabilities left exposed by an inexperienced audit team. 

Templatized reports 
Your final report should be personalized to your organization with actionable recommendations. Surface-level, templatized reports could belong to anyone and won’t help your organization improve its security posture. 

How to pick a high-quality audit partner 

It can be tough to cut through the noise and select an audit partner that will provide your organization with the best possible report and audit experience. But there are some questions you can ask to separate the pack. For a complete list of questions to ask, check out our Quality Checklist. 

Questions to ask a potential audit partner: 

• Which accreditations and certifications does your organization hold? 

• Do you have experience with customers my size? In my industry? 
• How many auditors do you have? 
• Can you provide references and case studies from satisfied customers? 
• How often are your reports rejected by external vendors? 
• How do you help clients streamline the process? 
• What kinds of technology do you have experience working with? 
• How involved will our team be in the process? 
• Will we have regular check-ins? How frequently? 

Why A-LIGN 

A-LIGN is the leading cybersecurity compliance partner, trusted by more than 6,400 organizations worldwide. Our organization is accredited by top certification bodies and has industry-leading auditor retention, allowing our auditors to hold a deep understanding of frameworks and your business. The A-LIGN difference is: 

• 36k+ audits completed  
• 96% customer satisfaction rating  
• 6.4k+ global clients  
• 400+ auditors globally 

With A-LIGN, you can achieve your compliance goals with confidence and earn a report that your buyers can trust, with support from technology that streamlines the process. Ready to get started? Contact us today.