Audit evidence for SOPs

When someone asks whether the procedure was current, you need evidence, not a memory.

In an audit, an investigation, or a claim, the question is simple: what did the SOP say, was it current, and who approved it? Without a record, the answer is a shrug.

People moveOwners and contacts transfer or leave
Sites changeDoors, posts, and systems are reconfigured
No ownerWith no owner and no date, drift is invisible
The essentials

What audit evidence for sops requires.

01

What it said

The exact version in force at a given date.

02

When it was reviewed

A dated record of the last review.

03

Who owned it

The accountable person at the time.

04

What changed

The history of edits and why.

05

Who approved

The approval behind each version.

06

What risk closed

The gap the SOP was meant to address.

Why it matters

Diligence you cannot show is diligence you cannot prove.

The work may have been done, but if there is no dated record of review, ownership, and approval, there is nothing to put in front of an auditor or a court.

Statusexample
!
No record of last review
NO EVIDENCE
!
Cannot show which version was live
UNKNOWN
Dated review and owner on file
ON RECORD
Full approval history retained
DEFENSIBLE
Common questions

Frequently asked questions.

What counts as audit evidence for SOPs?

A dated record of what the SOP said, when it was reviewed, who owned it, what changed, who approved it, and what risk it addressed.

Why is SOP audit evidence important?

In audits, investigations, and negligent-security claims, the record of diligence is what protects the organization.

How does SOP Live create audit evidence?

SOP Live keeps dated review records, ownership, change history, and approvals for every SOP. This is general information, not legal advice.

See it on one of your own SOPs.

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