Taking an IT Audit class- which of these topics would be the easiest to write about

I’m currently enrolled in an IT Audit class and need to write a 5-6 page term paper. I’m aiming for a topic that is manageable and won’t consume too much time for research. Here are some options I’m considering:

1. SOX Compliance Plan

Picture yourself in a privately held company preparing to go public in the next two years. As part of this transition, your organization will need to adhere to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX). The Internal Audit Department has been tasked with developing a compliance plan outlining the necessary financial and IT controls. This paper would cover the timeline for compliance, the essential controls to be implemented, testing procedures for both IT General Controls and Application Controls, and the legal obligations for SOX compliance from an IT perspective.

1. COBIT Framework

With the increasing importance of IT governance, COBIT (Control Objectives for Information and Related Technologies) stands out as a proven framework that enhances alignment between IT and business goals. If you were to conduct a COBIT assessment within an organization, you’d evaluate all four domains and 34 processes. Your paper could discuss how this assessment aids IT auditors and control professionals from an IT standpoint and how it contributes to better governance.

1. Digital Forensics Challenges

Digital forensics plays a crucial role in today’s corporate environment, particularly in investigations involving digital evidence. Writing from the perspective of a security consultant or IT auditor, you could explore the challenges faced during fraud examinations, the processes for gathering and preserving evidence, the importance of maintaining a chain of custody, and the lifecycle of digital evidence.

1. Disaster Recovery Planning in Banking

The banking sector has long recognized the value of IT, necessitating a proactive approach to disaster recovery. This paper could delve into threat and vulnerability assessments, business impact analyses, business continuity planning, affordability modeling, and IT disaster recovery processes, all tailored to meet the unique needs of financial institutions.

1. IT Risk Management Strategies

Effective risk management is paramount in IT, with many projects failing to deliver expected results amid increasing threats. Your paper could examine the key factors in risk identification, mitigation, acceptance, and analysis, along with the controls that should be implemented. Additionally, you could discuss effective risk management strategies organizations can adopt.

1. Segregation of Duties (SOD)

An essential aspect of internal control is the segregation of duties (SOD), which prevents a single individual from both committing and concealing errors or fraud. If tasked with evaluating SOD as an IT auditor, your paper could highlight the associated business risks and control mechanisms that improve the Audit process, emphasizing the importance of SOD from various perspectives.

1. Dodd-Frank Act Implications for IT Auditors

The Dodd-Frank Act, established to prevent economic crises like the one in 2007, spans over 2,700 pages. For IT auditors, this entails ensuring effective controls are in place for compliance. This term paper could provide an overview of the auditing tasks necessitated by Dodd-Frank regulations, noting its complexity and relevance to your future career in the field.

Which of these topics do you think might be the easiest for me to write about?