Complying with Service Level Agreements: Validating ISP Compliance
Which of the following reports is the MOST appropriate source of information for an IS auditor to validate that an Internet service provider (ISP) has been complying with an enterprise service level agreement (SLA) for the availability of outsourced telecommunication services?
A. Downtime reports on the telecommunication services generated by the ISP
B. A utilization report of automatic failover services generated by the enterprise
C. A bandwidth utilization report provided by the ISP
D. Downtime reports on the telecommunication services generated by the enterprise
Answer:
Option D: Downtime reports on the telecommunication services generated by the enterprise.
In validating the compliance of an Internet service provider (ISP) with an enterprise service level agreement (SLA) for outsourced telecommunication services, the most appropriate source of information for an IS auditor is the downtime reports on the telecommunication services generated by the enterprise.
These reports offer crucial insights into any downtime or outages experienced by the telecommunication services outsourced to the ISP. By analyzing these reports, the IS auditor can ascertain whether the ISP has been meeting the availability requirements outlined in the SLA.
Reviewing the downtime reports from the enterprise provides a direct and accurate depiction of the actual performance of the outsourced telecommunication services. This information is essential for ensuring that the ISP is fulfilling its obligations as per the SLA.
It is imperative for IS auditors to rely on data directly generated by the enterprise to validate compliance with SLAs, as it offers a comprehensive understanding of the service provider's performance. By utilizing downtime reports, auditors can effectively monitor and assess the ISP's adherence to the agreed-upon service levels and take necessary actions if discrepancies are identified.