What is one common type of audit conducted to ensure compliance with standards?

A compliance audit is specifically designed to evaluate whether an organization is adhering to regulatory guidelines or company policies and standards. This type of audit typically checks how well a company is following laws, regulations, and its own internal practices, ensuring that it remains compliant with external requirements and internal governance.

Conducting a compliance audit is crucial for organizations to detect areas of non-compliance, which may lead to penalties, legal issues, or damage to reputation. It often involves reviewing documentation, interviewing employees, and observing processes to assess adherence to the specified standards. This focus on compliance allows organizations to take corrective action where necessary, ultimately promoting accountability and fostering a culture of integrity.

In contrast, other types of audits such as management audits tend to focus on evaluating the performance and efficiency of management processes, while risk assessment audits are directed at identifying and analyzing risks within an organization. Evaluation audits might assess the overall effectiveness of programs or operations but do not specifically target compliance with established standards. Thus, the compliance audit stands out as the most fitting choice for the query regarding ensuring adherence to standards.