What is a key objective of monitoring information systems control effectiveness?

A key objective of monitoring the effectiveness of information systems controls is to ensure that legal obligations are satisfied. This involves continuously assessing the performance of security controls to confirm they are effective in mitigating risks and complying with relevant laws and regulations. Organizations face various legal obligations concerning data protection, privacy, and cybersecurity that must be met to avoid penalties and reputational damage.

By monitoring control effectiveness, organizations can identify areas where controls may fall short in meeting these obligations, and take corrective actions to enhance compliance. This monitoring may include reviewing audit logs, conducting regular assessments, and analyzing reports to ensure that all legal and regulatory requirements are being adequately addressed by existing controls.

While designing security controls for external audits, creating information security policies for third parties, and identifying applicable legal obligations are important tasks, they do not specifically focus on the ongoing evaluation and assurance of controls' effectiveness in relation to legal compliance. Thus, ensuring legal obligations are satisfied aligns directly with the objective of monitoring the effectiveness of information systems controls.