How often should we run an AI audit?

Internal: at least quarterly, ideally continuously through automation. External: annually or whenever a major change happens (new high-risk system, acquisition, framework update). Certification bodies require annual surveillance audits.

How do I prepare for an AI audit?

Have a current AI inventory, a written AI policy, a risk register, evidence of monitoring, and a mapping from your internal controls to the framework being audited. Awan Agent produces all five automatically so audit prep takes hours instead of weeks.

Can I do an AI audit myself?

Yes, for an internal readiness check. No, for a certification or formal conformity assessment — those require an independent qualified auditor. Most teams do an internal audit first, fix the gaps, then bring in a third party.

BlogFAQ

What is an AI audit?

22 May 20264 min read

Two things get called 'AI audits.' Don't confuse them. An internal AI audit is a self-assessment your team runs to find gaps. An external AI audit is performed by a third party against a defined standard, usually for certification, regulatory filing or enterprise procurement.

What an AI audit examines

Scope varies by framework, but the recurring areas are consistent.

Governance — policies, named owners, escalation paths
Inventory — every AI system, vendor and dependency
Data — sources, consent, retention, residency
Model — testing, evaluation, bias, robustness
Vendor — third-party risk and contractual terms
Oversight — where humans review or override
Monitoring — production behaviour and incident response
Evidence — exportable records mapped to framework requirements

Who performs the audit

Three options, in order of cost and authority:

Internal team — quick, cheap, useful for finding gaps before anyone else does
Specialist consultancy — expensive but pragmatic; good before a real external audit
Accredited certification body — required for ISO 42001 certification or formal EU AI Act conformity assessment

Timeline and cost for best results

An internal audit on a small AI stack: 1–2 weeks of work for one person. A consultancy-led readiness audit: 4–8 weeks, $20k–$60k. A full external ISO 42001 audit: 6–12 weeks of audit activity, $25k–$50k in audit fees plus internal effort.