The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) updated their three lines of defense model in 2020 to reflect the need for aligned assurance from various areas of a company. Which of the following is the best definition of aligned assurance?
A) Aligned assurance focuses on ensuring that the second and third lines of defense are working cohesively to provide appropriate coverage over a company's risks.
B) Aligned assurance is the systematic and independent review of data, information, records, and operations of a business to provide assurance of the effectiveness of internal controls and efficiency of processes.
C) Aligned assurance evaluates whether the financial statements of the audited company are free from material misstatements and are presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting standards.
D) Aligned assurance employs rigorous independence checks to ensure that their opinions will be unbiased and that they do not have inappropriate ties to the client.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Aligned assurance emphasizes the collaboration and coordination between the different lines of defense within an organization to ensure comprehensive risk coverage and control effectiveness, rather than focusing solely on independent reviews, financial statement accuracy, or independence checks.

The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) Updated Their Three Lines