Preparing for a security or compliance audit doesn’t have to be a scramble. Whether you’re working toward SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, PCI, NIST, or another framework, having a structured plan makes all the difference between a smooth audit and a stressful one. This checklist from ZenGRC breaks the process down into five clear phases over 90 days — from initial discovery and evidence collection through gap remediation, pre-audit review, and audit week itself.
Each phase gives your team concrete, actionable steps: identifying framework scope, assigning control owners, mapping evidence, closing technical gaps, and briefing stakeholders before auditors arrive. Whether you’re going through your first audit or tightening up an existing compliance program, this week-by-week guide helps you stay organized, avoid last-minute surprises, and walk into audit week with confidence.