How are audit criteria defined?

Audit criteria are fundamentally defined as the set of standards against which evidence is compared during an audit. This provides a benchmark for evaluation, ensuring that the audit process is systematic and objective. By using established standards, auditors can assess whether an organization's processes, products, or services meet specific requirements or conform to relevant regulations and best practices.

In contrast, the specific outcomes expected from an audit, while important, are more about the goals of the audit rather than the criteria itself. The budget allocated for the audit process relates to financial planning and resource management, and the timeline established for conducting an audit pertains to scheduling and operational efficiency. These elements are relevant to the logistics of the audit but do not define the criteria by which the audit is conducted.