During an audit, which situation is MOST concerning for an organization that outsources IS processing to a private network?

The most concerning situation for an organization that outsources information systems processing to a private network is the absence of a right-to-audit clause in the contract with the third party. This clause is critical because it provides the organization with the necessary legal framework to conduct audits on the vendor's processes, controls, and compliance with agreed-upon standards.

Without the right-to-audit clause, the organization loses visibility and assurance over the third party's operations. This can lead to increased risks and potential vulnerabilities since the organization may not be able to verify that the third party is adhering to compliance requirements, security protocols, or quality standards. The lack of this clause means that the organization cannot independently assess risk, security controls, or the reliability of the services being provided, effectively limiting their ability to manage and mitigate potential threats effectively.

While other factors such as contract review, board approval of outsourcing guidelines, and performance evaluation procedures are important, they do not directly affect the organization's ability to audit or ensure compliance with security and operational standards from a third-party service provider as critically as the right-to-audit clause does.