Ben Burkett (Partner | CPA, CISA, CISSP, CRISC, ISO 27001)

Ben Burkett is an experienced auditor for Linford & Co. Starting his career at KPMG in 2002, Ben has extensive experience in the business of Information Technology (IT). As an auditor, he drove IT risk management and compliance efforts.  As the head of an IT Project Management Office and a Technology Business Management (TBM) function, he sought to drive and maximize the value of IT.

ALL ARTICLES BY Ben Burkett:
The rise of AI Agents

The Rise of AI Agents: Transforming Business & Auditing in the Digital Age

AI agents are no longer a futuristic concept—they are actively reshaping business operations and revolutionizing auditing processes. Companies are leveraging these autonomous AI systems to automate workflows, enhance decision-making, and optimize security practices. But with rapid adoption comes significant challenges: compliance risks, ethical considerations, and security vulnerabilities that auditors must address. From customer service chatbots […]

ISO/IEC 42001:2023 - Guidance for AI System Management

ISO/IEC 42001:2023 & Its Influence on IT Security Assessments

Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a term; it plays a crucial role in driving innovation across many industries. However, effectively utilizing AI requires managing the risks associated with it. This is where ISO/IEC 42001:2023 steps in—a standard crafted to aid organizations in handling AI-related risks and guaranteeing the security, ethics, and reliability of their […]

BYOD policy guidance Linford & Co.

Key Considerations for Implementing a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) Program

In a post-COVID-shutdown world, hybrid and remote work has skyrocketed. Employee usage of personal devices, such as smartphones and tablets, for company work, is now commonplace and expected by employees. In many instances, employees can take advantage of the functionality of new smartphones to increase efficiency and productivity. Employees are happy because they get to […]

5 Common SOC 2 Myths

Myth Busting 5 Common SOC Audit Misconceptions

In the rapidly evolving landscape of technology services, companies are entrusted with handling sensitive client data. To ensure the security, availability, and integrity of this data, many executives consider undergoing a System and Organization Controls (SOC) audit. However, misconceptions surrounding SOC audits often cloud the decision-making process. So, what exactly is a SOC audit? In […]

AI security policy importance and insights

Enhancing Your Company’s AI Security Policy – Professional Insights

Although Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been around since the late 1950s, it has been out of the public’s attention. It wasn’t until late 2022 when Open AI released ChatGPT for public use that AI captured the public’s attention and renewed interest in the technology. Bloomberg predicts the AI market to explode from a $40 billion […]

AWS Security Monitoring Tools for Audit Compliance

Key AWS Monitoring Tools for Security & Audit Compliance – An Auditor’s Perspective

The cloud computing on-demand model of compute power, database, storage, applications, and other IT resources accomplishes a variety of tasks. It reduces barriers, creates flexibility, and increases speed to market. The benefits of the cloud mean that organizations must seriously consider the cloud to perform business. Whether your organization is new to the cloud or […]

An inside look at agile auditing

Agile Auditing from an Insider’s Perspective

Organizations are continuously challenged in preparing for and performing an audit. Audits are commonly performed in large blocks of effort and treated like a project. Significant time and resources are often allocated to audit projects. To make things more challenging, audits are often time-bound and must be completed by a specified date. Additionally, audits are […]

Do blockchain companies need SOC audits?

Blockchain Audits – Why Does Your Blockchain Need a SOC Audit?

Simply put, yes, blockchain companies should be audited. Many organizations rely on blockchain companies to perform key services in support of the user organization’s operations. Those services may include, but are not limited to, processing financial transactions, including crypto and Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs), sharing medical data, supply chain, and logistics monitoring, and administration and execution […]

Blockchain risks for SOC assessments

Risks of Blockchain on Service Organization Control (SOC) Assessments

Blockchain technology is changing the way businesses around the world operate and provide services. Blockchain is currently most known for its association with cryptocurrencies, most notably, Bitcoin. The use of blockchain extends beyond cryptocurrencies as use cases flourish and major companies invest in blockchain technology. With new integrations and solutions in development, blockchain will disrupt […]