Prevent Missing Evidence Issues by Ensuring Your Evidence Aligns with the Audit Window
Introduction
A common mistake organizations make is entering an audit window only to realize that evidence uploaded before the window won’t count unless the relevant date is updated. If the relevant date isn’t adjusted, the control will appear as if no evidence was provided, which could lead to unnecessary compliance gaps.
The relevant date determines when a piece of evidence is considered applicable within an audit window—the period from which auditors select evidence. By default, when evidence is uploaded, it is assigned the date of upload. However, there are situations where you may need to adjust this date:
- Backdate evidence to reflect when the event actually occurred.
- Future-date evidence so it remains relevant when the audit period begins.
Updating the relevant date ensures that Trustero’s GRC AI and auditors correctly interpret evidence within the appropriate timeframe and that controls don’t mistakenly appear as missing required evidence.
Why the Relevant Date Matters
Auditors only accept evidence that falls within the audit window—the period during which compliance must be demonstrated.
- If your audit starts on January 15, then evidence dated January 14 or earlier will not be counted, making it look like no evidence was provided.
- If your audit ends on March 31, then evidence dated April 1 or later is not relevant for that audit.
By correctly setting the relevant date, you ensure that controls always reflect the required evidence, avoiding gaps that could raise compliance concerns.
Visual Example: Evidence must align with the audit window to be considered valid. The relevant date can differ from the upload date depending on when the evidence was created or intended to apply.
How to Change the Relevant Date
Steps to Edit the Relevant Date
- Open the evidence in your Trustero account.
- Click on the date field displayed in the evidence modal.
- Select a new relevant date that aligns with the audit window.
- Click Save—the updated date will now be displayed in the evidence list within the control.
When to Adjust the Relevant Date
- You uploaded evidence before the audit window. Backdate it to when the evidence was valid so the control does not appear as missing evidence.
- You want to pre-load evidence before an audit starts. Future-date it so it remains relevant when the audit window begins.
- You need to correct an incorrect date on previously uploaded evidence.
By keeping relevant dates accurate, you ensure that the internal audit team, GRC AI checks, and external auditors see a fully compliant set of controls, avoiding unnecessary findings or compliance concerns.