Regular audits are essential for which of the following purposes?

Regular audits are crucial for ensuring that only authorized changes have been made within an organization's systems and processes. This aspect of auditing is fundamental to maintaining security and compliance. By systematically reviewing changes—whether they pertain to configurations, access controls, or system updates—an organization can identify unauthorized modifications that may pose security risks.

Audits help verify that procedures are followed and that change management protocols are adhered to, which mitigate the potential for vulnerabilities introduced by unapproved or poorly executed changes. This process also supports accountability, as it allows organizations to trace actions back to individuals or processes, ensuring that all modifications are legitimate and authorized.

In contrast, the focus of checking software performance, reducing network congestion, or improving user interfaces does not align with the primary objectives of regular audits, which concentrate primarily on compliance, security integrity, and operational integrity through the control of changes made in the system.