Which feature indicates effective preventive controls in continuous auditing?

Continuous monitoring is a feature that indicates effective preventive controls in continuous auditing because it allows organizations to assess and respond to risks and anomalies in real-time. By implementing continuous monitoring, auditors can evaluate controls on an ongoing basis rather than relying on periodic checks, which can allow vulnerabilities to go unaddressed for longer periods. This proactive approach helps in identifying control weaknesses as they occur, significantly reducing the likelihood of fraud or errors before they have a chance to impact the organization adversely.

Moreover, continuous monitoring enables the automation of control assessments, streamlining the auditing process and ensuring that any deviations from expected behavior are promptly flagged and mitigated. This ensures that preventive controls remain effective even as systems, processes, and risks evolve over time.