Which technique is most useful for accessing and analyzing digital data for audit evidence collection?

The most suitable technique for accessing and analyzing digital data for audit evidence collection is computer-assisted auditing techniques (CAATs). CAATs encompass a variety of software tools and methodologies that enable auditors to efficiently analyze large volumes of data and extract valuable insights necessary for verifying financial statements and operational effectiveness.

Using CAATs allows auditors to automate the process of collecting evidence, gaining access to data directly from systems, and performing analyses that would be impractical to conduct manually. This not only increases the accuracy of audit results but also enhances the auditors' ability to detect anomalies, trends, and patterns within the data more effectively than traditional methods. Furthermore, CAATs can apply to various data sources, making them versatile for different auditing environments and needs.

While other options like Structured Query Language (SQL) can be vital for querying databases, and application software reports can provide important information, they do not inherently provide the breadth of functionalities designed specifically for audit tasks that CAATs do. Data analytics controls focus on safeguarding data analytics processes rather than the actual extraction and analysis required for audit evidence collection. Therefore, CAATs stand out as the most comprehensive and efficient choice for auditors seeking to gather evidence from digital data sources.