Internal audits are not just about routine compliance—they are a powerful tool for proactively preparing your organization to navigate external audits with confidence. The discussion will explore strategies for using internal audits to maintain up-to-date intelligence on software usage, terms, and conditions, and to identify potential gaps in compliance before they escalate into costly issues. Internal audits also play a critical role in uncovering compliance risks not only from major vendors but also from smaller software providers that are often overlooked. Participants will examine how proactive audits can uncover shadow IT risks, validate data accuracy, and provide actionable insights to strengthen organizational defenses against aggressive publisher audits.