Audit right

Définition

An audit right entitles one party, usually the client, to inspect the other party's records, systems or processes to verify compliance with the contract, pricing, quality or data-protection obligations. Contracts define the scope, frequency, notice period, confidentiality safeguards and who bears the cost. In data-processing contexts the right also supports the controller's oversight duties under GDPR Article 28.

Exemple

The client may audit the supplier's billing records once a year on thirty days' written notice, bearing its own audit costs.

Pourquoi c'est un risque pour l'entreprise

An audit right without a clear exercise procedure is difficult to enforce. Suppliers who resist audits or impose unreasonable conditions can effectively nullify the right. Equally, an unlimited or poorly scoped audit right can disrupt a supplier's operations and damage the relationship. The risk is compounded in data-processing contexts, where the controller's failure to audit can itself be a GDPR compliance gap.

Comment le gérer

• Define the audit scope precisely: which records, systems or sites are in scope, and which are excluded as commercially sensitive or unrelated to the contract.
• Fix the notice period, frequency and permitted auditor (in-house or independent) so the supplier can prepare without undue disruption.
• Include a confidentiality obligation for audit findings and restrict who within the client organisation can access the results.
• Track annual audit windows as a contract milestone so the right is exercised before it lapses for that year.
• For data-processing agreements, calendar the GDPR Article 28 audit right separately alongside the data-protection review cycle.

Références juridiques

• GDPR Art. 28 GDPR: processor obligations and audits Droit de l'UE

Sauf mention contraire, les références renvoient au droit néerlandais (Burgerlijk Wetboek, le Code civil néerlandais) ; les instruments de l'UE tels que le RGPD s'appliquent dans toute l'UE. Il s'agit d'informations générales, pas de conseils juridiques. D'autres juridictions traitent ces concepts différemment. Vérifiez le texte en vigueur et votre situation avec un avocat qualifié.