During a combined audit, if an auditor identifies a finding linked to one criterion, should...

In combined audits (e.g., when ISO/IEC 42001 is audited alongside ISO/IEC 27001, ISO 9001, etc.), findings in one management system may affect others. ISO 19011:2018 Clause 5.5.5 recommends that auditors take a holistic view and evaluate how a finding in one standard may influence conformity with another standard — especially where there are shared or overlapping requirements (e.g., risk management, data governance, etc.).

This approach supports better integration, reduces duplication, and ensures comprehensive risk mitigation across systems.