Which of the following best describes what is meant by "audit evidence"?

Audit evidence encompasses all the information collected that supports the findings of an audit. This includes not only documentation and records but also observations, interview responses, and any other relevant data collected during the audit process. The goal of audit evidence is to provide a factual basis for the auditor's conclusions, ensuring that they are grounded in verifiable information rather than subjective opinions or isolated documents.

For example, during an ISO/IEC 27001 audit, evidence might include policies, procedures, logs, records of incidents, and management interviews. Each piece of evidence serves to support the auditor's assessments about the organization's adherence to the standards and effectiveness of its information security management system.

The other choices are too narrow in their definitions. Merely focusing on documentation excludes many other relevant pieces of information, while limiting evidence to management opinions or information collected by external parties doesn’t capture the comprehensive scope required to substantiate audit findings adequately.