Ongoing monitoring activities are generally performed as part of the recurring operational activity of the entity. They are distinguished from preventative and control activities in that they involve a level of analysis, review and focus on relationships and inconsistencies of underlying processes. For example, the routine tracking of students who took training and how that compares with the plan would be considered a control activity. The weekly review of how many students completed training and comparing that information with the certificates that were granted would be considered a monitoring activity.

Where appropriate, monitoring activities should be conducted in whole or in part by personnel who are not involved in conducting the day-to-day activity under evaluation. This may include supervisors or peer personnel who have a tangential relationship to the activities under evaluation.

Typical monitoring techniques include:
> reconciliation
> cross-referencing
> monitoring and analyzing logs