The guidelines set forth by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act indeed play a crucial role in maintaining the independence and neutrality of external auditors. By refraining from auditing their own work, avoiding any employment ties with the company, maintaining a distance from personnel relationships within the organization, and abstaining from contingent or commission-based fees, auditors uphold their objectivity and credibility. Are these measures truly enough to ensure absolute independence? Given the interconnected nature of businesses and the potential for influence or bias in various forms, how can external auditors adapt their practices to further fortify their impartiality? What additional strategies or protocols could be implemented to enhance the effectiveness of external audits and bolster stakeholders' trust in financial reporting