How would you define an assurance engagement? State the type of assurance engagement, then associate with external Auditing

Assurance engagement is primarily related to obtaining assurance based on samples from the population and it does not cover 100% areas therefore it is not a certificate and merely assurance engagement.
Assurance engagement may vary from external audit, internal audits and agreed upon procedures.
In terms of external audit assurance the process is more of legal or statutory requirement and as the stake holders are large in size for any external audit assignment, the process is standardized and carried out in lights of International Standards of Auditing (ISAs).

It is an engagement where a assurance provider (e.g. practitioner) provides assurance i.e. an opinion on responsible person to a intended user based on certain procedures performed by the practitioner.

Assurance engagements are of broadly2 types:

1) Internal Audit & Other Types of Assurance Services

2) External (Statutory) Audit

 

External audit is an assurance engagement which is governed by statute in which external auditor draws opinion on the truth and fairness of the financial statements based on the procedures performed according to the local laws prevailing in the country and International Standards of Auditing (ISAs).