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Audit Reports

Mar
26
2014
Report Number:
IT-AR-14-003
Report Type:
Audit Reports
Category: Technology

Fiscal Year 2013 Information Technology Internal Controls

BACKGROUND:

The Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006 requires the U.S. Postal Service to comply with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and make an assertion on the effectiveness of the internal control structure over financial reporting. We conducted this audit in support of the independent public accounting firm’s overall audit opinions on the Postal Service’s financial statements and internal controls over financial reporting.

The Information Technology system-level environment includes processes needed to administer, secure, and monitor key financial systems. Our objective was to evaluate and test key system-level internal controls over information systems.

WHAT THE OIG FOUND:

The system-level internal controls we tested were properly designed and generally operating effectively. For example, database software controls functioned properly when we tested password security settings and updates. However, we identified opportunities to strengthen certain controls, which would reduce the risk information technology resources would be compromised. Specifically, these improvements would help control owners better manage change management policies and job scheduling procedures.

Management also took corrective action to address eight additional issues identified during our audit. We also confirmed management took corrective actions to address 15 prior year issues and is currently remediating 12 other issues reported during fiscal years 2010 through 2012.

We discussed related causes and recommended actions to improve the control environments. The control weaknesses identified, alone or collectively, do not prevent reliance on system-level internal controls for accurate and timely financial reporting. Corrective actions can reduce the risk of a compromise that could harm the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information resources.

Report Recommendations

# Recommendation Status Value Initial Management Response USPS Proposed Resolution OIG Response Final Resolution
1

R - 1 -- Some or all of the recommendation is not publicly available due to concerns with information protected under the Freedom of Information Act.

Closed $0 Agree
2

R - 2 -- Some or all of the recommendation is not publicly available due to concerns with information protected under the Freedom of Information Act.

Closed $0 Agree
3

R - 3 -- Some or all of the recommendation is not publicly available due to concerns with information protected under the Freedom of Information Act.

Closed $0 Agree