Improvements Needed in General Automated Data Processing Controls at the National Finance Center
AFMD-85-38
Published: Jul 12, 1985. Publicly Released: Jul 12, 1985.
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Highlights
GAO reviewed the adequacy of selected general automatic data processing (ADP) controls at the Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Finance Center (NFC).
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Agriculture | The Secretary of Agriculture should direct the NFC Director to report quarterly to the Assistant Secretary for Administration on the status of efforts to develop and implement contingency plans consistent with Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-71, Federal Property Management Regulation 101-35.3 requirements, and Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) guidelines to ensure prompt recovery and restoration of NFC operations in case of a disaster or other unexpected events. |
The NFC Director will report to the OFM Director, not the Assistant Secretary for Administration. An alternate processing site will be selected in April or May of 1986. Some software tests have occurred and problems are being discovered.
|
| Department of Agriculture | The Secretary of Agriculture should direct the NFC Director to report quarterly to the Assistant Secretary for Administration on the status of efforts to develop and implement program documentation standards and procedures consistent with FIPS guidelines. |
The NFC Director will report to the OFM Director, not the Assistant Secretary for Administration. Standards were developed, dated August 15, 1985, which addressed issues raised during the audit.
|
| Department of Agriculture | The Secretary of Agriculture should direct the NFC Director to report quarterly to the Assistant Secretary for Administration on the status of efforts to develop and implement a system certification schedule for all NFC systems, consistent with OMB Circular A-71, which would include review of the adequacy of program documentation. |
The NFC Director will report to the OFM Director, not the Assistant Secretary for Administration. The systems for payroll and personnel are completed. All other systems are in the 5-year plan for review. Work is presently on-going.
|
| Department of Agriculture | The Secretary of Agriculture should direct the NFC Director to report quarterly to the Assistant Secretary for Administration on the status of efforts to develop and implement independent testing standards and procedures for both program changes and new programs. |
The NFC Director will report to the OFM Director, not the Assistant Secretary for Administration. The standards of procedures being used were observed.
|
| Department of Agriculture | The Secretary of Agriculture should direct the NFC Director to report quarterly to the Assistant Secretary for Administration on the status of efforts to develop and implement procedures that would allow programmers access to production programs only when circumstances warrant and on a controlled basis. |
The NFC Director will report to the OFM Director, not the Assistant Secretary for Administration. Software problems in application have created difficulties. Access has been restricted to all persons within a branch; however, stricter controls are needed.
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Full Report
Topics
Computer backupsDisaster recoveryComputer securityElectronic data processingFederal agency accounting systemsInformation systemsInternal controlsSystems managementFederal Information Processing StandardsData processing