Key Takeaways:
- Manitoba’s Auditor General says the province’s monitoring of ageing computer software and hardware risks needs to be improved.
- According to the audit, the province does not have a complete inventory of its systems, and its risk assessment process is outdated.
The Auditor General of Manitoba says the province needs to improve its monitoring of aging computer software and hardware risks.
Auditor General Tyson Shtykalo said in a 36-page report released on Thursday that the Manitoba government is not identifying and managing the risks associated with operating older data systems.
Software, as well as hardware, are used to collect and share data in these systems. The province uses that hardware as well as software for things like fee payments, online registrations, and program applications, according to Shtykalo.
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“There’s been a real push in the last two years to make services accessible online, which only emphasizes the need to ensure the systems are in place,” Shtykalo said.
As these systems age, the technology may become obsolete, and fixes may become unavailable, increasing the risk of extended outages, decreased reliability, and security threats.
According to the audit, the province does not have a complete inventory of its systems, and the way it assesses risks is outdated.
“We noted in our report that the risk-analysis process they’re using is insufficient,” Shtykalo said.
Liberal Leader Dougald Lamont said the government should try to fix this as soon as possible.
“It’s a security risk, and it’s a risk to how we do business and work in government,” Lamont said.
The auditor makes eight recommendations. One of the primary points is that the government should improve its risk assessments to identify threats and take action to mitigate them.
The report includes a response to the recommendation from provincial officials. According to the report, management agrees with the recommendation in principle and is evaluating options, timing, and costs to develop a more comprehensive set of risk factors.
Source: CTV News
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