Information Technology Audit : Housing Authority

The National Audit Office (NAO) has issued an Audit Report on the overall operational effectiveness of the Information Technology (IT) and Information Systems (IS) currently being used by the Housing Authority.

One of the main aims of this Report was to collect and analyse evidence to determine whether the Housing Authority has in place the necessary controls to ensure that their IT and Information Systems maintain data integrity, safeguard assets, allow organisational goals to be achieved effectively and assist in making efficient use of the Housing Authority’s IT related resources.

During this audit, NAO reviewed 20 software applications presently used by the Authority as well as the entity’s website. This Report includes a number of key findings and recommendations related to, amongst other things, the need for a formally documented ICT strategy and improved system backup procedures in line with IT best practices. The NAO positively noted that the Authority is actively working toward issuing a tender for the procurement of an integrated estate management IT system. 

Furthermore, the NAO examined the Authority’s IT operations and made recommendations regarding the best use of existing multifunction printers as well as the need for improved management of the entity’s server’s memory space and for a formally documented data retention policy.

This Office also made recommendations related to information security. In this regards, NAO suggested that an IT business impact analysis and an IT risk assessment exercise is carried out so that an IT business continuity plan can be compiled.