An audit by the New York State Comptroller’s Office revealed that the Office of Information Technology Services (ITS) lost track of thousands of computers and tech devices due to poor inventory management.
Auditors discovered that 924 nearly new or lightly used computers, worth at least $530,000, had been marked for disposal despite being fully functional. Additionally, the agency, which oversees the state’s inventory of laptops, printers, and mobile devices, was found to have weak security measures and no proper system. Among the key issues highlighted in the audit were missing equipment and an inadequate inventory-tracking software system.
The comptroller’s office also accused the technology office of obstructing the audit process. For seven months, auditors faced restrictions on accessing records and speaking with key personnel. When information was finally provided, some of it had been altered, particularly the IT Service Management workstation inventory data.
After an initial audit report, the agency showed noticeable improvement in providing information and streamlining communication. However, concerns remained regarding stockroom security, as devices stored in over 80 locations across the state were often left in unsecured common areas accessible to other state employees.
In response to the audit’s findings, the agency stated it is taking the concerns seriously and is working to implement improvements, such as creating standardized stockroom policies and performing regular security checks. ITS spokesperson Scott Reif defended the agency, emphasizing that strong security controls are already in place to protect state assets. He also highlighted the establishment of a new IT Asset Management Team to oversee state-owned devices more closely.
Meanwhile, according to Chief Technology Officer Dru Rai, the agency is set to receive an additional $174 million in funding this year, which will help expand its workforce by 295 employees.
The technology office has also been caught up in an ongoing investigation into whether employees from two dozen private IT companies contracted by the state had falsified residency documents while granted access to sensitive government data.
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