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129024 1 (1986-01-01)

handle is hein.gao/gaobacvtu0001 and id is 1 raw text is: r. I The use of micros in business is increasing at an astounding rate as managers, clerks, and office workers enter the information age. Many tasks that were considered too small to automate on the company mainframe are now done with micros. But with computing power at everyone's finger- tips, auditors and management must deal with the risks and exposures of micro use. he security problems involved with micros are many, but man- agement has audit methods and tools available to solve them. The first step is to identiy audit prob- lems, after which auditors and management must implement the necessary counter- measures Audit problems with micros Micros are vulnerable to risks of three major types: * Physical security of hardware * Physical security of data and software * Data integrity To establish a secure micro environment, plan- ners must address each of these problem types with the appropriate strategies and equipment. Physical security of hardware Although micros pose unique hardware se- cunty problems, their solutions are relatively simple, requiring little more than good business sense. Theft. Micros represent a large investment in small, often portable, packages that are easy to steal. Modular design adds further risks; for example. a half-height disk drive module can be hidden in a bnefcase. Many micros have re- movable circuit cards and memory clips that could disappear just as easily. Employees may steal micro components because they have sim- ilar computers at home and want compatible equipment. With computing power at everyone's fingertips, auditors and management must deal with the risks and exposures of micro use. A micro used at a single workstation can be secured to the workstation or locked in a cabi- net specifically designed to house a micro Also available are rolling, lockable cabinets that al- low the unit to be used in different areas Al- though these measures do not eliminate the possibility of theft. they do reduce ask. A small investment in theft deterrence often provides adequate protection Damage. Portable micros must be moni- tored closely because they are most often used away from the office Users of such equipment should be instructed in its proper care Prob- lems can stem from heat, vibration, or shock. heat damage, for example, can occur if a micro is stored in the trunk of a car on a hot day. Some computers have a routine that must be followed before they can be relocated. This rou- O)_-L A4D 2? K Winter 1986 49 129024 Microcomputer Security: Audit Problems and Solutions Frederick Gallegos and Daniel Basica

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