The state’s public information watchdog has gotten a slap on the wrist from state auditors for storing computer backup tapes at a manager’s personal residence.
The state’s Freedom of Information Commission’s job is to make sure the public can access public records. But in a report that covered fiscal years 2009 to 2011, state auditors found that unencrypted computer server backup tapes are stored at the personal residence of one of the commission’s managers. The report says the tapes included information about pending cases, and it raised concern that the data could be lost or compromised.
In its response, the commission concurred with the findings and said it will follow the recommendations of the auditors to put the tapes in a state-approved and secure off-site location. In its defense, the commission said this was a decision made long ago by a small entity trying to save money. It also said that the computer backups did not generally contain secure data.
