- Office of the State Auditor
Media Contact for Audit Shows Need for Improved Monitoring of IT Contracts at Executive Office of Education
Noah Futterman
Boston — State Auditor Suzanne M. Bump today released an audit of the Executive Office of Education (EOE) that assessed the agency’s information technology (IT) contracts. The audit, which examined the period of July 1, 2016 through June 30, 2018, revealed the need for EOE to improve the administration of IT contracts to ensure vendors meet performance standards and adhere to essential security provisions. EOE manages IT contracts and services for the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC), the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), and the Department of Higher Education (DHE).
“As more and more of the work of the Executive Office of Education involves the use of technology, it would be well-advised to take steps to hold IT contractors accountable for effectively delivering services while reducing security risks,” Bump said. “It’s clear from our audit that EOE must improve oversight of its technology vendors.”
During the audit period, EOE did not consistently establish performance metrics or effectively measure the performance of technology vendors. The audit recommends EOE establish clear performance indicators for all future contracts and develop a process to measure contract performance.
Bump’s audit also found EOE third-party contracts did not contain essential security provisions. The audit determined that none of the reviewed IT contracts contained all the security policies established by the Executive Office of Technology Services and Security (EOTSS). After the audit was completed, EOE reported adding additional third-party security measures to its internal control plan.
The Executive Office of Education oversees programs and policies for the Commonwealth’s public education system. The agency manages IT contracts and services for the Department of Early Education and Care, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, and the Department of Higher Education.
The full report is available here.
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