An IS auditor considering the risks associated with spooling sensitive reports for off-line printing will be the MOST concerned that:
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A. B. C. D.C.
Spooling is a process where computer data is temporarily stored in a buffer or queue, awaiting printing or processing. When sensitive reports are spooled for offline printing, the IS auditor needs to consider the potential risks associated with this process.
Out of the given options, the auditor's primary concern would be that unauthorized copies of reports can be printed (Option C). The reasons for this are:
Confidentiality: Sensitive reports may contain confidential information that should only be accessible to authorized individuals. Spooling reports for offline printing may create opportunities for unauthorized individuals to access and print these reports, resulting in a breach of confidentiality.
Data Leakage: Unauthorized copies of sensitive reports may be printed and taken out of the organization. This could lead to the leakage of confidential information and potentially harm the organization's reputation, competitiveness, or even result in legal consequences.
Compliance: Depending on the nature of the reports, there may be regulatory or contractual obligations to safeguard the confidentiality of the data. Unauthorized copies of reports could result in non-compliance, leading to fines or other penalties.
While the other options - data being easily read by operators, data being amended by unauthorized persons, and output being lost if the system fails - are also potential risks, they are not as significant as the risk of unauthorized copies of reports being printed.
For example, data being easily read by operators may not necessarily result in harm, as long as the operators are authorized to access the data. Similarly, data being amended by unauthorized persons is a risk, but it may be detected and corrected through appropriate security controls. Output being lost if the system fails is a technical issue that can be addressed through backup and recovery procedures.
In conclusion, the IS auditor's primary concern when spooling sensitive reports for offline printing is the risk of unauthorized copies of reports being printed. This risk can be mitigated through appropriate access controls, encryption, and monitoring of the spooling process.