Validate Concerns of IT Employee Misconduct in Database Access
Question
A manager suspects that an IT employee with elevated database access may be knowingly modifying financial transactions for the benefit of a competitor.
Which of the following practices should the manager implement to validate the concern?
Answers
Explanations
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A. B. C. D.A.
The manager's concern is that an IT employee with elevated database access may be knowingly modifying financial transactions for the benefit of a competitor. In order to validate this concern, the manager can implement several practices, including the following:
A. Separation of duties: Separation of duties is a practice where different individuals are responsible for different aspects of a process or task. By implementing this practice, the manager can ensure that no single individual has complete control over a critical process. For example, the manager could ensure that the IT employee responsible for maintaining the financial database does not also have the ability to modify financial transactions. This way, it would be difficult for the IT employee to modify financial transactions without being detected.
B. Mandatory vacations: Mandatory vacations are a practice where employees are required to take time off from work on a regular basis. This practice can help detect fraud or malicious activity, as it forces someone else to take over the employee's duties while they are away. If the IT employee is modifying financial transactions for the benefit of a competitor, their absence during mandatory vacations may reveal irregularities or discrepancies that would not have been noticed if they were always present.
C. Background checks: Background checks are a practice where an employer conducts a thorough investigation of an employee's history, including their criminal record, credit history, and employment history. This practice can help identify employees with a history of fraudulent or malicious behavior, and can help prevent them from being hired in the first place. However, if the IT employee has already been hired, a background check may not be sufficient to validate the manager's concerns.
D. Security awareness training: Security awareness training is a practice where employees are trained to recognize and respond to security threats. This practice can help prevent employees from unintentionally or intentionally engaging in malicious activities. For example, if the IT employee is unaware of the severity of their actions, security awareness training may help them understand the risks and consequences of their actions.
In conclusion, the most effective practice to validate the manager's concern would be the implementation of separation of duties. By ensuring that no single individual has complete control over the financial database, the manager can prevent the IT employee from modifying financial transactions without being detected. However, a combination of all the above practices can help prevent and detect fraudulent or malicious activity.
