The Audit Connection Blog
Credit card misuse dominates five major fraud investigations from the past year, totaling $400,000 in misappropriations
Credit card use, when left unchecked, can lead to serious consequences—as our fraud investigation specialists discovered in five noteworthy cases over the past year that totaled $400,000 in misappropriations. ... CONTINUE READING
State agencies frequently use travel agents and follow state rules in doing so, audit finds
Washington state agencies buy about half of their staff’s air travel through travel agents, and do so following state guidelines, a new performance audit found. ... CONTINUE READING
Coming soon: Fraud Awareness Week resources, training and tips from SAO
Join SAO as we shine a light on fraud prevention and the work of our Special Investigations Team that investigates misappropriation in all types of governments, from large state agencies to small towns and special purpose districts. ... CONTINUE READING
Homegrown cyber resources: Washington-specific ways to bolster your government’s cybersecurity
Many organizations work to help Washington governments strengthen their cybersecurity. In this blog, the State Auditor's Office identifies initiatives specific to Washington. ... CONTINUE READING
First audit of Office of Independent Investigations published
The investigation of a fatal shooting during a police response to a domestic disturbance in Centralia is the first case by the Office of Independent Investigations (OII) to be audited by the Office of the Washington State Auditor. ... CONTINUE READING
Can your government's cybersecurity program use a boost? SAO's IT policy guide can help
Strong IT policies are the foundation of a healthy cybersecurity program. Discover how the Office of the Washington State Auditor's updated It Starts with Policy: A Guide to Jump-Starting Your Cybersecurity Program resource can help your local government develop effective policies, reduce cybersecurity risks and protect critical information. ... CONTINUE READING
State Auditor: Governor’s fraud prevention workgroup an important step
State Auditor Pat McCarthy today offered support for Governor Bob Ferguson’s newly created position of Chief Fraud Prevention Officer and a fraud prevention workgroup for state agencies, calling them positive additions to the state’s accountability work. ... CONTINUE READING
Cybersecurity awareness training: A clear and practical guide
With cyberattacks on the rise, cybersecurity awareness training gives employees the knowledge to spot threats and respond confidently. It transforms security from a technical task into a shared organizational responsibility. ... CONTINUE READING
State made limited progress in expanding childhood lead exposure testing, audit finds
Washington has taken some steps to improve the number of children tested for lead exposure, but it has not fully implemented any of the recommendations from a previous report on the issue, according to a follow-up audit published today. ... CONTINUE READING
Protect yourself against AI and deepfake cyber threats
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being used more often in cyberattacks, including deepfakes. In this article, SAO provides actionable steps to help you reduce risk and strengthen your cyber defenses. ... CONTINUE READING