Virginia State Bar excessive technology expense raises many questions for a Forensic Audit!
The last time an audit was conducted by JLARC for the VSB was in 1995, 22 years ago! When 22 years pass by with no audit, corruption tends to take over.
For the past 5 years, the VSB has spent more than $2,834,920. in computers & technology, lets take a close look at the years.
The Virginia State Bar in their latest statement for year 2016 had
92 total employees, for the year 2016 computer-technology expense was at $689,241. / 92 staff = $7492 per employee.
If we average out the 5 year history, it calculates to
$6162 per employee. Remember that this is a yearly expense, even if they were to buy all new technology-computers every year, this is close to 8 times the average cost of a complete new set up.
Think of this in terms of your own business, whether it be a law firm or other business. If you had 10 employees that use computer technology, your business would be spending on an average of:
10 employees x $6162 = $61,620 per year, every year on computers-technology. That would raise a few eyebrows!
Being that it is the Virginia State Bar and that they need the utmost security because of the highly sensitive data information being processed and stored.
Any technology expert would state that:
- By using a white list on the router, only that white list I.P. address could access the system from a remote location.
- By disabling the USB ports, no employee could download any sensitive data.
- Virtual data storage would eliminate a large risk of virus and data theft.
Anti-virus programs and other security measures are not expensive.
Block browsing sites not related to VSB business.
Security status for sensitive data processors would separate low level processors from having access to that sensitive data.
These are not expensive measures and surely would not increase the technology cost drastically.
In 2013-14, the Virginia State Bar President was Sharon D. Nelson from Fairfax, Va., please note the above VSB Technology-Computer expense for June 30, 2014. The highest year for Technology-Computer expense.
Sharon Nelson also founded Sensei Enterprises Inc.,
in 1997, a nationally-known digital forensics, information technology and cybersecurity business.
- An independent Forensic audit would determine if there were irregular activities during the last 5 years.
- The last time an audit was conducted by JLARC for the VSB was in 1995, 22 years ago!
