[kictanet] ICT Authority, not Treasury, should oversee IFMIS
waudo siganga
emailsignet at mailcan.com
Thu Jan 19 10:36:49 EAT 2017
Hi Walu - I can see from your comments that you have never worked in a
finance environment. For secure setup there is no way "IT guys must
then translate x, y & z function into the appropriate access levels for
that accountant within the system". Simply put a person who is a
trained IT expert knows too much about how the system works and
therefore cannot be assigned access administration. The overall person
for access admin is a "super-user" or "Chief Security Officer"or a
title in that direction. This super user assigns access rights to
users, such as ability to add,delete, update, edit, view, etc records.
To assign these rights in practically all IT systems the super user
must himself have those same rights, otherwise he/she cannot assign
them to other users. A system where a super-user is an IT expert is a
very weak system. The IT expert should never have ability to enter a
system and change records. If you analyse the IFMIS problem you will
realise that it is not a problem of IT experts infiltrating the system.
It is just password misuse by ordinary users. At least I agree with you
on one thing - IT expertise role and password administration must never
be put in the same office. In most banks and finance environments the
super-user function is undertaken by the CEO or a very senior executive
who is OUTSIDE the IT function.
THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH IFMIS. The users, as is normal in any IT
system, are the weakest link. It is like having pilots who are busy with
corruption to fly a plane then when the plane crashes we say there was a
problem with the plane.
W.
On Wed, Jan 18, 2017, at 02:54 PM, Walubengo J wrote:
> @Dr Siganga, my comments below:
>
> >>1. Hi Walu - I do not agree with you that access administration
> >> (passwords) is a technical function. In most cases passwords just
> >> mimic authorization structures that pre-exist in a manual system.
> >>>
> Response:Yes and NO.
> Yes passwords and their access levels are controls that mimic the
> authorization levels of the manual system. However, their
> implementation in an ideal environment should be segregated. E.g
> the finance director should say in writing: 'I need my accountant to
> do x, y & z function' . The IT guys must then translate x, y & z
> function into the appropriate access levels for that accountant
> within the system.
>
> Finance retains the administrative oversight in terms of triggering
> the password request and profiling the access levels desired. IT
> retains the technical function of implementing the same. Never put
> these two roles in one office. Shida mingi inajiletea.
>
> >>2. I also differ with your suggestion that it is the work of
> >> technical people to enforce, check or review system controls.
> >> That should be the function of an independent auditor.
> >>
> RESPONSE: Yes and NO.
> Yes, independent or external auditors (hopefully Information System
> Auditors) do review the technical controls. But this is often an
> annual exercise. So serious organisation do not wait for a year to be
> told their controls were not effective. They have INTERNAL information
> system auditors (who are technical) to continuously monitor/enforce
> that these IT controls are in place, working and/or need to be
> updated. Other organisation may allocate this role to the Information
> Security Officer, either way these are ICT technical chaps.
>
> walu.
>
>
>
> From: waudo siganga <emailsignet at mailcan.com> To: Walubengo J
> <jwalu at yahoo.com>; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions
> <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Wednesday, January 18, 2017
> 1:55 PM Subject: Re: [kictanet] ICT Authority, not Treasury, should
> oversee IFMIS
>
> Hi Walu - I do not agree with you that access administration
> (passwords) is a technical function. In most cases passwords just
> mimic authorization structures that pre-exist in a manual system. It
> is very important that the access of technical people to a system,
> especially a financial one, be as inhibited as possible. Those who
> access the system should only be capable of doing the functions they
> would perform in a manual system. To enhance security of the system,
> access administration should be overseen by a most senior person who
> is NOT trained to do technical work on the system.
>
> I also differ with your suggestion that it is the work of technical
> people to enforce, check or review system controls. That should be the
> function of an independent auditor.
>
> Overall I think there is much misunderstanding about IFMIS. The
> problem is not technical; it is administrative. Specifically access
> administration (passwords).
>
> W.
>
> On Wed, Jan 18, 2017, at 01:06 PM, Walubengo J via kictanet wrote:
>> Grace B via kictanet <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote>>>
>> Second, the problem with IFMIS, it appears is a lack of commitment to
>> simple values such as integrity and prudent stewardship of public
>> funds. What guarantee wold we have that ICTA would be different from
>> Treasury?
>>
>> >>
>> Segregation of duties solves this. Treasury continues being the
>> Process owner, but surrenders the Technical leadership of the
>> system/ERP to ICT Authority. So if it is a case of passwords and
>> their use, expiry amongst other technical issues, we know it is ICT
>> Authority to manage (and take blame).
>>
>> It is often a confusing and thin line. The line between
>> Administrative and Technical authority.
>>
>> But you can look at it in terms of the President's Security detail.
>> The President maybe the (Administrative) boss of his security detail,
>> but the President can never tell his security detail HOW to guard him
>> or what weapons to use or how many guards he needs, where to position
>> them etc.
>>
>> These are TECHNICAL issues that the President cannot and should never
>> pretend to be dictating on since they lie squarely within the
>> NIS/Inspector General domain. The moment NIS start taking technical
>> instructions from the President, is the moment our security system
>> will collapse.
>>
>> If we get this seperation of authority right, we solve the IFMIS
>> puzzle.
>>
>> walu.
>>
>>
>> From: Grace B via kictanet <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> To:
>> jwalu at yahoo.com Cc: Grace B <nmutungu at gmail.com> Sent: Wednesday,
>> January 18, 2017 7:11 AM Subject: Re: [kictanet] ICT Authority, not
>> Treasury, should oversee IFMIS
>>
>> Interesting discussion. There are those who would look at IFMIS as
>> a public finance management issue as opposed to an ICT one but this
>> is not really count when giving management mandate to either
>> Treasury or ICTA as long as the objectives of PFM (Article 201 of
>> Katiba) are met.
>> One of the issues voiced about IFMIS since devolution/new
>> Constitution has been the problems experienced by county governments
>> and other independent organs eg commissions in accessing funds in a
>> timely manner. (We assume that Executive has not had too many
>> problems assessing funds and may have indeed been facilitating
>> leakage)
>> One issue with transferring the responsibility of maintaining IFMIS
>> to ICTA, it seems would be that there could be few differences
>> between ICTA and Treasury. First, both are Executive institutions
>> that may support devolved and independent structures in line with the
>> soft policy direction of the government of the day. Second, the
>> problem with IFMIS, it appears is a lack of commitment to simple
>> values such as integrity and prudent stewardship of public funds.
>> What guarantee wold we have that ICTA would be different from
>> Treasury?
>>
>> Regards
>>
>> 2017-01-18 5:54 GMT+03:00 Ali Hussein via kictanet
>> <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>:
>>> Barrack
>>>
>>> We are saying the same thing really.. Let's assume that the ICTA is
>>> the ICT Department of the Government (which I doubt it is equipped
>>> to execute that mandate) then 'managing' here really means providing
>>> support to the system.
>>>
>>> I think it's time the Government considers the role of Chief
>>> Information Officer to really manage the strategic thrust of all ICT
>>> initiatives across ministries. The CIO can then be held accountable
>>> for overall efficiency and security of all Government ICT Systems.
>>> This CIO needs to report directly to the Chief Executive Officer
>>> (President) of the country. Now, that person could be seconded or be
>>> a part of the ICTA with a doted line responsibility to the CS,
>>> MOICT...
>>>
>>> Ultimately the overall responsibility of how well our Government ICT
>>> Systems work lies squarely on the CEO's desk. Look no further.
>>>
>>> Ali Hussein
>>> Principal
>>> Hussein & Associates
>>> +254 0713 601113
>>>
>>> Twitter: @AliHKassim
>>> Skype: abu-jomo
>>> LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin. com/in/alihkassim[1]
>>> "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act
>>> but a habit." ~ Aristotle
>>>
>>>
>>> Sent from my iPad
>>>
>>> On 17 Jan 2017, at 11:27 PM, Barrack Otieno via kictanet
>>> <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke > wrote:
>>>
>>>> Hi Ali,
>>>>
>>>> ERP grew from MRP (Material Resource Planning which was a means of
>>>> planning and allocating resources in Factories. The difference
>>>> between the two is that MRP's were stand alone systems whereas
>>>> ERP's are modular and have more functionality. From an evolution
>>>> perspective , it would be ideal to manage IFMIS from Ministry of
>>>> Finance since they are the custodians of the treasury and normally
>>>> allocate resources through the budgeting process. From a Project
>>>> Management perspective, it would be ideal to manage IFMIS from ICTA
>>>> since it is the specialized agency meant to manage government
>>>> technology investments.
>>>>
>>>> Regards
>>>>
>>>> On 1/17/17, S.M. Muraya via kictanet <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
>>>> > wrote:Doubt Treasury economists and accountants are well placed
>>>> to provide CyberSecurity :) We need the ICT Authority to configure
>>>> enterprise wide data protection(limiting theft of passwords &
>>>> access to IFMIS). In 2016, the UN ranked the UK as # 1 in providing
>>>> digital services. https://publicadministration. un.org/egovkb/en-
>>>> us/Reports/ UN-E-Government-Survey-2016[2] The Government Digital
>>>> Service (GDS) is part of their Cabinet Office, nottheir Treasury.
>>>> https://www.gov.uk/government/ publications/govuk-pay/govuk- pay[3]
>>>> Their Treasury is consulted about the payment system 👆🏾 the
>>>> GDScontinues to build. SMM *"Better a patient person than a
>>>> warrior, one with self-control than onewho takes a city." Prov
>>>> 16:32* On Tue, Jan 17, 2017 at 9:45 PM, Ali Hussein
>>>> <ali at hussein.me.ke> wrote: I fundamentally disagree with this
>>>> assertion. First,y, the role of a CIO is to support the enterprise.
>>>> I have neverheard in my life of an ERP Director. This is just
>>>> adding a superfluouslayer of useless bureaucracy. The owner of an
>>>> ERP is the business with each department taking ownershipof their
>>>> components:- 1. Financials - CFO2. CRM
>>>> (Commercial/marketing/sales)3. Procurement - Procurement which
>>>> sometimes comes under Finance Etc. The CIO takes ownership to
>>>> ensure that the company is well oiled toexecute on its mandate.
>>>> This in my humble opinion goes beyond ERPs andtalks to aligning the
>>>> Technology Strategy with the Business Strategy. Forexample in the
>>>> banking sector where increasingly the more savvy banks aretaking a
>>>> 'Platform Thinking' approach. This allows partners to plug
>>>> intotheir core technology through APIs to enable them extend
>>>> capabilities andhence offerings to their customers. The role of a
>>>> CIO has fundamentally changed to speak to the need
>>>> forusingTechnology as an accelerator to successful business models.
>>>> Secondly, I don't see how the ICT Authority would be better in
>>>> managingthe monster that is IFMIS. Let them first learn the basics
>>>> ofcommunicatingeffectively with the community before taking on this
>>>> elephant in theroom. *Ali Hussein**Principal**Hussein &
>>>> Associates*+254 0713 601113 Twitter: @AliHKassim Skype: abu-jomo
>>>> LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/ alihkassim[4] "We are what we
>>>> repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but ahabit." ~
>>>> Aristotle Sent from my iPad On 17 Jan 2017, at 6:42 PM, S.M.
>>>> Muraya via kictanet <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>>>> Interesting comments... ICT Authority, not Treasury, should oversee
>>>> IFMIS http://www.nation.co.ke/oped/ blogs/dot9/walubengo/2274560-[5]3520560-
>>>> 5j04aq/index.html ______________________________
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>>>> --
>>>> Barrack O. Otieno +254721325277 +254733206359 Skype: barrack.otieno
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>>>> enabled growth and development.
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>>
>>
>> --
>> Grace L.N. Mutung'u Skype: gracebomu Twitter: @Bomu
>>
>> <http://www.diplointernetgovernance.org/profile/GraceMutungu>
>>
>> PGP ID : 0x33A3450F
>>
>>
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>> enabled growth and development.
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>> platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT
>> policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for
>> reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT
>> enabled growth and development.
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>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable
>> behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people's times
>> and bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize,
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>
>
Links:
1. http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim
2. https://publicadministration.un.org/egovkb/en-us/Reports/UN-E-Government-Survey-2016
3. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/govuk-pay/govuk-pay
4. http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim
5. http://www.nation.co.ke/oped/blogs/dot9/walubengo/2274560-
6. https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
7. https://www.facebook.com/KICTANet/
8. http://40alyhussein.com/
9. https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
10. https://www.facebook.com/KICTANet/
11. https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/info%40alyhussein.com
12. https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
13. https://www.facebook.com/KICTANet/
14. https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/nmutungu%40gmail.com
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