Audit: NC not keeping track of computers, IT assets

North Carolina's Office of Information Technology Services doesn't have the policies and procedures in place to track the computers and other IT assets at various state agencies, according to a state audit released Tuesday.

After several agencies were consolidated last year to streamline government operations, ITS never went to the merged agencies to take inventory of their computers and phones to ensure the count matched with the office's records, the audit states. ITS has some programs that would allow it to remotely determine where computers and servers are being used, but it hasn't implemented those programs because of technical issues.

The discrepancies have led to billing disputes with state agencies and possible overpayments to vendors that provide long-distance phone service, according to the audit.

State Chief Information Officer Jonathan Womer said ITS began a comprehensive inventory review in April and plans to implement new software that will track inventory and billing on the same database. Womer said the office has adequate procedures to resolve billing disputes but is reviewing its policies for possible updates.