Scenario

You are an independent consultant hired by Penmen Groceries, and they are exploring options to modernize their accounting information system (AIS). They are looking for an audit company to help them, so your manager has requested a client letter explaining how vulnerabilities can impact an organization's AIS and why an IT environment is crucial to financial reporting. Specifically, your manager is focused on phishing, malware, and ransomware, as your manager has been reading a lot in the news about these vulnerabilities causing problems for organizations.

This milestone will help you with Project One, where you will be required to determine the specific risks and efficiencies of an updated computerized accounting information system.

Directions

In this assignment, you will write a client letter that explains the impact of vulnerabilities on an organization's AIS and the importance of strong technology controls in the IT environment.

Specifically, you must address the following rubric criteria:

1. Describe vulnerabilities that can affect an organization's AIS or general business operations.
2. Explain the impact vulnerabilities can have on an organization's AIS and its financial reporting.
3. Determine the strategies an organization can use to strengthen its IT environment. Include the following in your response:
   1. The controls organizations can implement to reduce vulnerabilities occurring
4. Analyze how the identified strategies can benefit the organization's financial reporting efforts.

What to Submit

Submit your milestone as a 3- to 5-page Microsoft Word document with double spacing, 12-point Times New Roman font, and one-inch margins. Sources should be cited according to APA style.