- An FDIC audit found effective controls in four out of nine critical areas in the agency’s cloud computing environment, while five areas needed significant improvements.
- Key weaknesses identified included issues in identity and access management, cloud secrets protection, patch management, flaw remediation, and audit logging.
- Recommendations from the audit focused on addressing secure coding practices, access misconfigurations, monitoring inadequacies, and outdated software, with plans to fully resolve these by 2026.
In its review of the FDIC’s cloud computing security controls, an independent audit by Sikich CPA LLC, commissioned by the FDIC Office of Inspector General, assessed nine key security control areas. While effective security practices were observed in four areas, five exhibited notable control weaknesses. Key vulnerabilities were associated with identity and access management, protection of cloud secrets, patch management, flaw remediation, and audit logging. Specific findings highlighted common issues, including misconfigured security settings, outdated software components, and insufficient monitoring of system activities, creating risks that attackers could potentially exploit.
To address these issues, Sikich provided seven formal recommendations and 48 technical recommendations across six themes, focusing on ensuring proper access controls, secure coding practices, enhanced monitoring, and regular software updates. The FDIC accepted these recommendations and committed to corrective actions aimed at strengthening its security practices by December 2026. This effort is expected to support the FDIC’s goal of safeguarding sensitive data within its increasingly cloud-based infrastructure, ensuring compliance with federal cybersecurity standards.
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