Conduct a privacy impact assessment for accepting homeowner FHA refund applications and supporting documentation that contain PII electronically to identify potential risks and develop and implement plans to mitigate those risks.

Develop and implement written policies and procedures for SFIOD to quickly respond to emergency situations when staff cannot return to the office. Procedures should include steps to quickly notify homeowners of any changes made to the FHA refund process.

The OIG has determined that the contents of this recommendation would not be appropriate for public disclosure and has therefore limited its distribution to selected officials.

Implement a software asset management capability for software and operating systems to ensure that software executes only from the authorized software inventory and all unauthorized software is blocked from executing on HUD's network.

Status

In April 2024, the Office of the Chief Information Officer reported that it was in the process of implementing a software management tool that would allow it to control which software is authorized to access the network. This is the first step to creating rules for allowing only authorized software to be used through HUD's endpoint security software. The final implementation of this new tool is expected by Quarter 2 of FY 2025.

Analysis

To fully address this recommendation, HUD must provide evidence that it has an automated whitelist and it is implemented as per the NIST Special Publication 800-167 or accept the risk and document mitigating measures via a Risk-Based Decision memorandum.

Implementation of this recommendation will result in HUD having the capability to ensure only authorized software is used on HUD’s network based on its software asset listing.

The OIG has determined that the contents of this recommendation would not be appropriate for public disclosure and has therefore limited its distribution to selected officials.

The OIG has determined that the contents of this recommendation would not be appropriate for public disclosure and has therefore limited its distribution to selected officials.

The OIG has determined that the contents of this recommendation would not be appropriate for public disclosure and has therefore limited its distribution to selected officials.

The OIG has determined that the contents of this recommendation would not be appropriate for public disclosure and has therefore limited its distribution to selected officials.

The OIG has determined that the contents of this recommendation would not be appropriate for public disclosure and has therefore limited its distribution to selected officials.

The OIG has determined that the contents of this recommendation would not be appropriate for public disclosure and has therefore limited its distribution to selected officials.

The OIG has determined that the contents of this recommendation would not be appropriate for public disclosure and has therefore limited its distribution to selected officials.

The OIG has determined that the contents of this recommendation would not be appropriate for public disclosure and has therefore limited its distribution to selected officials.

The OIG has determined that the contents of this recommendation would not be appropriate for public disclosure and has therefore limited its distribution to selected officials.

The OIG has determined that the contents of this recommendation would not be appropriate for public disclosure and has therefore limited its distribution to selected officials.

The OIG has determined that the contents of this recommendation would not be appropriate for public disclosure and has therefore limited its distribution to selected officials.

The OIG has determined that the contents of this recommendation would not be appropriate for public disclosure and has therefore limited its distribution to selected officials.

The OIG has determined that the contents of this recommendation would not be appropriate for public disclosure and has therefore limited its distribution to selected officials.

Implement multifactor authentication mechanisms for all nonprivileged users who access information systems that process, store, or transmit PII.

Status

The Office of the Chief Information Officer reported that it has implemented a new software security solution to implement multifactor authentication, starting with a pilot on 15 FHA systems. In October 2024, HUD received additional funds through the Technology Modernization Fund for this project enterprisewide.

Analysis

To fully address the recommendation, HUD must implement multifactor authentication enterprisewide.

Implementation of this recommendation will result in an enterprise-wide identity and access management solution. Users will be required to use multifactor authentication methods to access HUD data, networks, and devices.

Implement multifactor authentication mechanisms for all privileged users who access information systems that process, store, or transmit PII.

Status

The Office of the Chief Information Officer reported that it has implemented a new software security solution to implement multifactor authentication, starting with a pilot on 15 FHA systems. In October 2024, HUD received additional funds through the Technology Modernization Fund for this project enterprisewide.

Analysis

To fully address this recommendation, HUD must implement the eICAM plan it developed with the funding it received.

Implementation of this recommendation will result in an enterprise-wide identity and access management solution. Users will be required to use multifactor authentication methods to access HUD data, networks, and devices.

The OIG has determined that the contents of this recommendation would not be appropriate for public disclosure and has therefore limited its distribution to selected officials.