ASYCUDA Software Safe and Well Protected, Audit Concludes

The Montserrat Customs Division’s Automated System for Customs Data, ASYCUDA, software is safe and well protected.

This is the assessment of a report by the Office of the Auditor General, tabled in the Legislative Assembly last month. The report pointed out that to date, there has not been any internal or external security breach or major issues associated with ASYCUDA World. 

There are very stringent physical access controls, policies, and procedures in place to restrict unauthorized access to the Montserrat Customs Offices.

The report says that issues that arise with ASYCUDA World are resolved in a relatively short time frame with minimal downtime. 

However, it found that the consignment process is lengthy and requires custom officers to manually check items that arrive in containers, either at the Port Authority or Airport warehouses, or at commercial business’ premises.

The OAG says this method of verification of shipments is very tedious and time-consuming, especially during peak periods.

It recommends that MCRS invest in touch screen tablets outfitted with Asycuda World and are internet enabled to reduce tallying and processing of consignments.

In summing up the Office of the Auditor General says it has determined that the post-implementation benefits of the ASYCUDA were achieved and found to be a very secure and robust software.