IT intern presents audit that logs 800 county technology assets and flags security risks

Mavis Praz Valdez, who said she served as Carroll County’s IT intern this summer, presented a final asset-management and software lifecycle report to the Board of Commissioners. She told the board the internship was funded through an ACCG grant and allowed staff to create a digital and physical inventory across county departments.

"This summer we successfully verify and log over 800 individuals' IT access across county department," Valdez said in the presentation, which included an itemized valuation of devices and recommendations for replacement timing and patching. Valdez told commissioners the audit identified roughly 60 devices or software instances that were unsupported or at end of life and therefore posed cybersecurity concerns.

Valdez described the inventory’s dollar estimates, noting laptop value at $81,360 and desktop value at $288,041; she summarized the county’s total technology footprint as an estimated $704,783 in current infrastructure and said the internship’s direct program cost was $3,259.50. The report organized department-level needs, prioritized replacements and patching, and recommended a lifecycle plan to reduce downtime and security risk.

Board members praised the work and agreed to include the intern’s report on the upcoming consent agenda so staff can act on the recommended replacement and budget planning. The IT director introduced Valdez and said the project helped the county avoid "shadow IT" and build a master database linking physical devices to digital records.

The board did not take a formal vote during the work session; commissioners indicated they would consider the report and the staff recommendation at the regular meeting set for Tuesday night.