Information Security
The RRB is committed to protecting its annuitants' information from unauthorized use or disclosure, and continues to work on improving security capabilities. In fiscal year 2015, the RRB's information security team administered statutorily required security-awareness training for all agency employees and contractors. Staff members identified as having more significant information security responsibilities participated in enhanced role-based security training. Also, the RRB's privacy team prepared and coordinated training for all employee on controlling unclassified information, federal tax awareness and the Privacy Act.
Mainframe Application Reengineering
In fiscal year 2015, the RRB awarded a services contract to undertake a multiyear effort to convert the agency's current mainframe computing environment to a Microsoft Windows-based system. Reengineering critical legacy mainframe applications supports agency operations by enabling a future ready RRB workforce equipped with modern tools and technologies. This will allow them to do their jobs in the most efficient and effective manner, contributing to sustained customer satisfaction in the railroad community. The RRB will begin the conversion effort in fiscal year 2016 by purchasing additional hardware to house the new infrastructure and converting applications related to the taxation of retirement benefits.
Information Resources Management
In fiscal year 2015, the RRB coordinated and secured computer matching agreements with 11 states. The agency also secured Office Management and Budget (OMB) approval of 18 information collections. A central goal of the OMB review process is to help agencies strike a balance between collecting information needed to fulfill their statutory missions and guarding against unnecessary or duplicative requests that impose unjustified costs on the public. In addition, the RRB's records management team implemented agencywide records management training as required by the Managing Government Records Directive in OMB Memorandum M-12-18.