Many people mistakenly believe that the greatest risks businesses face come from third parties. However, studies have shown that internal risks are much greater and more common than external risks. Many companies have not only lost billions of dollars but also perished under the weight of unethical internal activities. Enron is a popular example of an organization that failed due to poor internal controls. In today's world, manual systems are constantly being replaced by accounting information systems (AIS). Although AIS is extremely important for all organizations, it also brings its own set of problems. To mitigate risks and minimize the possibility of fraud or errors, an organization must have effective internal controls. According to the Online Business Glossary, “Internal control is an organization's plan and all methods and measures used by a company to monitor assets. , prevent fraud, minimize errors, verify the accuracy and reliability of accounting data, promote operational efficiency and ensure that established management policies are followed. (Retrieved from http://www.allbusiness.com/glossaries/internal-control/4943791-1.html) Internal controls should help the accounting information system achieve its objectives. This should in no way hinder the organization. The concepts must be integrated into the daily responsibilities of managers and their staff as well as the organization's AIS. BENEFITS OF INTERNAL CONTROL There are many benefits to having effective internal control in place in an organization. In addition to ensuring that the company does not lose money due to different types of theft or misappropriation of information, internal control helps to guarantee employee debt. This verification may be carried out periodically or on a surprise basis and all deviations and exceptions found during the verification should be reported for corrective action. Human resources also have a role to play in internal control. Thorough background checks on all employees must be conducted. HR should verify all records provided by job applicants and should also be on the lookout for past infractions or past records. Ensuring that only trained, trustworthy, informed and competent personnel access the accounting information system to carry out tasks avoids errors, irregularities and fraud. Additionally, human resources should make it a point to rotate shifts, employee tasks, and require employees to take vacation time. Many organizations have discovered several unethical practices when an employee was on vacation or assigned to a new position..