What is the purpose of control totals in transaction verification?

Control totals are primarily used to ensure the integrity of transaction data during the verification process. The purpose of control totals is to verify that files, such as transaction batches, remain unchanged from the original transmitted files. This is achieved by comparing the calculated control totals against expected values. If there is a discrepancy, it may indicate that the data has been altered or corrupted in some way, allowing for further investigation.

Control totals serve as a safeguard during data transmission, helping to maintain data integrity and accuracy. By implementing this control, organizations can ensure that the information being processed matches what was initially sent, thereby supporting overall data management and security protocols in transaction processing environments.