How does the FDSS prevent double counting?

The capability of the Federal Data Security System (FDSS) to prevent double counting primarily hinges on its ability to correlate data from multiple agencies. This process involves carefully cross-referencing and analyzing the data that different agencies submit, which effectively identifies and eliminates duplicate entries. When multiple sources may report similar or identical information—such as instances of a specific incident or count of items—the correlation feature allows the system to recognize overlaps and adjust the totals accordingly.

This correlation ensures that data integrity is maintained across the board, thus providing a more accurate representation of the information being tracked. In contrast, the other choices might enhance data management but do not directly address the issue of double counting as effectively as correlation does. For instance, consolidating data into a single report or centralizing collections may streamline data accessibility or reporting processes, but without the analytical framework provided by correlation, the risk of duplications remains. Likewise, allowing individual agencies to submit their data can contribute to an overall database but does not, on its own, prevent overlapping submissions from being counted multiple times.