{"url_path":"/sec/awre/10-k/2026/item-9a","section_key":"item-9a","section_title":"Item 9A CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES","topic":"sec","document":{"doc_type":"10-K","doc_date":"2026-03-06","source_url":"https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1015739/0001193125-26-096448-index.html","accession_number":"0001193125-26-096448","cik":"0001015739","ticker":"AWRE","issuer_name":"AWARE INC /MA/","edgar_url":"https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1015739/0001193125-26-096448-index.html","primary_entity_key":"0001015739","primary_entity_name":"AWARE INC /MA/"},"word_count":352,"has_tables":true,"body_markdown":"ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES\n\nConclusion Regarding the Effectiveness of Disclosure Controls and Procedures\n\nUnder the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our chief executive officer and principal financial officer, we conducted an evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as such term is defined under Rule 13a-15(e) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Based on this evaluation, our chief executive officer and chief financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this annual report.\n\nEvaluation of Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting\n\n \n\nIn December 2024, our Chief Executive Officer resigned, and our Chief Financial Officer assumed the role of Interim Chief Executive Officer while continuing to serve as Chief Financial Officer. In February 2025, we hired a new Chief Executive Officer, and the Interim Chief Executive Officer stepped down from that role while continuing in his role as Chief Financial Officer. While these leadership transitions represent significant changes in our executive team, we have assessed their impact on our internal control over financial reporting and determined that these changes have not materially affected the design or operation of our internal controls.\n\n \n\nWe have updated our internal control documentation in light of these organizational changes. We will continue to monitor and update our internal control processes as necessary to ensure their effectiveness.\n\n \n\nManagement’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting\n\nOur management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rules 13(a)-15(f) under the Exchange Act. Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in 2013. Based on our evaluation under the framework in Internal Control — Integrated Framework, our management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2025."}