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News Newsletters 2006 August 2006
Filled with relevant information about the rapidly evolving IT landscape, the Simpler-Webb newsletter is a must-read.
August 2006
Release date: 8/1/2006
Simpler-Webb August Newsletter
I want to share a few exciting Simpler-Webb happenings which we believe will benefit you greatly. First of all, we recently received our SAS-70 Type 1 certification report. We know how important adequate controls and safeguards are for your businesses and your outsourced Simpler-Webb services are no exception. The SAS-70 report provides you and your audit team confirmation that our internal controls are appropriately designed to achieve the objectives they are developed for. Having this information readily available should also streamline the audit data gathering process for you. The current Report is available by contacting Patricia Martinez.
As part of our continued commitment to improving communications, we will soon conduct an online survey to gather input on the current methods used to inform you of Simpler-Webb offerings, market trends, and specifics about your IT Infrastructure. We know a lot of information is sent to you regularly and we want to make sure Simpler-Webb offers you the right communications, at the right time, and in the right method. I encourage you to complete the survey and provide us feedback.
If any of your travels bring you to Austin, please stop by and visit us.
Best,
Jeff
Are You Prepared? ::
As we approach hurricane season, hear about the potential of flu pandemics and read of unrest in other parts of the world, IT leaders need to be able to say- I am ready! All businesses, small or large, need to have a disaster recovery / business continuity plan in place and test its effectiveness on a regular basis.
For credit unions, the NCUA noted in the “Letter to Credit Unions, 06-CU-07”, that credit unions should adopt, “…measures to protect against destruction, loss, or damage of member information due to potential environmental hazards, such as fire and water damage or technological failures.”
Steps to develop a disaster recovery / business continuity plan:
- Create backup and recovery systems and procedures for your IT Infrastructure
- Assess potential vulnerabilities and relative impact
- Set action plans to help mitigate risks associated with identified vulnerabilities
- Establish IT Infrastructure continuity and redundancy procedures for the most critical business applications
- Create employee safety policies and measures
- Organize a recovery and response team including a command and control point
Some businesses think once they put the plan in place they are done. Businesses change dramatically. Reviews should be conducted on a semi-annual or annual basis to ensure you continue protecting your business.
Additionally, it may be appropriate to outsource some or all of your continuity services to a trusted IT services provider. This provides you additional comfort in knowing skilled professionals are putting the right steps and technology in place for your business to handle a disaster. In fact, in further instruction from “06-CU-07”, the NCUA requires that all testing of control mechanisms either be performed or reviewed by, “…independent third parties or staff, other than those who develop or maintain the institution’s security programs…”. Many other industries have similar requirements.
All businesses and the service providers they work with should review the National Strategy released by the White House in November 2005 to better understand their responsibilities in times of crisis.
Your focus needs to be on protecting vital business data and providing business continuity. With appropriate measures you reduce the risk of interruption and recover quickly if a disruption cannot be avoided. Quite simply stated, hope for the best and prepare for the worst*.
*Thomas Norton, English poet and politician (1532-1584)
Simpler-Webb Service Offering ::
Business Continuity & Disaster Recovery Services
Are you prepared? Simpler-Webb offers a full range of services for iron clad business continuity and disaster recovery so your business can keep running in the face of a natural disaster. Can you really afford to wait? Contact your Simpler-Webb representative today for a free consultation.
Simpler-Webb News ::
Come visit us at Connections 2006 and SEC 2006
We look forward to reconnecting with you at these annual events!
Harland Connections 2006
Booth #32
August 7-10, 2006
Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin, Florida
Symitar SEC 2006
Booth #609 August 15-18, 2006 Manchester Grand Hyatt, San Diego
Simpler-Webb Expands Consulting & Sales Organizations!
As Simpler-Webb continues growing, we require additional skills and extra resources to best serve you. Tim Brackett recently joined us as Consulting Manager. With almost 20 years of experience in high technology training, deployment, and consulting services, Tim is a wonderful addition the team.
Given our focus on the credit union space, we continually look for resources who understand your unique business requirements and can work with you to ensure you are implementing a robust, timely IT Infrastructure strategy. The newest addition to our team, Chris Cooper, is exactly that kind of resource. Chris was most recently the Director of Client Management & Sales Engineering at Digital Defense. He was responsible for supporting Digital Defense’s current client base, comprised primarily of credit unions, so he has a keen understanding of your needs.
Please join us in welcoming Tim and Chris to the Simpler-Webb team.
Simpler-Webb Achieves SAS-70 Type 1 Certification
We recently completed the SAS-70 Type 1 audit. As a result of the audit, we have a report outlining our internal controls to provide security, system availability, and additional safeguards. These processes and check points ensure your business is in compliance with governing regulations such as Section 404 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. The report is readily available and can be provided to your audit team which should help streamline your audit process. We have received numerous requests for this type of information and found this certification met your requirements perfectly. To receive a copy of the report, please contact Patricia Martinez.
Simpler-Webb Customer Success
"Simpler-Webb provides us with 24x7 Intrusion prevention monitoring and protection services. Their managed service is a model of commitment to excellence and we find that the Simpler-Webb team consistently offers us exceptional responsive support service. Not only in the area of resolving issues promptly but also in providing valuable input in areas that need to be addressed with respect to security awareness. Overall, our relationship with Simpler-Webb has exceeded our expectations and needs."
Rose Green, CIO of SF Police Credit Union