Don’t be fooled by a big accounting name? A suit with a high priced song! No matter what they say, you have to read the SAS70 report in order to determine the depth of testing performed in a SAS70 audit. SAS70 audits have just now become in demand by industry leaders and you have to determine what value you want from the SAS70 audit. Do you need a box checked? Or will you use this audit process to improve your revenue, your internal controls, and to set you apart from your competition? Prices range all over the board – choose your poison wisely – either you choose an auditor with experience and see that their report provides you with the level of detail and testing to required to make your organization better or — you might as well gamble in Vegas more – and take the big accounting name with little testing that provides you with the check box you need.sas70expert@gmail.com

Can we believe all the hype? Is there a green revolution afoot? From cars to energy to datacenters, everyone is going green. Datacenters have become very complex, with so many interactions among processors, rack systems, power and cooling systems, storage arrays, networks, and communications channels – that they can be regarded as unique virtual environments that consume large amounts of energy. Our need to have access to the internet anywhere and everywhere, requires more capacity and increasing speeds of datacenter components. What steps are you taking to become Green? SAS70ExPERT@gmail.com

As you complete that CISSP or CISA designation and move up the corporate ladder, do you have the right skills to begin making the decisions as CSO or CIO? Even if you have a great understanding of IT operations(networking, disaster recovery, datacenter management), compliance(SAS70, Webtrust, Systrust, SOX), and leadership(Project management, financial budgeting and administration), if you don’t communicate effectively you will not make the list. IT leaders can write, speak until they are red in the face; however, if they are unable to speak general business language, the business audience will not support their IT objectives or provide funding. Some of the more important skills to have as CSO or CIO are:

• Communicate effectively
• Lead during a disaster
• Provide an IT strategy

 What are the important skills that a CSO or CIO must have to be a success? As a team leader? To build Board support? To be an effective information technology project manager/business leader? To build another Google, Microsoft Windows, or Email Exchange?

SAS70ExPERT@gmail.com

Timing/Length – Start NOW! You can’t get there without an IT roadmap. Make it in increments of one year, 3 years, and five years.

Scope – Obtain the business goals and objectives. Understand how information technology will support achievement of these goals. Design your IT plan to not only meet these objectives, but to add additional value and revenue when each of these goals is attained.

Presentation – Keep it simple. From the Boardroom to the staff meeting, keep everyone focused on the high level IT goals. Be specific about how IT and business will work together to meet the requirements. Simple statements to drive your IT department towards success are best.

Monitoring – Put measurements in place which include deadlines. Monitor these like a hawk. The goal is not precision, but to keep moving forward. Revise and update the IT plan as necessary.

Communicate – How does the Boardroom know you are success? You are your own marketer and so is your staff. When you achieve success in completing an IT project, be sure to inform your staff and your management. Identify internal and external meetings to inform. 

 SAS70ExPERT@gmail.com