Compliance

The first time regulatory compliance entered the average manager’s consciousness was probably when The Data Protection Act 1998 was enacted.  Since then a glut of legislation has been enacted under this heading.  Conforming to the relevant legislation and regulation affects every organisation whether in the private, not-for-profit or public sectors. The smart organisation will recognise that compliance is not about ticking a box, but about running a more effective business. Those that do this will gain significant competitive advantage. Fortunately all compliance solutions can be grouped into three categories:

• Information Management
• Information Analysis
• Information Security

Information Management includes the collection, safe storage, retrieval and removal of information/data. It is about making sure that your information is there when you need it. In compliance terms, information does not only comprise structured electronic data found in a CRM or Help Desk system, but includes unstructured information like email, instant messaging, video images, and paper documents as well.

Information Analysis can be defined as the discovery, retrieval and interpretation of information. All the compliance based legislation  requires that information must be retrieved within a set timescale. However, some legislation also requires that an analysis of the information is carried out, to allow interested parties to understand its meaning and importance.

Information Security covers the restriction of access to information, the prevention of data corruption, and unauthorised modification or deletion of the information or data. Underpinning the whole compliance agenda is faith in the safe storage and retrieval of the relevant information. It is vital that:

• The information retrieved is accurate
• All the information is there and none has been deleted or changed
• Only those authorised to access specific information are able to see it.

Over the past few years what used to be called IT security, the control of the physical infrastructure, has been supplanted by Information Security, which extends the definition to embrace the extensive and detailed issues of accuracy and integrity of data within applications, databases and across networks.

InfoStrata Solutions and its partners have the skills and experience to help you to build the technological foundations necessary to support your compliance programmes.  Using SharePoint products and technologies and leading tools such as Workplace Architects we can assist you to build the systems to keep you legal.    Through our partners we can also provide training and consulting services, particularly in the following areas: Data Protection, Freedom of Information and Risk.

Call 08709 222 152 for information on our services in this area.