Monday, August 1, 2011

E-Governance

E-Governance refers to the use of data from IT to improve the accountability, efficiency, effectiveness, and transparency within an organization. Comprised of IT, people and processes, it is an application of electronic means to improve exchange of information and increase the operational effectiveness and efficiency. E-Governance involves determination and application of relevant regulations such as domain name to govern presence on the internet. Its focus is on the appropriateness of internal/external web user experience.

Why IT Governance

1. Implementation and integration of new IT strategies while overcoming institutionalized “silo” programs and funded processes.

2. Rewards based on singular program accomplishments, without the broader strategic focus.

3. Lack of delivery strategies across program boundaries

4. Increased user pressure from cloud/internet functionality and ease of use expectations

5. Drive for a cost-efficient single, common service and delivery interface in meeting user needs

Information Technology Governance

Information technology governance focuses mainly on leadership in effectively and efficiently using IT resources to meet business needs, encompassing structures and processes to implement strategies, develop standards and principles, and evaluate IT investment priorities, leveraging technology to add business value.

It combines accountability with the assignment of decision-making responsibilities. Governance includes cross-level communications about processes and key IT investments. When fully employed, IT governance is aligned with business governance. Its key components include collaboration, modular and incremental development and implementation of strategic and tactical initiatives.

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Dodd-Frank Act for Banks

• Volcker Rule
• Abolishes the Office of Thrift Supervision:
• Stronger lending limits
• Improves supervision of holding company subsidiaries
• Intermediate Holding Companies
• Interest on business checking
• Charter Conversions
• New Offices of Minority and Women Inclusion at the fed financial agencies

Dodd-Frank Act for Extraction Industry

TRANSPARENCY FOR EXTRACTION INDUSTRY

  • Public Disclosure
  • SEC Filing Disclosure
  • Congo Conflict Minerals Disclosures

    • Tuesday, April 12, 2011

      Dodd-Frank Act

      - Consumer Protections with Authority and Independence
      - Ends Too Big to Fail Bailouts
      - Advance Warning Systems
      - Transparency & Accountability for Exotic Instruments
      - Executive Compensation and Corporate Governance
      - Protects Investors
      - Enforces Regulations on the Books

      Saturday, February 26, 2011

      Friday, February 25, 2011

      Key Sox Compliance Items

      Develop action plans for ongoing maintenance and monitoring of internal controls in accordance policies and regulatory requirements, including the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

      Identify and implement internal controls process improvements

      Recommend and implement process improvement solutions, including tools which enable these solutions.


      Implement the Sarbanes-Oxley testing and evaluation plan and develop the ongoing procedures for maintenance and testing of company controls.

      Provide metrics that measure effectiveness these of initiatives.


      Ensure that all compliance and process improvement activities follow the appropriate change management, governance, and documentation requirements.

      Conduct walk through(s) of processes and develop control guidance documentation and training materials.

      Friday, January 28, 2011

      Understand Information Systems Relevant to the Audit

      • The manner in which transactions are initiated

      • The nature and type of records and source documents

      • The processing involved from the initiation of transactions to their final processing, including the nature of computer files and the manner in which they are accessed, updated, and deleted

      • For financial audits, the process used to prepare the entity's financial statements and budget information, including significant accounting estimates, disclosures, and computerized processing.

      FISCAM Federal Information System Controls Audit Manual Approach

      Top-down, risk based approach that considers materiality and significance in determining effective and efficient audit procedures and is tailored to achieve the audit objectives.

      Evaluation of entity-wide controls and their effect on audit risk.

      Evaluation of general controls and their pervasive impact on business process application controls.
      Evaluation of security management at all levels (entitywide, system, and business process application levels).

      A control hierarchy (control categories, critical elements, and control activities) to assist in evaluating the significance of identified IS control weaknesses

      Groupings of control categories consistent with the nature of the risk.

      Experience gained in GAO’s performance and review of IS control audits, including field testing the concepts in this revised FISCAM.

      Document Network Architecture

      internet presence
      ● firewalls, routers, and switches
      ● intrusion detection or prevention systems
      ● critical systems, such as Web and mail systems, file transfer systems, etc.
      ● network management systems
      ● connections to inter- and intra-agency sites
      ● connections to other external organizations
      ● remote access—virtual private network and dial-in
      ● wireless connections.

      Plan the Information System Controls Audit

      ● Understand the overall audit objectives and related scope of the IS controls audit
      ● Obtain an understanding of an entity and its operations and key business processes
      ● Obtain a general understanding of the structure of the entity’s networks
      ● Identify key areas of audit interest (files, applications, systems, locations)
      ● Assess IS risk on a preliminary basis
      ● Identify critical control points (for example, external access points to networks)
      ● Obtain a preliminary understanding of IS controls
      ● Perform other audit planning procedures

      Thursday, May 13, 2010

      How to delete Facebook Account

      Considering new privacy policies, some are considering deleting their Facebook accounts. This is not easy as the delete button is buried oh ever so deeply in the menu structure. Great instructions can be found on "wikiHow" website.
      http://www.wikihow.com/Permanently-Delete-a-Facebook-Account

      Someone posted 10 reasons that you won't be able to delete your Facebook account. Here is the link
      http://www.businessinsider.com/10-reasons-youll-never-quit-facebook-even-if-you-think-you-want-to-2010-5#youre-not-going-to-go-back-to-waiting-an-hour-to-send-an-email-to-30-people-with-40-photos-attached-1

      There is one reason that may override others: Employability and Marketability. Hey, it's just your life on the Internet. Enjoy the ride, no matter what you decide.

      Thursday, April 29, 2010

      OFAC Compliance - Not as Easy as it Appears

      OFAC compliance is tricky as:

      1. Rules and customs vary from country to country, confusing companies entering global operations without adequate requirements preparation.

      2. OFAC rules, along with the names on the SDN list, change often;

      3. Third-party service providers and their own vendors may end up dealing with those OFAC prohibits.

      Jimmy Carter on History of FCPA

      Sunday, December 6, 2009

      Internet Security Standards Setting Bodies

      Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) for TCP/IP, HTML, POP, STMP, FTP, SSL, and more

      International Telecommunications Union (ITU) X.273, Open Systems Network Layer Security, and X.509, Authetication Framework

      International Standards Organization (ISO) ISO 17799

      Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE)

      European Computer Manufacturers Association