Financial reporting and compliance data management

Security of big data fashions a whole new look with GDPR

As data managers scramble to protect their precious lakes of washed and unwashed data from the evils of hacking, malware, ransomware and botnets, there comes a privacy regulation of European Union origin that could change the way many U.S. companies protect their data from inside and outside forces. For some U.S. companies doing business in Europe and preparing for compliance, the EU's General Data Protection Regulation could be a well-intended enforcer of better data governance practices. But for businesses forced to change their old data protection habits, GDPR can be a four-letter word.

The April issue of Business Information opens with our editor's note and historical insights into the fundamental differences in attitude between the U.S. and Europe when it comes to protecting the data privacy of customers. As data breaches mount, however, the U.S. government -- willing or not -- may have to take steps beyond current regulations to ensure companies increase their security of big data.

Along those lines, our cover story examines some GDPR rules that can directly impact U.S. companies doing business overseas and, in the process, their data governance and ethics procedures. With the noted lack of maturity in data governance and security tools, we see in another feature how IT teams are addressing data security issues upfront in do-it-yourself ways when deploying big data systems.

Also in this issue, a GDPR compliance expert advises data managers on the best ways to prepare for a regulation that puts more control of information in the hands of users, the internet of things and edge computing could be compromising the security of big data and surveys show that companies place data protection among the top reasons for escalating their security spending.

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U.S. data protection laws fall short in the age of big data

Data breaches and a history of data abuse led the EU to adopt GDPR, but it might take massive scale data security crises for the U.S. to legislate similar data protection laws. Continue Reading

Sarbanes-Oxley compliance quiz: Are you SOX savvy?

Test your knowledge of Sarbanes-Oxley compliance concepts and software by taking a SOX quiz. Continue Reading

What's the cybersecurity coverage these days?

Though companies are expressing more interest in policies to protect against the onslaught of privacy breaches, such insurance still remains a rarity. Continue Reading

Opinion: SOX is stinking up 2005

It's official: The Sarbanes-Oxley costs -- in time and money -- are rising higher than anyone expected and there may be a backlash before the calendar year is out. Continue Reading

CRM can serve SOX compliance

While Sarbanes-Oxley is primarily an accounting issue, sales and service need to do their part. CRM vendors are rushing to serve the need. Continue Reading

Compliance has an opportunity cost

As Sarbanes-Oxley initiatives continue, CIOs at midsize firms are tiring of meetings and the drain on resources for other projects. Yet they agree their companies' business processes will improve as a result. Continue Reading

Think Sarbanes Oxley extension changes things? Think again

The recent delay of accelerated deadlines won't change things much. Section 404 of SOX will continue to be a profound and expensive burden, particularly for SMBs. Continue Reading

Contract compliance is a Sarbanes-Oxley issue

Contract compliance Continue Reading