Investment Technology Partners Begins Offering Cybersecurity Assessments to Independent RIAs
New York, NY (PRWEB) October 21, 2014 -- Investment Technology Partners, an outsourced cloud IT provider focused in the Independent Registered Investment Advisory marketplace has begun conducting IT infrastructure assessments for RIA firms who have engaged them be sure their firms can positively respond to the an SEC audit looking into cybersecurity policies.
“These assessments are designed to be the catalyst that drives the RIA towards a more sound cybersecurity model. In the six months since the SEC Alert, we have seen a lot of talk, but very little action by the RIA community to address the questions posed by the SEC,” commented Christopher Anderson, ITP’s head of business development. “No one seems to want to touch it; or it’s just not viewed to be that significant an issue – yet….and I emphasize yet!” continued Anderson.
The SEC Alert crosses boundaries between IT and Compliance. Many of the questions posed by the SEC are well beyond the technology capabilities of most compliance teams. Widening the chasm, very few of the IT staffs retained by the RIA have any understanding of SEC compliance. The result? Six months later everyone seems to be sitting on their hands.
ITP, through these assessments, will bridge this gap. With over a decade of IT service to the RIA community, ITP is positioned well to offer guiding information that is actionable by the RIA in the creation of technology policies governing this area of their firms. “This Alert takes the RIA so far beyond a disaster recovery plan or a business continuity plan. The SEC wants to know your policy in the event of some very specific events happening. For example, what is the RIA firm policy on a lost iPhone, which happens to have firm email on it and pictures of the user’s child celebrating a 1st birthday? Where is the incident report, who is responsible for collecting and reviewing it, and what is an IT team directed by the policy to do - wipe the device?” added Anderson. “These policies are technology based in nature, but frankly, require business and compliance input to be affective. Having ITP conduct an IT infrastructure assessment on the front end allows the advisor and their compliance team to have the foundation to formulate these policies.” Anderson suggested.
An ITP infrastructure assessment will consist of three phases - a pre-visit questionnaire, an onsite inspection and discussion, and a post-visit follow-up. Scheduling can be done by contacting ITP at info(at)investtechpartners.com
About Investment Technology Partners
Investment Technology Partners (ITP) provides technology outsourced solutions to firms in the investment community. Specializing in the delivery of hosted applications, data and support services for small to mid-sized financial advisory firms, the firm has extensive experience working within the financial services sector and is aware of the unique technology challenges faced by the industry.
Leveraging the same technologies utilized by many of the Fortune 100’s elite data centers, ITP serves their clients from offices in New York and Philadelphia. Data Center operations are in Raleigh, NC and Cincinnati, OH. Sales offices include West Chester, PA, Red Bank, NJ, Raleigh, NC and West Palm Beach, FL.
For more information contact Investment Technology Partners at 212-587-8700 or info(at)investtechpartners.com. Visit http://www.investtechpartners.com
Christopher Anderson, Investment Technology Partners, LLC, http://www.investtechpartners.com, +1 2125878700 Ext: 2, [email protected]
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