ALTA Elite Providers Form Affiliation to Offer Best Practices Compliance Solution
(PRWEB) April 05, 2016 -- PYA (Pershing Yoakley & Associates, P.C.), Real Estate Data Shield, and Security Compliance Associates have entered into an elite affiliation that offers real estate settlement service providers including title agents, settlement agents, attorneys, escrow companies, notaries, etc., the very first single-source compliance solution, which will be branded Certification+. These three American Land Title Association (ALTA) Elite Providers have come together to deliver a unique package of information technology, cyber security, education, and industry-specific compliance solutions. The Certification+ brand will offer a discounted security and compliance bundled service aimed at satisfying the regulatory and compliance requirements for each of the seven pillars of ALTA’s Best Practices to meet both lender and regulator mandates.
Created by best-in-class solutions providers, Certification+ is poised to offer the most comprehensive compliance solution in the settlement industry. “Our goal is to assist both lenders and service providers by streamlining the certification process with a bundled compliance package and single point of contact under an easily recognized brand name,” said Mike Shamblin, Managing Principal of Audit & Assurance Services with PYA. “Certification+ is the brand that will deliver an unparalleled, lender-oriented certification package, which includes employee education, seven-pillar certification, and cyber/information security compliance,” commented Shamblin.
“As lenders, regulators, and title insurance underwriters escalate their certification requirements to ensure that personal information and settlement funds are secure, our companies have joined forces to make it easier for agents and attorneys to complete ALTA Best Practices certification while meeting GLBA compliance requirements,” said Chris Gulotta, CEO of Real Estate Data Shield. “Offering a one-stop-shop for a suite of compliance services through industry-leading organizations makes sense for all industry stakeholders—from lenders, to service providers, and ultimately to consumers. Our organizations had already been working together on common clients, so it was a natural progression to formalize our affiliation,” Gulotta said.
The Certification+ brand is affordable for both small and large settlement agents and law firms, and includes the following suite of services:
• E-Learning Data Security Staff Training
• Best Practices Assessment and Certification of Pillars No. 1 through 7
• GLBA Gap Analysis and Compliance
• Policy Templates
• Internal/External Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing… and more
“Our brands are the leading companies in the settlement arena, and we have each independently built
our reputations on offering superior solutions that are competitively priced. We are thrilled to offer an
all-inclusive compliance package to the settlement market that ensures compliance, information and
cyber security, and ultimately peace of mind for our clients,” commented Jim Brahm, CEO of Security
Compliance Associates.
The leadership team from the Certification+ member companies serves on the ALTA Best Practices
Task Force, Technology, Audit, Education, Membership, and Public Relations Committees. Members
are frequently asked to speak at leading industry conferences on topics relating to Best Practices;
cyber security; lender oversight; and federal and state information security laws, rules, and
regulations. In addition, many have executive-level experience as service providers, and have helped
shape the Certification+ process and solution to meet the precise needs of lenders, title underwriters,
and regulators, in a flexible manner that can be customized for clients of all sizes.
About Security Compliance Associates (SCA) http://www.scasecurity.com
SCA is the industry-leading assessment and certification provider for the Financial Institution Industry. SCA was formed in 2000 with over 14-years’ experience in delivering world-class IT information security assessment services throughout the United States. SCA’s engineers have completed thousands of IT information security assessments nationwide, and our company employs numerous credentialed engineers and security compliance professionals to meet the increasing demand for IT information security compliance solutions. Our engineers have over 100 years of combined IT information security experience including, but not limited to, NASA Mission Operations at Johnson Space Center, Department of Defense, and the National Intelligence Community.
SCA Contact: Jim Brahm, (877) 993-4472
About Real Estate Data Shield http://www.realestatedatashield.com
Real Estate Data Shield (REDS) was the very first company to achieve ALTA’s coveted Elite Provider designation. REDS provides title and settlement industry-specific data security staff training and tools designed to enable our industry to avoid data breaches and demonstrate compliance with all applicable laws and Best Practices. Its management team is led by a unique combination of internationally recognized privacy experts and real estate professionals. REDS staff training courseware has won two (2) e-learning awards, and REDS is a preferred vendor to many national title underwriters. The REDS 2.0 Compliance Management Platform provides title and settlement agents, attorneys, and notaries with practical solutions to the privacy and security challenges they encounter every day.
Real Estate Data Shield Contact: Chris Gulotta, (212) 951-7302
About PYA http://www.pyapc.com
For over three decades, PYA (Pershing Yoakley & Associates), a national professional services firm providing management consulting and accounting, has helped its clients navigate and derive value amid complex challenges. In addition to serving the healthcare and financial institutions industries, PYA serves the title industry with a comprehensive list of offerings, including: ALTA Best Practices implementation and assessment; strategic planning; mergers and acquisitions; tax compliance; and regulatory compliance.
PYA’s steadfast commitment to an unwavering client-centric culture has served the firm’s clients well. PYA is ranked 103rd by INSIDE Public Accounting’s “Top 200” Largest Accounting Firms. PYA affiliate companies offer clients world-class data analytics, professional real estate development and advisory resources, comprehensive claims audits for self-insured Fortune 500 companies, wealth management and retirement plan administration, and business transitions consulting.
PYA is headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee. For more information, please visit
http://www.pyabestpractices.com.
PYA Contact: Mike Shamblin, (800) 270-9629
Ed Pershing, Pershing Yoakley & Associates, http://www.pyapc.com, +1 (800) 270-9629, [email protected]
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