18th Annual Top Technology Initiatives survey results

Information security management is expected to continue to have a powerful influence over business in 2007, according to the 18th Annual Top Technology Initiatives survey of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). For the fifth consecutive year, the survey identified information security as the technology initiative expected to have the greatest effect in the upcoming year.

A related initiative, identity and access management, jumped from sixth place in 2006 to second in 2007. Privacy management also nudged its way up from fifth to fourth place, while four new initiatives made their debut in this year's top 10: Securing And Controlling Information Distribution; Mobile And Remote Computing; Electronic Archiving And Data Retention; And Document, Content And Knowledge Management.

"This top technology survey provides the CPA's unique perspective regarding the impact of technology on financial management and the fulfillment of other fiduciary responsibilities, such as the safeguarding of business assets, oversight of business performance and compliance with regulatory requirements," said Barry Melancon, CPA, President and CEO of the AICPA. "We sponsor this survey each year because we believe that it is critical for CPAs to stay abreast of the latest technology initiatives and provide guidance regarding its impact to their clients and employers."

In addition to its Certified Information Technology Professional (CITP) Credential holders and IT Section members, the AICPA collaborated with the Information Technology Alliance (ITA) and ISACA as their members share similar perspectives on the top technologies impacting business today. The survey was conducted in December 2006 under the supervision of a task force led by David Cieslak, CPA, CITP, GSEC, Chairman of the AICPA's Information Technology Executive Committee. More than 1,500 participants ranked the 30 technology initiatives they felt will have the most significant impact in the next 12 to 18 months.

"Organizations continue to make large-scale IT-related investments and, while the rewards can be significant, the potential for financial loss or harm to reputation due to a security problem is a growing concern," said Everett C. Johnson, CPA, International President of ISACA. "Businesses are realizing that control and value are achieved by focusing on what IT enables the business to achieve, rather than on the technology itself. As the survey indicates, there is a clear need for management, auditors, and IT professionals to ensure that the appropriate security and governance processes are in place."

The 10 most important technology initiatives for 2007, along with their definitions, are as follows:

1. Information security management
2. Identity and access management
3. Conforming to assurance and compliance standards
4. Privacy management
5. Disaster recovery planning and business continuity management
6. IT governance
7. Securing and controlling information distribution
8. Mobile and remote computing
9. Electronic archiving and data retention
10. Document, content and knowledge management

For more information on the list, visit http://www.aicpa.org/infotech

•Date: 8th Feb 2007 • Region: US •Type: Article •Topic: IT continuity
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