| Verified by a grueling and prestigious certification | | | | well-meaning people with whom you likely transact |
| process, AmCheck, a Phoenix based provider of | | | | commerce are vulnerable to the threats, unintentional |
| Payroll Services and Professional Employer | | | | or otherwise of the computer age. |
| Organization (PEO) services (split this into two links | | | | SAS No. 70 Audit is generally applicable when an |
| Professional Employer Organization (PEO) services) | | | | auditor ("user auditor") is auditing the financial |
| has taken successful steps to ensure that the data | | | | statements of an entity ("user organization") that |
| of their allied companies, clients and business partners | | | | obtains services from another organization ("service |
| is safe and secure. The Statement on Auditing | | | | organization"). Service organizations that provide such |
| Standards (SAS) No. 70 is an internationally | | | | services could be application service providers, bank |
| recognized auditing standard developed by the | | | | trust departments, claims processing centers, |
| American Institute of Certified Public Accountants | | | | Internet data centers, or other data processing |
| (AICPA). By completing the rigorous SAS 70, | | | | service bureaus. |
| AmCheck has demonstrated that it has had its | | | | As such a service organization, in this case specifically |
| control objectives and control activities examined by | | | | a payroll services and HR solutions provider, |
| an independent accounting and auditing firm. | | | | AmCheck has been through an in-depth audit of their |
| As AmCheck's President, Dean Lucente, breaks it | | | | business control activities, which generally include |
| down, "It proves to our commitment to internal | | | | controls over information technology and related |
| quality controls is paying off. It proves to our market | | | | processes, to receive the prestigious SAS 70 |
| that we care about our internal controls." It proves | | | | certification. |
| that such care is thorough and that it's result is a | | | | "This assures clients that their information is secure," |
| secure business system. | | | | says Lucente. "This is about trusting us with your |
| Such SAS-70 certification is necessary because it | | | | most intimate information." One way AmCheck limits |
| indicates that AmCheck can be trusted with their | | | | their exposure, for example, is by processing all their |
| client's valuable information while providing them with | | | | data domestically as opposed to many companies |
| payroll services and HR solutions.(links) For just as | | | | who outsource their data control to other countries. |
| technology has increased efficiency in the business | | | | "Our data never crosses international borders," |
| world, it has also created a whole slew of dangerous | | | | affirms Lucente. This precaution and others like it |
| potentialities - from cyber-snafus to entirely criminal | | | | have enable AmCheck to qualify for SAS 70, thus |
| sabotage and identity theft. Even the most mundane | | | | assuring business partners and clients that information |
| of transactions usually require enough information to | | | | is safe with AmCheck. |
| expose your company to real peril if it were to fall | | | | Some of the information above is based on the |
| into the wrong hands or find its way into some | | | | AICPA's audit guide entitled "Service Organizations, |
| accidental cyber tar pit. More than ever, the | | | | Applying SAS No. 70, As Amended". |