Technology & Business Solutions Releases Claritas Q4 Update.
Potomac Falls, Virginia – Claritas, the user-friendly project performance management suite for Deltek products from Technology & Business Solutions LLC, keeps getting better and better. Continuing its commitment to on-going quarterly product updates, TBS has released its Q4 Claritas enhancements for all customers.
“We strongly believe that when customers make their choice for Claritas they should feel comfortable knowing they’re investing in a product that’s only going to get better, with additional robust features over time,” says TBS co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Jay Ethridge. “Our Claritas Q4 release increases that return, yet again.”
TBS Announces QuickBooks Cloud Hosting, Claritas Project Performance Management SaaS for QuickBooks.
Potomac Falls, VA – Technology & Business Solutions LLC is now providing Enterprise Cloud Hosting for Intuit’s QuickBooks Professional software, an accounting system utilized by over 20,000 mid-sized government contractors and organizations new to federal business.
Like all TBS hosted products, Intuit’s QuickBooks Pro is delivered as a platform from the TBS Enterprise Cloud, meaning all QuickBooks customers gain access to the latest software versions along with free and automatic software and year-end updates.
TBS Educates Northern Virginia Society of CPAs about Cloud Computing
December 13, 2011 -- Technology & Business Solutions LLC founders Jay Ethridge and Joe Jezior presented an educational workshop titled “The Cloud for You and Your Customer’s Business” at the annual winter gathering of the Virginia Society of CPAs’ northern chapter in Falls Church, Virginia.
“At our last Northern Virginia CPAs meeting, everybody said they wanted to learn more about cloud computing,” said NVSCPA professional development committee member, Cindy Laporta, a Principal at Kositzka, Wicks and Company. “I can think of no one better qualified than TBS to provide that education for CPAs.”
The TBS educational session provided a practical overview on the types of cloud services available in the marketplace, highlighted by a hands-on guide that helps organizations decide when and if cloud-based solutions are appropriate for their business systems.
“The rapid evolution of cloud services presents most organizations with more questions than answers,” says TBS co-founder and Chief Operating Officer, Joe Jezior. “So, it’s important to critically assess your business requirements system-by-system, in order to determine which cloud is best for you.”
WEBINAR: Managing Stakeholder Expectations for Project Success
Management Concepts, a preeminent training resource for government personnel and contract employees for over 36 years, is offering its complimentary webinar -- Managing Stakeholder Expectations for Project Success -- on Tuesday, July 26th from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. EDT. You can REGISTER HERE.
In today’s world of cross-functional, matrix-managed, virtual, and geographically dispersed teams, recognizing the expectations of your stakeholders is critical to the success of any project. While the expectations of some stakeholders may be straightforward and aligned with project goals, others may be unachievable or worse yet, unknown. Managing these relationships is key to ensuring requirements are met and ultimately project success is achieved.
In this webinar, you will learn how to:
- Implement a stakeholder-based approach to your projects
- Identify and meet stakeholder needs, requirements, and priorities
- Actively build and manage relationships with your stakeholders
Join Management Concepts for this interactive presentation, where you will have the opportunity to receive answers to your stakeholder-related questions, engage in polling and discussion questions, and learn about the tools that will help your projects succeed! Don't wait! Space is limited.
For more information contact Management Concept's John Driessnack at jdriessnack@ManagementConcepts.com, or REGISTER HERE.
SAS 70, SSAE 16, SOC2 and Data Center Standards
Editor's Note: The AICPA's audit program for service providers presents Cloud Computing customers with an alphabet soup of choices. In this informative overview Mr. Klein provides real insight into the best assurance standard for Cloud Services and Data Centers -- the AICPA's SSAE16-SOC2. He writes: "SOC 2 provides much more stringent audit requirements with a stronger set of controls specifically designed around data center service organizations. SOC 2 provides what was missing in the SAS 70 – a standard benchmark by which two data center audits can be compared against the same set of criteria. SOC 2 is a welcome standard to our industry. It will raise the bar for some, and allow others to shine under the stringent processes they already have in place."
Recently, our data center auditors, UHY LLP, presented us with an update on what’s going on in the world of SAS 70, SSAE 16, SOC 2 and SOC 3 auditing standards for data centers. There is still a lot of confusion around these standards and they still seem to be evolving, so I’m writing this article with the effort to capture the status of these standards as succinctly as possible.
SAS 70 (Statement on Auditing Standards No. 70) has been around for nearly 20 years. First released in 1992, it has been the gold standard for data center users to assure that their data center is secure and operating under proper control systems. According to the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA), SAS 70 was never designed to be used by service organizations in this manner. It was focused on internal controls over financial reporting.
SOC2: Expanding Service Organization Controls Reporting
Editor's Note: In this lengthy piece from The Journal of Accountancy, Mr. Halterman explains that the AICPA's SSAE16-SOC2 assurance standard is the right one for Cloud Computing service providers. He writes: "SOC 2 engagements are designed to meet the needs of user entities and other stakeholders by providing service organizations with criteria for describing their systems, criteria for evaluating the suitability of design and operating effectiveness of the service organization’s controls, and an independent CPA’s opinion on the description of the system and the design and operating effectiveness of the service organization’s controls. Examples of service organizations include cloud computing providers, payroll processors, information security service providers and information service providers."
Several prominent internal control breakdowns and increased focus on internal control by regulators, boards of directors and others charged with governance have led to increased demand for attestation reports on controls over subject matter other than financial reporting provided by an independent CPA. Neither Statement on Auditing Standards (SAS) no. 70, Service Organizations, nor the new standard that replaced SAS no. 70, Statement on Standards for Attestation Engagements (SSAE) no. 16, Reporting on Controls at a Service Organization, is intended to address controls relevant to these risks.
In response to this demand, the AICPA has developed the Service Organization Control (SOC) reporting framework. The framework is designed to help service organizations, their customers and CPAs understand the types of examination reports a CPA can issue related to service organization controls. The AICPA also has published new guidance for attestation reports to help meet this growing demand for internal control reporting.
The SOC (commonly pronounced “sock”) framework includes three reporting options. This article focuses on SOC 2 reports and engagements and provides some additional information on SOC 3 engagements.
SOC 1 engagements are performed in accordance with SSAE no. 16 and focus solely on controls at a service organization that are likely to be relevant to an audit of a customer’s financial statements.
SOC 2 engagements are performed in accordance with AT section 101, Attest Engagements, using the guidance provided in the Guide Reporting on Controls at a Service Organization Relevant to Security Availability, Processing Integrity, Confidentiality, or Privacy (SOC 2) (the SOC 2 Guide).
TBS is a wonderful partner to Deltek, and there’s no daylight between us.
"TBS is a wonderful partner to Deltek, and there’s no daylight between us.
There is a seamless synchronization between our two organizations.
Complete coordination.
TBS and Deltek have had a great relationship for years.
You’ll be in great hands with TBS."
Kevin Parker, President & CEO, Deltek, Inc.
TBS has an excellent responsive business model of client support.
I speak very highly of TBS to my network of clients and small businesses. TBS has an excellent responsive business model of client support. I refer to them all the time as the best business accounting system solution.
Our Experts
Jay G. Ethridge
Jay Ethridge brings over 20 years of experience in technical, managerial, and executive information systems management, support and consulting services. As TBS co-founder, Mr. Ethridge's experience in the Information Systems and Technology field is extensive and includes; designing and developing numerous technology systems, managing network application migration plans, vendor and budget management and project reporting. Prior to co-founding TBS, Mr. Ethridge served as a Vice President for Information Systems where he was responsible for an $8 million Information Systems budget and management of 42 managers, engineers, and customer support personnel. Significant accomplishments included design, implementation and operation of a 55-site wide area network.
Joseph H. Jezior
Joe Jezior has over 22 years of experience in guiding organizations through financial design, compliance, allocations and project costing to support complex government contracting requirements. As co-founder, Mr. Jezior led the development of TBS’s Partner Program and Partner services methodology. His leadership skills and experiences span business development, sales & marketing, strategic planning, P&L management, government contracting, professional services management, operations management, finance & administration and project management. Throughout his career, Mr. Jezior has developed executive-level relationships in diverse industries including information technology, aerospace & defense, and manufacturing. Prior to co-founding TBS, Mr. Jezior spent 13 years with Deltek and ultimately served as the Vice President of Professional Services and Director of Implementation Services. Mr. Jezior is a CPA and a member of the AICPA.
Our Products
Our Products
The TBS Solutions Suite is built around our three main priorities in The Cloud -- Security, Reporting and Integration.
With the TBS Cloud you get always-on, everywhere access with the very best security and regulatory compliance, SSL and AES256 data encryption, SAS 70 Type II, MA201, SOX and ITAR attestation.
Claritas, the TBS Program Management and Reporting SaaS, provides Project Managers and Financial Managers with real-time (posted, unposted and unprocessed) cost, budget and fee data direct from your Deltek GCS Premier, Costpoint, Time & Expense and Budgeting & Planning.
The TBS integration platform I.C.E. -- for Integrated Cloud Exchange -- connects Deltek with any HR, CRM or ERP software, at a fraction of the time and cost for traditional data consultants. With ICE, you control your own data integrations too through a fully secure and compliant Cloud interface.