Compliance Spectrum's Spectra Automates the Lifecycle of IT Compliance -- Reduces Complexity and Lowers Risk

Compliance Spectrum, a leading provider of governance, risk and compliance (GRC) solutions, today announced the availability of Spectra, a complete IT compliance lifecycle management solution that reduces the complexity and lowers the risk of non-compliance of regulatory mandates through best practice workflow automation. Spectra provides CSOs, CFOs, CCOs, CIOs -- and their teams -- a framework to continuously monitor, measure and report on compliance status.

Austin, TX (PRWEB) July 11, 2007 -- Compliance Spectrum, a leading provider of governance, risk and compliance (GRC) solutions, today announced the availability of Spectra, a complete IT compliance lifecycle management solution that reduces the complexity and lowers the risk of non-compliance of regulatory mandates through best practice workflow automation. Spectra provides CSOs, CFOs, CCOs, CIOs -- and their teams -- a framework to continuously monitor, measure and report on compliance status.

Spectra provides an auditable, centralized repository that contains a comprehensive compliance content library and pre-populated policy templates based on ISO 17799 and COBiT. Additionally, Spectra automates policy/control creation, coordination, approval, distribution and communication. Integrated workflow, based on organizational responsibilities, ensures there is a mechanism to track and analyze compliance programs within an organization.

"We all know that the impact of compliance on IT has been resource intensive and costly," says Kathleen Wilhide, research director of GRC at IDC. "Vendors, like Compliance Spectrum, who are supplying solutions that automate IT governance, risk & compliance (GRC) from an IT lifecycle perspective represent the next generation of specialized GRC solutions."

Spectra uniquely incorporates "implementation guidance language" that supports multiple regulatory mandates (SOX, HIPAA, PCI, NERC CIP, etc.), and provides traceability for objectives, controls and evidence. These regulations can be cross linked to ISO or COBiT to ensure organizations can manage all their compliance efforts from one location.

Management dashboards provide an audit, issue tracking and reporting capability for internal and external audit activities, and immediately highlight -- on customizable dashboards -- issues arising from gaps in policy or evidence associated with policy implementation.

"We have assembled a team of compliance experts that have decades of experience managing complex compliance programs at very large enterprises, including the SEC and IRS," states Doug Pushard, CEO of Compliance Spectrum. "Spectra is designed to simplify and automate the compliance process based on real-world experience -- lessons learned and best practices."

Compliance Spectrum has formed a partnership with the University of Fairfax to invest in industry research and jointly publish thought leadership that is germane to compliance officers. Compliance best practices, derived from the primary research, will be published in IT Compliance Magazine and through live webinars.

"University of Fairfax has taken a bold step to offer an accredited masters and doctoral program serving IT compliance officers," said Dr. Victor N. Berlin, president of the University of Fairfax. "The academic connection to a leading edge vendor, and their respective customers, allows UoF to deliver a unique educational experience that can be applied immediately."

Spectra's software-as-a-service (SaaS) delivery model drives down cost and provides a mechanism for automatic content update that ensures compliance content up-to-date and accurate. Spectra's team of policy analysts, lead by subject matter experts and in partnership with the University of Fairfax and the SOX Institute provide routine updates to regulations, frameworks, and policies.

Chrisan Herrod, Editor in Chief of IT Compliance Magazine, said, "Interest in compliance best practices is at an all-time high. Organizations are no longer viewing compliance as an event, but rather a continuous process that requires cross-departmental involvement, assignment and commitment."

About Compliance Spectrum
Compliance Spectrum offers commercial IT governance, risk and compliance software solutions that empower highly regulated and complex organizations to address the complete lifecycle of compliance. Compliance Spectrum's flagship product, Spectra, provides an automation framework that streamlines the compliance process, lowering the cost of compliance while reducing the business risk of non-compliance. Compliance Spectrum has won numerous industry awards for its first generation product, Command Center. The company is headquartered in Austin Texas with offices in Houston, San Diego, Fairfax, Va., and London, England. For more information, visit www.compliancespectrum.com.

Press Contact:
Rick Berzle
(858) 271-4351

Chrisan Herrod
(941) 301-1893

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