Watch CBS News

Online Tech Raises Bar with Latest SAS 70 Audit

Ann Arbor-based data center operator Online Tech said Friday it had completed its latest SAS 70 Type II audit for the second year in a row.

New to this year's report was a complete audit of Online Tech's managed data center services, including online backup and monitoring, and virtualization and firewall management services.

UHY LLP, an independent auditing firm, conducted the SAS 70 audit of Online Tech's processes and controls of their data centers.

By completing the SAS 70 (Statement on Auditing Standards number 70) audit process, Online Tech's clients have assurance that its data centers and managed services consistently demonstrate a high standard of security and control. SAS 70 for data centers is similar to ISO 9000 standards for manufacturing enterprises or Sarbanes-Oxley requirements for publicly traded companies. It is a nationally recognized audit standard for evaluating process and security control procedures across the data center.

"With our commitment to quality and repeatable processes in every aspect of our business, we took on the challenge to assure we 'walk the talk' when it comes to managed data center services" said Online Tech president Mike Klein. "The managed services have become a growing part of our business and we wanted our auditors to give it the same amount of attention as they do with our data centers."

UHY examined the Midwest data centers closely, specifically examining control objectives in the areas of organizational structure, governance and administration, physical and environmental controls, physical and network security, and system availability and performance. This year's audit was expanded to include a review of Online Tech's managed services.

The SAS 70 audit was developed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants as a means of auditing and reporting the effectiveness of operations and controls of a service provider.  In March 2010, the AICPA announced a new set of standards called SSAE 16 (Statement on Standards for Attestation Engagements 16) which will effectively replace SAS 70 in June 2011. The new set of standards aims to modernize the U.S. service organization reporting standard so that it reflects and conforms to the new international service organization reporting standard – ISAE 3402.

Online Tech has been operating under the new SSAE 16 standards since Aug. 1 2010 and the addition of their managed services to the audit is just one of many things they are doing to gear up for the new standards.

Online Tech owns and manages secure and reliable multi-tenant data centers in Michigan.  More at www.onlinetech.net.

(c) 2010, WWJ Newsradio 950. All rights reserved.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.