SSAE 16, The New Standard
So you have been performing a SAS 70 for the last couple years, or, are getting ready prepared to embark on your first SAS 70, and all of a sudden you hear that a brand new standard has been issued! Don’t worry about it! SSAE 16 is an improvement to the current standard for Reporting on Controls at a Service Organization, the SAS70, with some changes that will help bring your company and the rest of the companies in the US up to date with new international service organization reporting standards, ISAE 3402. This will help allow you and your counterparts in the US be able to compete on an international level, allowing for companies around the world to be able to use YOU as their service organization with complete comfort. One very important issue that you should be very aware of is that SSAE 16 will formally be issued in June 2010 with an effective date of June 15, 2011, meaning that if you are not on top of this new standard soon, you need to be. Many organizations have a 12 month testing period that begins in July, and if this sounds like your company, you will be required to be compliant with the New Standards as of July 1, 2010. Major differences between SAS 70 and the New Standard, SSAE 16 and ISAE 3042: 1) Management of the Service Organization will be required to provide the service auditor with a written assertion about the following, when performing
