On January 28, 2020, the SEC’s Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations (“OCIE”) released a detailed set of observations culled from thousands of examinations of registered investment advisers, broker-dealers, clearing agencies, national exchanges, and other SEC registrants (“Observations”). These Observations represent the most detailed compilation of strategies and tools that OCIE has observed to promote […]
Critical Audit Matters Disclosure Implicates Information Technology and Security
As independent auditors to public companies and business development companies begin to make required disclosure of Critical Audit Matters (CAMs) to the audit committee, such reports are beginning to include discussion of information security programs and information technology controls. Independent auditors have treated material weaknesses in certain information technology controls as material weaknesses in internal […]
SEC Issues Risk Alert Noting Common Regulation S-P Compliance Issues
The SEC’s Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations (“OCIE”) has issued a Risk Alert that provides an overview of the most common deficiencies or weaknesses in investment adviser and broker-dealer compliance with the Safeguards Rule, Regulation S-P, based on recent examinations. Placed in context with prior OCIE Risk Alerts concerning cybersecurity practices and Regulation S-P […]
Companion Cybersecurity Disclosure Bills Introduced in U.S. Congress
On February 28 and March 13, 2019, members of the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives introduced legislation designed to enhance the transparency of cybersecurity risk oversight at certain SEC reporting companies. Although the text of the House bill, H.R. 1731 is not yet publicly available, the bipartisan Senate bill, S. 592, would require […]
NYDFS Cybersecurity Regulations Nearly Fully Effective
The February 15, 2019 NYDFS compliance certification deadline represents the last annual compliance certification subject to the transition period for covered entities to come into compliance with the cybersecurity regulations. NYDFS now expects covered entities to certify as to their compliance with all but one provision of the cybersecurity regulations which relates to the implementation […]