We’re Leading the Way in 17a-4 Data Compliance
I’ve noticed lots of confusion these days about data compliance, I don’t know whose fault it is – could be the regulators, or the compliance officers, could be the consultants; I suspect it’s the big IT vendors trying to up-sell us (you know who I'm talking about) but the problem is no one is coming [...]
Since we are a FINRA Designated Third Party (D3P) currently doing data archiving for customers, I decided to help firms with cybersecurity too. So naturally I downloaded FINRA’s Cybersecurity Checklist for Small Firms in attempts to get some guidance, boy was I disappointed, and surely I’m not alone. I mean if you’re a small [...]
Compliance officers end up feeling like they’re hanging from a tree, scratching their heads when it comes to FINRA rule 17a-4. Its complex and they need to also understand the technology behind it; at the same time, few have the expertise to fully grasp it. However, the best way to approach 17a-4 (especially if you’re [...]
An important thing I’ve learned working with small FINRA firms over the past 20 years is their need to continually find ways to keep technology spending as low as possible yet keep regulators happy, i.e., pass the 17a-4 electronic records request. It’s not a simple task since there are lots of ways to store data, [...]
