ACOM Solutions, Inc. has added features to its EZContentManager document management system focused on increasing flexibility, control and operating convenience. EZContentManager is a web-based document management system that allows companies to centralize corporate files of any type in a single password-secured data repository, with browser-driven retrieval and distribution engines providing enterprise search as well as handling under metadata or full-text search. New administrative support features in EZContentManager 3.9 include: a new layer of security based on document type and metadata (indexed field) values, increasing the amount of security that can be added to a group or user profile as well as what can be accessed through EZContentManager; the ability to edit group membership at the user level, aiding administrators in maintaining groups and their associated permissions; the ability to “globalize” – make available to all document types – metadata fields that are selection lists; and the addition of a faxed-document report to Administrative Tools. Enhancements for user efficiency include: The ability to retrieve an indexed field from a database while manually uploading a document; The addition of “move” to the existing cut/copy/paste editing features; The ability to roll back from a versioned document to the original version, allowing users to view the modification process; as well as the ability to email linked/associated documents in a single outbound message. http://www.acom.com/
Day: January 26, 2010
Vook announced the creation of MotherVook 1.0, a technology tool to provide a streamlined system for creating multi-media e-books, as well as an exclusive partnership with online video marketing services company, TurnHere. Vook’s publishing tool and increased video capacity through its partnership with TurnHere should give it better capability to meet the production needs of the digital publishing industry and produce many new titles in the coming year. An obstacle to this point in producing a multimedia ebook has been finding an effective system to assist in creating these new content mediums. The MotherVook 1.0 tool addresses this need by providing a system that can scale to production needs for multi-media e-books from multiple publishers and partners. Vook’s partnership with TurnHere will provide the company with a significant video capacity, which they view as a key element to the multi-media e-book experience. TurnHere’s network of more than 12,000 professional filmmakers across more than 70 countries produces online video content for companies. Feature highlights of the MotherVook 1.0 tool include: Central database management of all of the multi-media elements in a multimedia ebook including the text, jacket, e-commerce, pricing, video, links and images; Production of single XML doc that feeds across different devices and auto-formats; Streamlined text (epub) or word importing; Instant preview with partners, publishers, filmmakers and authors; Simple insert of assets to edit, preview and create vook to the web version, iphone and other devices; and the capacity to create multiple titles for the web version and preview mode. http://vook.com/
In a Regulatory Notice released earlier today, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) opined that brokerage firms and their registered representatives must retain records of all communications related to the broker-dealer’s business that are made through public blogs and social media sites, such as Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.
“Every firm that intends to communicate, or permit its associated persons to communicate, through social media sites must first ensure that it can retain records of those communications as required by Rules 17a-3 and 17a-4 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and NASD Rule 3110. SEC and FINRA rules require that for record retention purposes, the content of the communication is determinative and a broker-dealer must retain those electronic communications that relate to its “business as such.”
Brokerage firms will now be required to archive and make discoverable business-specific content produced by their employees. They will also have to establish and maintain procedures that ensure a supervisor has either approved an interactive electronic communication before it is posted, or that a “risk-based” method of post-communication review exists and is exercised.
“While prior principal approval is not required under Rule 2210 for interactive electronic forums, firms must supervise these interactive electronic communications under NASD Rule 3010 in a manner reasonably designed to ensure that they do not violate the content requirements of FINRA’s communications rules.
Firms may adopt supervisory procedures similar to those outlined for electronic correspondence in Regulatory Notice 07-59 (FINRA Guidance Regarding Review and Supervision of Electronic Communications). As set forth in that Notice, firms may employ risk-based principles to determine the extent to which the review of incoming, outgoing and internal electronic communications is necessary for the proper supervision of their business. “
In addition, FINRA’s guidance states that all organizations under its purview must establish and communicate social media usage guidelines for their employees, and that those individuals must also receive employer-provided training on those guidelines.
“Firms must adopt policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure that their associated persons who participate in social media sites for business purposes are appropriately supervised, have the necessary training and background to engage in such activities, and do not present undue risks to investors. Firms must have a general policy prohibiting any associated person from engaging in business communications in a social media site that is not subject to the firm’s supervision. Firms also must require that only those associated persons who have received appropriate training on the firm’s policies and procedures regarding interactive electronic communications may engage in such communications.”
FINRA’s guidance marks the beginning of a new era for financial services companies and their use of external social media. However, the Financial Services sector is not the only one that will be subject to regulation of communications made via blogs and other types of social software. An IBM Senior Product Manager related last week at Lotusphere that IBM customers in the Healthcare and Utilities industries were also beginning to ask about the management of user-generated and social content.
If your organization is currently required to comply with regulations pertaining to the use of email and instant messaging for business communication, expect to see similar requirements placed on your management of external blog and social media site posts in the near future. At some point, it is likely that these regulations will also be applied to internal communications conducted via enterprise social software.
Is your organization ready for this new era? Gilbane Group’s seasoned advisors can help you prepare to manage user-generated and social content. Contact us today to learn how.
TEAM Informatics has completed the acquisition of Frontline Logic, a software engineering firm focused on Oracle Universal Content Management (UCM) solutions (formerly Stellent), Google enterprise search, and Kofax document imaging. Both TEAM and Frontline are Certified Partners in the Oracle Partner Network (OPN). Frontline was formed in 2001 to focus on Stellent enterprise content management solutions. With the acquisition of Stellent in 2007 by Oracle, Frontline has become an Oracle partner. In addition, Frontline has programs underway with Google Search Appliance and Kofax technologies, as well as an ECM training offering. For both companies, Oracle Fusion Middleware has been the flagship capability. Within Fusion Middleware, TEAM is an Oracle Pillar Partner for Enterprise 2.0 in the US and Australia-New Zealand regions. E2.0 includes UCM, WebCenter, Records Management, Imaging, and Business Process Management. TEAM and Frontline have been establishing partnerships in other Fusion areas such as Identity Management, Service Oriented Architecture, Business Intelligence, and Platforms/DB. The combined company has offices in St. Paul, Kokomo, Sydney, and Anchorage. http://www.teaminformatics.com http://www.frontlinelogic.com
