Eliminate Errors in Your COTS

Today, corporations are steering away from building their own software systems, and focusing on improving technologies by integrating Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) based systems into their enterprise. Although heavy COTS customization is often required, building a new system from scratch is often too costly, time consuming, and risky.

With dozens of choices and powerful brands including SAP, Oracle, PeopleSoft, and others, companies are on the road to retirement of home grown legacy systems (as well as the legacy platform COTS of yesteryear).

As with most technology products, brochures can over-promise. And COTS claims to inherently solve Information Integrity concerns are likely to disappoint (especially for those used to the enhanced value of information they've experienced from legacy systems under the watchful eye of automated and independent information controls).

To a large extent, COTS systems can bring forth important IT progress. Consolidation of a collection of incumbent legacy applications built over a long period of time can be good. Expanding functionality to sought-after features, another. But embedded COTS controls are a limited approach to reaching or sustaining the levels of Information Integrity that give you a competitive advantage.

Control Independence
Embedded controls in COTS are not independent. Independence should exist on several different levels. Algorithmic independence means that the application's business rules are validated using logic executed separate from the systems being controlled. Additionally, separation of duties provides that controls are designed and administered separate from design and administration of controlled systems.

Good control systems should be able to reconcile COTS data with data from historical trends and or independent databases or systems -- embedded controls often fall short on this as well. Independent controls offer superior levels of risk mitigation.

End to end
Controls must span systems both upstream and downstream of COTS. Embedded controls often just cover the proverbial posterior of the COTS module at hand. In many cases they help preclude coverage in cases where the COTS module is getting input of data outside ranges that it can handle. Worse, in most cases embedded controls cannot control material aspects of customizations that have been added to the COTS. Don't expect much from controls that can't reach past the systems they are embedded within.

Standardize
Controls that can be standardized across the enterprise drive down the cost of control system ownership and also streamline compliance. They can be deployed enterprise-wide across content, processes, and systems. Embedded controls often cannot be integrated with your other existing business applications without the kinds of extensive and intrusive changes that actually heighten (not lessen) the risk of information errors.

Ensure your COTS transition is a success with independent, automatic and continuous controls that can be implemented in a standardized way end-to-end across the enterprise.

Go Green with Infogix Controls™

The waste that accompanies information errors comes in all sizes - including things harmful to the environment. As a growing trend, companies are focusing on eco-friendly initiatives including paperless offices, promoting recycling and preserving water to help conserve.

The biggest environmental threat from large corporations often lies within their data centers. In recent studies, the EPA found that data centers consumed over 60 billion kilowatt hours. To combat the problem, corporations are adopting energy efficient methods.

Companies can save energy by eliminating errors. Eliminating errors enables more efficient use of IT resources - both human and machine. Less rework, reruns, and other error mitigation activities translates into getting it right the first time. That means quicker, and with less server time - and less energy.

Also, getting customers onto paperless account statements means they need to trust their online experience. It needs to be accurate, consistent, and reliable. Every time. All the time. Or they're going to call and switch back to paper. Use Infogix Controls to keep online account information accurate 24-7-365.

Less errors means less waste. Go green with Infogix Controls. Save your company a bundle while saving the planet too.