Information security tops CPA tech issues in 2005: paperless office advances to No. 2 on the list. Spam slips to No. 4 while storage and authentication technologies debut in Top-10.

from the AICPA 

For the third consecutive year, information security appears to be the number one technology concern for CPAs, according to the results of the 2005 Top Technologies survey of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

The survey, conducted annually since 1990, seeks to determine the 10 most important technology issues for CPAs. There were more than 300 participants in the 2005 survey, a 30 percent increase over the previous year.

Spam Technology--an issue closely associated with information security--is not nearly as worrisome to CPAs as it was a year ago. It made its debut on the 2004 list at number two. On the new list it falls to number four.

"Because our work and personal lives are now inextricably linked to information systems, security will always be top of mind," said Roman Kepczyk, CPA/CITP, Chair of the AICPA's Information Technology Executive Committee. "We've seen major improvements to filtering systems, which have allowed us to bring spam under greater control."

A different issue closely allied with information security--electronic data management, or the paperless office--moved up to second place. It was number three last year. Authentication technologies and storage technologies appeared for the first time on the list and learning and training competency, reappeared at number 10 after a three-year absence.

The following are the 2005 Top 10 Technologies (new issues are indicated):

1. Information Security: The hardware, software, processes and procedures in place to protect an organization's information systems from internal and external threats.

2. Electronic Document Management (paperless or less-paper office): The process of capturing, indexing, storing, retrieving, searching and managing documents electronically. Formats include PDF, digital and image store database technologies.

3. Data Integration: The ability to update one field and have it automatically synchronize between multiple databases, such as the automatic/seamless transfer of client information between all systems. Data integration also involves the application-neutral exchange of information. For example, XBRL (eXtensible business reporting language) enables the seamless exchange and aggregation of financial data between companies and individuals, regardless of which applications they use to read, present and analyze data.

4. Spam Technology: The use of technology to reduce or eliminate unwanted e-mail commonly known as spam.

5. Disaster Recovery: The development, monitoring and updating of the process by which organizations plan for continuity of their business in the event of a loss of business information resources through theft, virus/malware infestation, weather damage, accidents or other malicious destruction.

6. Collaboration and Messaging Applications: Applications that allow users to communicate electronically, including e-mail, voicemail, universal messaging, instant messaging, e-mailed voice messages and digital faxing.

7. Wireless Technologies: The transfer of voice or data from one machine to another via the airwaves and without physical connectivity. Examples include cellular, satellite, infrared, Bluetooth, WiFi, 3G, 2-way paging, CDMA, Wireless/WiMax and others.

8. Authentication Technologies (new): The hardware, software, processes and procedures to protect a person's privacy and identity from internal and external threats, including digital identity, privacy and biometric authentication.

9. Storage Technologies (new): Storage area networks (SAN) include mass storage, CD-recordable, DVD, data compression, near field recording, electronic document storage and network attached storage (NAS), as well as small personal storage devices such as USB drives.

10. Learning and Training Competency (end users): This includes competency measuring, learning plans to increase the knowledge of individuals, and hiring and retaining qualified personnel with career opportunities that retain the stars.

From the AICPA Top Technologies Task Force Watch List

Five emerging technologies that are likely to be commercially accepted in the next 24-36 months.

1. RFID (Radio Frequency Identification): Silicon chips and an antenna that transmit data to a wireless receiver could one day be used to track everything from soda cans to cereal boxes. Unlike bar codes that need to be scanned manually and read individually, RFID tags do not require line-of-sight for reading.

2. Search: Companies such as Google, Apple Computer and Microsoft are putting research and development resources into new ways of pinpointing digital files that do not require wading through directories of folders.

3. Fuel Cells: Methanol-powered fuel cells represent an exciting alternative to aging battery technology that will help users complete the "everything wireless" puzzle.

4. Digital Home: The "non-desktop PC" technology--802.11 cameras monitor the office after hours or home during the day (security system), while a 42" plasma screen resides in the office conference room, as well as in the living room.

5. Display Technology: The continued evolution of various display technologies that provide higher resolution and of smaller devices with lower power needs. For example: Look for more single display devices to replace the need for separate television receivers and computer monitors.

For further information, please visit http://www.alcpa.org/infotech/technologies/toptechs.htm