Earthlink Help Desk Scores SSAE 16 SOC 2 Certification

Earthlink Help Desk Scores SSAE 16 SOC 2 Certification

By Doug Barney

Accountants can probably explain SSAE 16 in their sleep. They probably also know its formal name, the Statement on Standards for Attestation Engagements no. 16, and the fact this standard is promulgated by the Auditing Standards  Board (ASB), which they also know is part of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, an outfit professional number crunchers just call AICPA.

Earthlink is probably just as well versed in SSAE 16, having just won this certification for its managed help desk offering Earthlink TechCare.

SSAE is all about proper accounting at service organizations. So why does this matter? Often service providers do things that impact the finances of the customer. If the provider does processing of claims, services loans, handles payroll, or outsources ERP or other important, this can affect the finances of the services customers.

Having proper accounting controls on both sides of the fence is essential for good business, and staying inside the bounds of the law.

EarthLink got a somewhat different SSAE 16 certification called SOC 2. This is a report that revolves around non-financial controls, such as privacy and confidentiality, availability and security.

“For businesses with complex compliance and security needs like those in the retail, healthcare and financial sectors, this independent validation of TechCare reassures them that their employees will experience a consistent, high-quality service,” said Michael D. Toplisek, EarthLink’s executive vice president of sales and marketing.

SOC 2 is based on four Trust Service Principles: Communications, Policies, Procedures and Modeling, according to SSAE-16.com.

“Each of the principles have defined criteria (controls) which must be met to demonstrate adherence to the principles and produce an unqualified opinion (no significant exceptions found during your audit). The great thing about the trust principles is that the criteria businesses must meet are predefined, making it easier for business owners to know what compliance needs are required and for users of the report to read and assess the adequacy,” the website explained.

Now Earthlink prospective and existing customers can turn to the SOC 2 report, which examines how TechCare operates in terms of procedures, systems and processes.




Edited by Alisen Downey
Get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. [Free eNews Subscription]

MSPToday Editor at Large

SHARE THIS ARTICLE
Related Articles

Real Estate Forecast 2025: Emerging Developments and Market Shifts

By: Contributing Writer    7/1/2025

Buying or selling property can be challenging. Rising mortgage rates and fluctuating home prices leave many uncertain about their next move. Business …

Read More

Protecting Business Assets with Smarter Security Frameworks

By: Contributing Writer    7/1/2025

Protecting your business is more challenging than ever. Cyber threats are increasing every day. Hackers target small and large businesses alike, searc…

Read More

Reimagining Public Transportation in the Era of Smart Mobility

By: Contributing Writer    7/1/2025

Public transportation can be frustrating. Buses stuck in traffic, late trains, and hard-to-navigate systems often leave people stressed or stranded. M…

Read More

SonicWall Powers Secure Access for Missouri MSP, Improving Cybersecurity and Network Access for Clients

By: Erik Linask    6/27/2025

With SonicWall, Stronghold Data delivers a modern, secure remote access solution that ensures access to networks and resources and improves cybersecur…

Read More

Guardz Unleashes AI-Driven ITDR to Combat Escalating Identity-Based Threats

By: Erik Linask    6/26/2025

The launch of Identity Threat Detection and Response (ITDR) gives MSPs the tools to defend SMBs against increasingly sophisticated attacks targeting u…

Read More