Web Hosting Provider SoftLayer*****Completes SSAE 16 Audit

"SoftLayer Technologies is a Web hosting provider,which announced on Thursday it has successfully completed the SSAE 16 audit for its 11 data centers.This announcement comes two weeks after SoftLayer chief executive officer Lance Crosby won an entrepreneurial award from Ernst & Young.According to the press release, the audit was performed by independent auditing firm Weaver and verified SoftLayer's data center in a SOC 1 report.SSAE 16 replaces the SAS 70 audit which was the standard review for organization control processes. SoftLayer says it has received SAS 70 Type II evaluations since 2008.

""We're committed to operating our data centers and facilities at a level that meets or exceeds the highest industry and regulatory standards,"" Steve Kinman, vice president of customer relations for SoftLayer said in a statement. ""We're proud to be one of the first in the web hosting industry to complete a SSAE 16 review, assuring our customers that they can count on us for best practices in all that we do.""

The evaluation included a full assessment of operations and customer service, development and information technology organization, human resource policies and risk assessment monitoring.According to the press release, the SOC 1 was prepared using the inclusive method that incorporates reviews of relevant SoftLayer service partners.""Not only do we want to provide customers with superior assurance and confidence in our operations, we wanted to make it easy for them,"" Kinman adds. ""Using the inclusive method streamlined the process. And we've created an easy-to-use tool in our customer portal so customers can e-sign the SSAE 16 non-disclosure agreement and immediately access the verification they need."""