The American Institute of CPAs' 2012 Top Technology Initiatives Survey found managing and securing compliance as the technology goal mentioned by the most respondents. In making their selection, the AICPA asked respondents to rate their organizational goals for technology. The organization also released a selection of 10 technologies that will have the most impact on t heir or their clients' organizations.
The most mentions were given to managing risk and compliance, chosen by 65 percent with securing the IT environment and ensuring privacy both selected by 62 percent. Managing and retaining data came in with the choice of 61 percent with preventing and responding to fraud picked by 60 percent. That was followed by governing and managing IT investment/spending and managing vendors and service providers, both at 56 percent; managing system implementation, 52 percent; and leveraging emerging technologies, 34 percent. The percentages represent the number of respondents who felt either confident or highly confident their client or organization is handling the task appropriately.
Members selected the following for their 2012 impact on their or their constituents' organizations. These were information security; 2. remote access; 3. control and use of mobile devices; 4. business process improvement with technology; 5. data retention policies and structure; 6. privacy policies and compliance; 7. staff and management training; 8. spreadsheet management; 9. overall data proliferation and control; 10. portals (vendor and client/customer.