Society Adopts New Technology Plan

By Alan Schmelkin

At its October 5th meeting, the NYSSCPA Executive Committee approved a new three-year technology plan to enhance current systems and operations. The plan's most significant recommendation is to replace the existing information management system, now more than 15 years old, with a package currently used by more than 30 state CPA societies. Other aspects of the plan deal with more secure system backups, improved virus protection, and enhanced network capabilities.

"This upgrade brings state-of-the-art support to our members while implementing a Year 2000 compliant system," said Kevin Lewis, the Society's manager of technology and information systems, who was primarily responsible for developing the plan. "This system will help our staff carry out their duties with greater cost-effectiveness and efficiency, while remaining flexible enough to accommodate evolving products and industry advancements."

A new network server already has been installed in order to accomplish many of these objectives. As part of overall system enhancements, in the future members may receive faxes and other communications directly from the NYSSCPA's Central Information System. The Society's website, www.nysscpa.org, also will benefit from a more stable operating environment, which will provide better availability, reliability, and access to members and other site users.

In order to better serve members, a new telephone system will replace the current system, which is rapidly becoming obsolete. *