basiQa, LLC a print production and mailing service provider announced today that it has successfully completed a Statement on Standards for Attestation Engagement No. 16 (SSAE 16 or SOC 1) Type II audit for their claims processing solutions. SSAE 16 effectively replaced SAS 70 on June 15, 2011.  SAS 70 was an internationally recognized auditing standard developed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the new SSAE 16 standard comes with additional requirements for service organizations. A SSAE 16 audit is performed by an independent auditing firm and examines the controls and processes involved in storing, handling, and transmitting data securely. The successful completion of the voluntary audit illustrates basiQa ongoing commitment to create and maintain the most stringent controls for the protection and security of its customers’ confidential information. More information about basiQa and their services can be found at www.basiqa.com

The rigorous Type II audit, which included detailed testing of basiQa controls, was performed by an independent licensed Certified Public Accounting firm that specializes in conducting SSAE 16 audits.  The auditor examined basiQa controls related to their network connectivity, firewall configuration, computer operations, database access, data transmissions, backup, software development, print processing and more.

“The successful completion of our SSAE 16 Type II audit gives our customers the assurance that we have reached the highest level of trust and confidence that is unequivocally required to do business with any company handling sensitive customer’s data. It allows basiQa to provide an internationally recognized level of security and controls to safely process, store and protect confidential customer information such as financial statements, legal documents, payroll as well as identity records and more..” said Joel Rowland, President and CEO of basiQa”

SSAE 16 audits have become increasingly important for data-handling service providers since the passage of the Sarbanes-Oxley legislation, which requires a company’s business partners to have adequate internal controls.  basiQa customers can easily incorporate its Service Auditors’ Report in their Sarbanes-Oxley compliance programs as proof that appropriate controls are in place. The SSAE 16 audit can also help basiQa customers to comply with other regulations, including HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act), GLBA (Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999), and ISO 27001.