Prodiance eDiscovery:
Automating Discovery & Risk Assessment for Critical Spreadsheets
Spreadsheets and Access databases are inherently difficult to maintain because they are user-driven, stored on disparate servers and employee PCs, and outside the control of IT departments. Determining which ones are critical to your business can be challenging without an automated solution. Leading tax and audit firms recommend discovery and risk assessment as the first and perhaps most critical steps in controlling spreadsheets, yet organizations often struggle with identifying the hundreds and thousands of spreadsheets created each day by end users. Moreover, manual discovery and inventory processes have proven time and resource intensive and not sustainable.
Prodiance eDiscovery is a powerful new application that automates the ongoing discovery, inventory and risk assessment for mission critical spreadsheets, Access databases and other user-developed applications while promoting auditability and better control.
Key Features & Capabilities
- Periodically scans all network computers for critical spreadsheets and other end user developed applications.
- Scans are scheduled and performed based on a variety criteria including file location, file name and type, custom file properties, date or date range files were created or modified, risk level, and schedule (e.g. time, frequency, recurrence).
- Evaluates risk level based on spreadsheet materiality and complexity criteria.
- Maintains a centralized inventory, including any new spreadsheets or those discovered "since last discovery."
- Optional desktop “agents” discover and inventory files on employee PCs.
- Generates comprehensive inventory reports, which are scheduled and sent to managers in a variety of formats via email.
How it Works Prodiance eDiscovery incorporates a powerful software engine that scans an organization’s network on a routine basis, and incorporates the eDiscovery results into a centralized inventory. Once files are discovered and incorporated into the inventory, they are assessed for risk based on pre-defined criteria for materiality and complexity. Managers are sent discovery and risk assessment results via emailed reports, and administrators can then optionally move inventoried files into a controlled environment. To tap into files stored on employee PCs, Prodiance eDiscovery incorporates an optional desktop “agent” which sends eDiscovery results from remote desktops back up to the server.
Solving Ongoing Discovery Needs Many organizations create their inventories at the onset of a new spreadsheet controls project or initiative, but the problem is ongoing. New spreadsheets are created by end users on a daily basis, making initial inventory lists obsolete almost as soon as they are published. Prodiance eDiscovery allows organizations to get their arms around their initial and ongoing inventory while dynamically incorporating new files as they are created to provide improved auditability and better control.
Improved Compliance & Risk Mitigation With Prodiance eDiscovery, organizations can automate initial and ongoing discovery and inventory for mission critical spreadsheets, Access databases and other user-developed applications. Prodiance eDiscovery supports the latest guidance and best practices from leading tax and audit firms, promoting auditability, improving internal controls and reducing operational risk.
Ready to Take the Next Step? Sign up for an online seminar or contact a Prodiance representative to schedule your personalized product demonstration today!