Bakersfield, CA (March 25, 2015) – GrowthCorp Alliance LLC (GCA), a leading human resource management company, today announced that it has successfully completed a Statement on Standards for Attestation Engagement No. 16 (SSAE 16) Type II examination for their Small Business Productivity Suite, Payroll and Software as a Service System (SaaS). GCA retained international business advisory firm Skoda Minotti for its SSAE 16 audit work. GCA selected Skoda Minotti after an intensive search based on Skoda Minotti’s reputation as a leading assurance solutions and compliance company.

According to Jeffrey D. Thorn, CEO of GCA, “Skoda Minotti is a leader in SSAE 16 and Service Organization Control (SOC) reporting and IT advisory solutions.”

Ben Osbrach, CISSP, CISA, QSA, partner-in-charge of Skoda Minotti’s risk advisory group says, “We were excited to work with GCA from the very start, they are an intriguing organization delivering high quality software services and this adds to our growing SOC reporting practice. Software as a Service providers continue to be a key industry for SOC reporting.

SSAE 16, also known as a SOC 1, is an internationally recognized auditing standard developed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. A SOC 1 report 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 engagement illustrates GCA’s ongoing commitment to create and maintain the most stringent controls for the protection and security of its customers’ confidential information. More information about GCA and their services can be found at www.growthcorpalliance.com.

The rigorous SOC 1 Type II examination, which included detailed testing of GCA’s controls, was performed by an independent licensed Certified Public Accounting firm that specializes in conducting SOC reports, PCI DSS Compliance, FISMA, NIST and other regulatory information security assessments. The auditor examined GCA’s controls related to network connectivity, firewall configuration, secure software development life cycle, computer operations, database access, data transmissions, backup, disaster recovery, fire suppression, physical security, payroll, HR and benefits administration. Following the audit, GCA received a Service Auditors’ Report with an unqualified opinion, demonstrating that GCA’s policies, procedures, and infrastructure for data protection, security, and confidentiality met or exceeded the stringent SOC 1 criteria.

“The successful completion of our SOC 1 Type II examination audit provides our customers with the assurance that the controls and safeguards we employ to protect and secure their data are first-rate,” said Jeffrey D. Thorn, CEO.

SOC Reports 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. GCA’s customers can easily incorporate its Service Auditors’ Report in their Sarbanes-Oxley compliance programs as proof that appropriate controls are in place. The SOC 1report can also help GCA’s customers to comply with other regulations, including HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act), GLBA (Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999), and ISO 27001.

About – GrowthCorp Alliance

GrowthCorp Alliance is a leading human resource management company with its offices located in Bakersfield, California and Tampa, Florida. Today, GrowthCorp Alliance is focused specifically in the small business sector by offering a unique web-based first-to-market productivity suite called EXTO for small business owners and their employees.

EXTO is a membership-based all-inclusive integrated small business HR and Talent Management tool that also contains a nationwide Perks & Rewards program, Employee Self-Service portal, and Full-Service Payroll including tax filings and W-2 management. This offering provides the small business owner a no cost B2B/B2C network of over 289,000 vendors plus an Employee Health & Wellness package.

GrowthCorp Alliance credits its success to having the ability to listen to our clients and embrace innovation and change.