Steadfast Networks Data Centers Pass SSAE16 Audit

Chicago, IL (PRESS RELEASE) July 20, 2011 – Steadfast Networks, a Chicago-based dedicated server hosting and colocation services specialist, today announced that its state-of-the-art data centers in Chicago and New York have successfully completed an SSAE 16 audit, marking the company’s ongoing commitment to secure and highly redundant hosting. These data centers at 725 S Wells and 350 E Cermak in Chicago and 121 Varick in New York City are among the first to achieve SSAE 16 compliancy and, by meeting with this new standard of data management and storage, Steadfast is giving customers the assurance they need to win larger contracts and increase revenue.

“We are extremely happy to have completed this recent third-party audit,” says Karl Zimmerman, CEO of Steadfast Networks. “We have always focused our resources on giving our customers the standards of security they require in all of our policies and procedures, so this SSAE 16 audit was treated as a matter of priority. Now, we are pleased to be one of the first SSAE 16 compliant data center facilities in the USA, giving every one of our clients the confidence to attract new customers.”

Outlined by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), Statement on Standards for Attestation Engagements (SSAE) 16 became effective on June 15th 2011, effectively superseding the auditing standard outlined by SAS 70. The new auditing protocol sets a standard for data redundancy, network security, and the reliability of data access, all of which are checked and tested by an external third-party auditing expert. Essentially, SSAE 16 holds businesses accountable for their service claims and compliance can only be certified if stringent service quality standards are met. Steadfast Networks is the first data center operator within Chicago to achieve SSAE 16 compliance, identifying it as a market leader at the forefront of new developments within the web hosting industry.

“We worked to make sure that, as soon as SSAE 16 came into effect, we were already nearing the end of our audit process, empowering our customers to do more business and make more money,” says Zimmerman. “From cloud hosting services to managed colocation hosting, every one of our customers can benefit from being hosted within a SSAE 16 audited facility, regardless of their hosting plan. Now, our customers can actively use SSAE 16 compliant hosting as a key selling point for their business infrastructure, without increasing their own audit load.”

Publically traded or public companies who use any managed hosting services or colocated hosting are often obligated to audit their service infrastructure, in order to provide shareholders and investors with assurances of service continuity and the effective management of mission critical systems. Equally, businesses that do not necessarily require SSAE 16 auditing can benefit from the comfort of knowing that their own IT network is protected by policies and procedures that keep the safe handling of data in mind. SSAE 16 can be a vital element of a successful Request for Proposal (RFP) response or quote for business - but the process of auditing can be time-consuming and expensive, prohibiting many organizations from achieving certified status. By working to become SSAE 16 compliant so soon after the standard became effective, Steadfast Networks is giving all of the businesses that depend on its facilities the best chance to secure new work and increase their customer base.

“At Steadfast Networks, we understand the importance of third-party reassurance when it comes to safeguards for hosted data,” says Zimmerman. “Knowing that your data is adequately protected and accessible helps to keep your business running and to attract new clients. That is why we have treated SSAE 16 with such priority, and that is why we will continue to strive for operational excellence and compliance across our data centers in the future. We love it when customers grow with us and aim to remove every barrier that could prevent that.”

By implementing SSAE 16 compliance, Steadfast Networks is defining itself as a key figure within the web hosting service industry, very much at the forefront of this ever-changing business. Steadfast Networks complements its highly customizable service range with state-of-the-art facilities and, as the demands of customers change and evolves, so too will the data centers that Steadfast own and operate. Customers interested in learning more about Steadfast Networks or their industry-leading Chicago data center facilities are encouraged to visit steadfast.net.

About Steadfast Networks

Established in 1998, Chicago based hosting company Steadfast Networks, delivers high quality, powerful servers through robust dedicated server hosting, colocated server hosting, virtualized servers including a new cloud platform, and an impressive choice of managed colocation services. Steadfast's award-winning services and dedicated support staff help customers from all over the world 24/7/365. Customers can choose basic hosting or a customized, fully managed dedicated server hosting solution, managed colocation solutions, or a cloud hosting solution that can be scaled up and down over time. Steadfast Networks offers 100% carbon neutral hosting services as an environment-friendly provider.

To learn more about Steadfast Networks, visit http://www.steadfast.net.