GLS Companies Now Offering SOC 2 Client Data Security Assurances

BROOKLYN PARK, MN—Jan. 10, 2012—GLS Companies, a leading print, direct mail and marketing services company, has completed a rigorous review of procedures designed to assure the highest levels of client data security. Undertaken by certified third-party auditors, the review documents the company’s security policies and procedures and can be used by clients to verify practices that assure data protection and confidentiality.

The review adheres to new audit standards, referred to as Service Organization Controls or SOC 2, developed by the American Institute of CPAs to provide reliable, standardized documentation of vendor company data protection practices. Key SOC 2 audit standards enable client companies to review reliable reports of procedures used to secure data like client and customer mailing lists, proprietary product and marketing information, and physical assets.

Among the first in the printing industry, the GLS’ new SOC 2 reports (replacing reports generated under what was known as the SAS 70 auditing standards) include two key areas of review: physical access to client data and network security. The lengthy process, started last year, scrutinized the way that GLS collects, processes, transmits stores, organizes, maintains and disposes of client information. The final report also covers plant security procedures including building access and personnel identification along with an analysis of network security including scrutiny of firewalls, password protection and more.

“Undertaking SOC 2 audits to assure our clients of rigorous adherence to best practices in data security is only one of our latest efforts to meet our clients’ needs,” said Frank Powell, GLS’ chief technology officer. “For clients requiring compliance with a high level of data security, our SOC 2 audit report provides details of our wide ranging data security practices, all carefully designed to protect client data.”

About GLS
GLS Companies is a Minnesota-based print, direct mail company with national reach that combines state-of-the-art conventional printing with expertise in a full range of digital and new-media technologies. The company assists clients with development and implementation of highly targeted, multichannel marketing communications programs.