Forrester: - Making Leaders Successful Every Day

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX) is regarded by most as an onerous and expensive compliance requirement. But, an emerging view embraces it as a program to drive business integrity and operational efficiency. The first round of Section 404 compliance to evaluate internal controls was a hectic learning experience. In 2006, more mature compliance efforts will leverage technology to support internal controls evaluation and controls automation and monitoring. In addition, many companies will make significant investments for overdue improvements in their core accounting and reporting systems. Meanwhile, the software market for SOX-related solutions is about to undergo a significant consolidation.