StratexSystems proudly sponsor Manigent's 2014 Integrated Strategy and Risk Management Research Project

Inviting senior business leaders to participate in crucial new research into the integrated management of risk in the strategy execution process.

The need to integrate risk management into the strategic and operational decision-making has never been so great as we move out of recession and focus on growth. Many boards and regulators are asking the question – are we in better shape now than 2008/09? Have the lessons been learnt and embedded. To generate this insight we have partnered with Manigent to undertake a global survey into the status of risk management & specifically how it has changed over the last 5 years.

The research will focus on the following areas;

Integrating risk into strategic and operational decision-making. Applying risk appetite as a Board level management and control tool, not so much a regulatory ‘tick-box’ exercise. Lessons learnt from the credit crunch and how they have been applied today.

The initial survey will take 10 minutes to complete and will provide you with: Insights into emerging best practice around the integration of risk management into organisational strategic and operational decision-making. Insights into the use of risk appetite and the expectations of regulators Guidance to enable you to compare your firm with your peers from a strategy execution and risk management approach perspective.

The research questionnaire can be found here: http://fluidsurveys.com/s/integrated-strategy-and-risk-research/

Further information about the research can be found here: http://www.riskbasedperformance.com/research-2014/

The results of this research project will be made available to you via an interim report in May 2014. You will also have the opportunity to be interviewed face to face, after which a final report with a board briefing of findings will be made available to you.

Download the press release HERE

Should you have a question related to this research, or wish to partake in a short interview to aid us further, please drop us a line: William Rice william.rice@stratexsystems.com 07795 196690 Manigent Research Leader, Colin Lobley colin.lobley@manigent.com 07795 196283

Hosting on Microsoft Azure Environment

Overview of Stratex Environment for Microsoft Azure

StratexSystems hosts StratexPoint in the Microsoft Azure environment. We have dedicated resources to Azure which includes ongoing management through the management portal.

Through Azure Management Portal we can access our Cloud Service (hosted service) deployment and management tasks as well as at-a-glance status information that lets us know the overall health of our deployments and accounts. The Management Portal organises the components of our Azure deployments with constantly refreshed information that is easy to discover and understand.

Data Security Framework

Microsoft Azure

Microsoft Azure is a cloud computing platform and infrastructure. Azure was chosen for its’ ability to create comprehensive virtual environments, with import functionalities for applications from existing on premise hosted server systems, as well as providing solid data management features.

Azure is described as a "cloud layer" on top of a number of Windows Server systems, which use Windows Server 2008 and a customised version of Hyper-V, known as the Windows Azure Hypervisor to provide virtualization of services. Set as a cluster hosted at Microsoft's datacentres that manages computing and storage resources of the computers and provisions the resources (or a subset of them) to applications running on top of Azure.

Scaling and reliability are controlled by what is termed as Azure Fabric Controller. Services and the environment do not crash if one of the servers fails within the Microsoft datacentre and provides the management of the user's web application like memory resources and load balancing.

Azure is compliant with the E.U. Data Protection Directive (95/46/EC). Privacy and Security related concerns are managed in the Azure Trust Centre, and Azure has several of its services compliant with several compliance programs including ISO 27001:2005 and HIPAA. A full and current listing can be found on the Windows Azure Trust Centre Compliance page:

http://www.windowsazure.com/en-us/support/trust-center/compliance

To view more information on Azure, please visit the Azure homepage:

http://www.windowsazure.com

Enabling Effective Conduct Risk Webinar

Feb 19th 2014 "Enabling Effective Conduct Risk"

Webinar 10:00-11:00 GMT

Focusing on the FCA and the Conduct Risk agenda, in this webinar, "Enabling Effective Conduct Risk", StratexSystems will demonstrate how firms can effectively manage conduct risk by taking an integrated approach to strategy and risk management, and how the StratexPoint solution can support firms as they seek to meet the challenges of conduct risk and engage effectively with the new regulator around this agenda.

During the webinar, StratexSystems will outline:

‘The Seven Key Challenges of Conduct Risk Management’;

Managing and embedding Governance into the business Definition and embedding the Business Model Definition and execution of the Business Strategy with customers at its heart Enabling & embedding Conduct Risk specific processes Process Management, and specifically New Product Development Product level performance and risk management Conduct incident reporting and analysis StratexSystems will demonstrate during the webinar that Enabling Effective Conduct Risk Management is not about throwing everything that one currently does away and starting afresh but rather building on existing strategy execution and risk management processes and tools.

Additionally, during the webinar we will demonstrate that if firms approach Conduct Risk from the right perspective, they can generate significant value, beyond simply satisfying a regulatory compliance demand.

Configuring Reporting Services for SharePoint

SQL Server and Configuring the Report Server / Reporting Services

• Go to the SQL Server and select ‘Reporting Services Configuration Manager’

• Choose SharePoint Integrated Mode as the Report Server Mode

• Write a Virtual Directory i.e. ReportServer

• URL will be: http://SharePointServerName:80/ReportServer

To view the full document guidelines on configuration, click here

Risk-Based Performance Management Webinar

Introduction to Risk-Based Performance Management Webinar

6th February 2014

Webinar Overview:

To effectively streamline management and regulatory reporting, organisations need to adopt an integrated framework, which covers strategy (performance management), Risk & Compliance.

By attending this webinar, attendees will gain insights into the Risk-Based Performance Management methodology. This methodology, which builds on, and integrates the Balanced Scorecard, COSO and ISO31000 frameworks, provides a proven approach which enables organisations to streamline their management and regulatory reporting while delivering real business value.

Webinar Objectives:

• Understand the scale of management and regulatory reporting required, and therefore the opportunity to streamline the process and reduce costs.
• To gain an understanding of the Risk-Based Performance Management methodology.
• To develop an understanding of risk appetite and develop a clear, actionable framework for defining your risk appetite.
• To understand the relationship between strategic objectives, risk appetite and risk exposure, and tools for managing this relationship.
• To understand the role of strategic objectives and key risks, how to define, integrate and align these.
• To understand the role of initiatives and actions, and how they are aligned to drive your complete change agenda.
• To understand the role of risk and control assessment, key indicators and how assessment and indicator data can be used together to drive better decision-making.
• To gain an understanding of the Risk-Based Performance Management Maturity Model and how it can be used before, during and after implementation of a new strategy and risk framework.

Who should attend?

This webinar is recommended for executives, managers and analysts who are seeking the best practical knowledge and hands on experience in developing and implementing a streamlined management and regulatory reporting framework, with a particular emphasis on financial services organisations.

The webinar is FREE to attend

About the speaker:

Andrew Smart is the CEO & Founder at StratexSystems and is also a Founder of Manigent, a management and consultancy organisation which delivers performance and risk management solutions to Financial Services and other regulated industries within the UK & Europe.Andrew is also the creator of the Risk-Based Performance Management methodology. He holds an MBA from Henley Business School and is a Professional member of the Institute of Operational Risk. He has recently published a book entitled, "Risk-Based Performance Managaement- Integrating Strategy & Risk" which is available from Amazon.

About Risk Based Performance:

Risk-Based Performance Management (RBPM) is a strategic management methodology that integrates enterprise strategy, performance and risk management to enable organisations to align risk-taking to strategy to drive sustainable strategic execution. The RBPM methodology is designed to place risk management and specifically, risk appetite at the core of organisational strategy execution.

Building on existing management frameworks, such as the Balanced Scorecard, COSO and ISO31000 frameworks, RBPM developed as a result of a series of engagements completed with clients in the UK financial services industry in 2006/07. The methodology was further refined during a year-long academic research project involving 21 financial services organisations in the city of London.

Links:

http://www.manigent.com

http://www.riskbasedperformance.com

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Risk-Based-Performance-Management-Integrating-Strategy/

Conduct Risk Management Challenge 3- Definition & Execution of the Strategy

A central tenant of the FCA’s approach to regulation is to ensure that firms put market integrity and the interests of customers at the heart of their business strategy. 

You can DOWNLOAD our latest Whitepaper on Conduct Risk for FREE. Just visit HERE to claim your free Whitepaper PDF.

Conduct Risk Management Challenge 2- Definition of the Business Model

"To successfully deliver on the conduct risk agenda, we believe firms must start by asking themselves if they have defined a clear customer value proposition and is that embedded into the firm’s business model and strategy.

Based on our experience working with clients across the financial services industry we have identified seven key challenges of Conduct Risk Management."

This 7-part blog series will touch upon each of the seven key challenges and how they can be solved using our solution, StratexPoint.

*2. Definition of the Business Model *

A central tenant of the FCA’s approach to regulation is to ensure that firms put market integrity and the interests of customers at the heart of their business strategy.

For many firms, when it comes to their business model, the challenge is how to capture, monitor and manage the business model is such a way that the strategic logic of how the firm will create, deliver and capture value is clear and transparent, but also how the firm will create value for shareholders while delivering fair customer outcomes.

This need for greater clarity and transparency around the business model is a particular challenge for many organisations. They must also improve the monitoring and management of their business model so that they can identify changes in both the external and internal drivers within their business model, and react.

How does StratexPoint help?

StratexPoint integrates both strategy and risk management within a single software application – providing a single version of the truth from a strategic and risk management perspective. The solution enables the definition of ‘business drivers’ which are the key factors which underpin the success or failure of the firm’s business model. The solution also links business drivers from the firm’s business model to the definition of risk appetite and integrates business drivers into the risk assessment.

To see more on the 7 challenges of Conduct Risk Mangement and how StratexPoint can help your firm, please download the full version below:

You can DOWNLOAD our latest Whitepaper on Conduct Risk for FREE. Just visit HERE to claim your free Whitepaper PDF.

Conduct Risk Management Challenge 1- Managing and Embedding Governance

"To successfully deliver on the conduct risk agenda, we believe firms must start by asking themselves if they have defined a clear customer value proposition and is that embedded into the firm’s business model and strategy. 

Based on our experience working with clients across the financial services industry we have identified seven key challenges of Conduct Risk Management."

This 7-part blog series will touch upon each of the seven key challenges and how they can be solved using our solution, StratexPoint.

1. Managing and Embedding Governance 

Ineffective board oversight and challenge and other governance weaknesses have been identified as major contributory factors in the near total meltdown of the global financial services industry.

With such notable governance failures as a backdrop, it is not surprising that the FCA will be seeking to understand the governance arrangements of regulated firms and to gauge the effectiveness of those arrangements. 

Firms need to demonstrate that the corporate governance obligations, such as those from the UK Corporate Governance code, are embedded within the firm’s governance structure, specifically the recommendations from the Walker Report around Risk Appetite. 

Organisations also need to demonstrate that the appropriate committee & board structures are in place. They will have to demonstrate that an effective policy framework is in place, that the NED’s are qualified and effective in their role and that those Approved Persons are demonstrating the right leadership capabilities and behaviours. 

How does StratexPoint help?

Clarifying and embedding the governance arrangement within a firm is one of the benefits that our clients report once they have implemented the StratexPoint solution. It has a range of capabilities to support firms in their efforts to drive improvements in their governance processes and culture. 

StratexPoint includes the ability to create a range of governance related ‘tools’, such as a governance calendar to track board, committee and executive meetings, private meeting workspaces per meeting to hold documents, agendas, track decisions and capture actions etc. and policy libraries and policy management capabilities to ensure that all policies are available in a single location, they are controlled effectively and updated or approved by the right people. 

To see more on the 7 challenges of Conduct Risk Mangement and how StratexPoint can help your firm, please download the full version below:

You can DOWNLOAD our latest Whitepaper on Conduct Risk for FREE. Just visit HERE to claim your free Whitepaper PDF.

Fitch upgrades HML to RPS1- for UK residential prime and sub-prime

StratexSystems is very pleased to announce that HML’s UK residential primary (prime and sub-prime) servicer ratings have been upgraded to RPS1- from RPS2+ by Fitch. HML’s new RPS1- primary (prime) servicer rating is the highest of any third-party mortgage administration company in the UK and Ireland. Its RPS1- primary (sub-prime) rating is the highest in Europe.

The rating agency highlighted HML’s robust internal control and risk management frameworks, as well as an increased focus on staff training and IT investment, particularly the company’s iPortal online client reporting tool.

Commenting on the rating upgrades, Andrew Jones, chief executive officer of HML, said: “We are delighted with the news that Fitch has upgraded our UK residential primary (prime and sub-prime) servicer ratings from RPS2+ to RPS1-. We are now the highest-rated third-party mortgage administration company in the UK and Ireland for UK residential primary (prime) and the highest-rated in Europe for UK residential primary (sub-prime) by Fitch.

“Fitch highlighted our robust internal control and risk management frameworks, as well as our investment in IT, as particular strengths. We operate in a tough regulatory regime, and we are proud of our quality culture and environment, which reflect HML’s experience and stability.

“In the past 18 months we have secured 17 new contracts across all of our offerings, including mortgage servicing, analytics, standby servicing and unsecured lending. This reflects how our procedures and systems are robust and highly regarded within the market.”

The Power of Powershell

We here at StratexSystems believe in utilising tools that help perform tasks efficiently and ultimately make our daily work with SharePoint easy.

One such tool is SharePoint Management Shell or as it is more commonly referred to 'Windows Powershell'. This is used to manage SharePoint through the use of command lines - custom command-lets, instead of going through SharePoint Central Administration.

We came across a situation in one of our Client projects recently where, we were processing a large amount of data into one SharePoint environment, which was then to be imaged onto a second SharePoint environment. There was redundant data, for example primarily thousands of rows in the Recycle Bin that were unnecessarily taking space and time to process for the image of the second SharePoint environment.

A quick solution to was to use Powershell to clear the bulk data from the Recycle Bin. Here is the process and command script we used:

1. Open SharePoint Management Shell (right click and select Run as Administrator)

2. Modify Site collection Url in following script and execute:

$sitecollectionUrl = "ENTER YOUR SHAREPOINT SITE URL" $siteCollection = New-Object Microsoft.SharePoint.SPSite($sitecollectionUrl) write-host("Items to be deleted : " +$siteCollection.RecycleBin.Count.toString()) $now = Get-Date write-host("Deleting started at " +$now.toString()) $siteCollection.RecycleBin.DeleteAll(); $now = Get-Date write-host("Deleting completed at " +$now.toString()) $siteCollection.Dispose();

Process time will obviously depend on the amount of data to be cleared, once the script has finshed some stats will appear to help give an analysis.

This is a prime example, one of many in Powershell where going through Site Settings in SharePoint or through Central Administration is not practical or feasible.