TAMPA, Fla. -- In a world where identity theft and corporate corruption seem to run rampant, companies across all industries are quickly finding themselves and their IT departments under the microscope of federal, state and industry bodies, forcing them to comply with ever-changing standards. One IBM business partner is offering complimentary IT security assessments to assist companies in figuring out where their vulnerabilities lie and how to fix them.

Watson SCS has recently announced this limited time offer for potential clients concerned about the security of their computer systems and those struggling to comply with strict regulations. This no-obligation, IT Security Access Administration Assessment is conducted by Watson SCS' IBM Tivoli security specialists. It analyzes the company's critical systems and business processes in order to discover whether their IT environment is maintained for maximum security and regulatory compliance. A findings report is provided at the end of the assessment, along with recommendations to improve their overall IT security posture.

In about four hours onsite, Watson SCS conducts a review of key systems and business processes to gauge each client's current environment for compliance and efficiency. The security assessment process includes a review of HR information in the security administration process; access request and approval processes; termination processes; password related helpdesk calls; password policy and enforcement; user ID audit reporting; and typical number of applications used per user session.

Once the review is complete, Watson presents the client with a report outlining where their systems and processes stand when compared with various regulations and legislative requirements. It also reveals how the company's overall security posture measures up against that of other organizations in the same industry. In addition, the assessment report will provide recommendations on how the client can improve systems and processes to create a more compliant and secure environment, and ways to streamline IT operations for maximum cost effectiveness and return on investment. The client receiving the assessment and findings report is under no obligation to purchase any of the software or services offered by Watson SCS, Inc.

The free assessment campaign was launched in July of 2007, and, because Watson SCS is an advanced IBM business partner, was originally designed for use with IBM representatives. Although the offer has been expanded significantly, senior IBM representatives still support, recommend and leverage both the assessment and the work of Watson SCS.

According to Watson SCS Founder Kyle Watson, "Our close relationship with IBM has created lots of benefits for our clients. They have the support of Watson SCS security experts, who are certified specialists in IBM Tivoli Security Software and often in other areas as well. When we tell a potential client that we have the IBM security and support teams behind us at all times, Watson SCS' credibility immediately increases."

Watson SCS Inc.

IBM Corp. (NYSE: IBM)