- ProductsCompliant Messaging
Message clients without sacrificing compliance
The non-compliant use of messaging platforms has led to billions in regulatory fines. Symphony helps enable seamless compliant messaging with clients via WhatsApp, WeChat and SMS
OverviewEnable surveillance and recordkeeping of clients’ preferred messaging platforms
SMSEnable maintenance of SMS communication records for regulatory compliance
Core CollaborationSecure, seamless cross-firm communication
The only fully open, scalable, and secure collaboration platform purpose-built for global markets – enabling efficient workflows and compliant communication
PlatformSuite of modular collaboration capabilities accelerates communication
Embedded CollaborationLeverage Symphony’s capabilities in your platforms and portals
Security & ComplianceSecure, compliance-enabling framework meets the stringent needs of markets
VoiceCloud-based voice collaboration
Compliance-enabling and scalable voice technology maximizes efficiency by defragmenting communication and connecting traders and trader-adjacent teams instantly
Cloud9Eliminate communication silos and provide instant voice connectivity
Instant VoiceCross-organizational solution native to Symphony and built for speed
Cloud9 DeskTrader-adjacent connectivity with global intercom across internal teams
Cloud9 TraderFull-featured turret replacement with maximum external connectivity
VideoStart and join video meetings from Symphony
Facilitate productivity, collaboration and effective co-working with leading video conferencing platforms integrated alongside Symphony chats and rooms
ZoomKeep collaborating in Symphony while joining or hosting Zoom meetings
Microsoft TeamsRetain Symphony workflow context during Teams Video meetings
IntegrationsEssential tools to streamline workflows
Connect your everyday systems to Symphony to improve efficiency, reduce context switching and mitigate manual tasks
Enterprise IntegrationsEnterprise software bi-directionally integrated with Symphony
Apps & Bots415+ apps and 2K+ bots to help streamline and automate workflows
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- AboutThe only secure and compliance-enabling collaboration platform built for markets
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Compliance and the Consumerization of IT
- August 12, 2019
- Scott Eisenberg
- Innovation
Business can be done from virtually anywhere, thanks to mobile and the host of different communications platforms available to most professionals today. Users can easily connect via social media, team collaboration and messaging platforms, text, personal email — the list goes on. And for many businesses, this “consumerization of IT” is a positive trend from a productivity perspective. It allows for greater opportunity to build relationships with clients and offers quicker communication and collaboration between teams.
However, for companies in highly regulated industries – like financial services – each new avenue of communication also poses a potential compliance risk. Regulatory bodies are taking note; the SEC’s Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations (OCIE) has recently acknowledged the increasing use of alternative communication methods in the investment advisory business as a potential concern.
Possible Regulatory Risks in Certain Forms of Electronic Communication
Both new and existing communications platforms could accidentally or purposefully be used to circumvent the Investment Advisers Act Books and Records Rule (and analogous SEC, CFTC and international rules). These rules – which serve to create transparency for, and accountability to, customers and the investing community – require regulated entities to keep accurate, unaltered copies of communications relating to securities advice, transactions, performance and marketing, including when that information is delivered in electronic form. Records must also be protected against untimely destruction, and indicate the identity of the sender and recipient of each communication.
To underline the seriousness of these concerns, the OCIE recently undertook an examination initiative for investment advisers which was designed to obtain an understanding of the various forms of electronic messaging used by those firms and their personnel, and the risks of such use. As a result, the OCIE has offered new recommendations, through a newly issued risk alert, on how regulated investment advisers can ensure compliance with the Books and Records Rule and the Investment Advisers Act Compliance Rule with regard to electronic communication tools.
One of the best ways to do this, in full conformance with the OCIE’s risk alert guidelines, is to choose a communications platform that facilitates regulatory compliance from the get-go. And many do not.
Consider platforms like Signal, for example, which allow anonymous communication, or Snapchat, which automatically destroy content after a set period of time. Likewise, services like text, SMS or instant messaging also frequently allow permanent message destruction at the option of the sender, and may not allow third-party viewing or backups of the information. Even though these platforms are known for their security features, these platforms may not fully meet compliance requirements, and so regulated companies may want to reconsider if deploying or using those solutions within their environments.
Symphony Facilitates Compliance with Financial Services Regulation
In contrast, Symphony was built with both security and regulatory compliance top of mind. It is designed to address the types of concerns the OCIE lays out in its alert. To help our customers remain fully compliant, we offer, among other features and functionality:
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On top of all this, information in Symphony is also protected by a true end to end encryption model with zero gaps between the origin of a message and its destination, while still maintaining the ability for a company to access, search through and archive its own data, and to perform and maintain all the required compliance checks and controls in real time. This is unique in the market today.
Symphony is trusted by over 400,000 users from the world’s most competitive companies who use our platform to keep the world’s economy humming – and remain compliant at the same time. If your organization is interested in learning more, feel free to contact us or reach out to the team at info@symphony.com.