CPAs see financial reporting, information security among top technology issues.

• Position: Technology - Brief Article

The specters of the Enron collapse and the Sept. 11th terrorist attacks are wielding a profound influence on current technology issues, as evidenced by the AICPA's 2002 Top Technologies list. This marks the twelfth consecutive year that the Institute has compiled the ranking.

Business and Financial Reporting Applications rose to the top of the list after being in third place in 2001, possibly as a result of concerns raised in the wake of Enron. Training and Technology Competency--which ranked fifth last year--commands second place in 2002, another result that did not surprise the task force that compiled the list. A separate, but linked issue--Qualified IT Personnel--came in ninth.

In the 2001 list, Information Security and Controls was the number-one issue. While no longer claiming the top spot, it is still seen as significant and sits in third place on the current list. Disaster Recovery moved up a notch from last year to fifth place.

The Top Technology issues for 2002, in order of importance, are as follows (those marked * are new to this year's list):

1. Business and...