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Compliance, Network News, Press Releases

Florida Agency Network’s Closing Manager Featured in TitleNews

Did you hear the news?

Today, Florida Agency Network (FAN) announced its launch of The Closing Manager. Partnering with Premier Data Services, the secure collaboration portal combines wire fraud security best practices with the benefits of a consumer-friendly closing experience.

“The Closing Manager minimizes the cyber footprint of a transaction and extends industry best practices through to the consumers at a time when it is needed most,” said Chief Technology Officer of Premier Data Services, Jay Roberts.

To see the full feature on ALTA’s website, click HERE.

To see the original announcement, click HERE.

 

 

For more information on how the Closing Manager can help your agency, contact Jay Roberts at jay.roberts@premierdataservices.com. 

 

 

Network News, Press Releases

Florida Agency Network Announces New Collaboration Portal

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Tampa, Fla. – January 18, 2018 – The Florida Agency Network announces the completion of its Closing Manager collaboration portal with the help of their IT partner Premier Data Services.  The Closing Manager has features that bridge wire fraud security best practices with the benefits of a consumer-friendly closing experience. Consumers, real-estate agents, and other parties to the transaction can minimize their email exposure when utilizing the Closing Manager.

“We surveyed and gathered data on Florida Agency Network’s clients to see if portal sentiment in the real-estate community had shifted. With the recent spike in wire fraud activity, we received overwhelming support from both directing and non-directing agents,” says Jay Roberts, Chief Technology Officer for Premier Data Services. “In fact, the percentage of those in favor continually increased each quarter over the past year. The Closing Manager minimizes the cyber footprint of a transaction and extends industry best practices through to the consumers at a time when it is needed most.”

Traditionally, collaboration portals have struggled to gain adoption by real estate agents who direct most transactions and have become the primary target of cyber-crime. However, with the rampant escalation in business email compromise (BEC), the security features associated with the Closing Manager provide clients with a safe-haven to conduct business and protect all components of the transaction. These features include:

  • Secured Chat allows parties to discuss sensitive, transaction-specific items without the exposure of traditional email.
  • Multifactor Authentication strengthens all parties’ control of information. This is currently a standard in the state of New York and its adoption is anticipated industry-wide.
  • Infosheets allow buyers and sellers to submit information requested by title insurance companies without the need for traditional email.
  • Two-way Document Sharing provides all parties associated to the transaction the ability to upload or receive documents without email delivery.

With fraud and cyber-crime increasingly impacting the real estate industry on a national level, the market has welcomed the adoption of collaboration portals with security tools like those offered by the Closing Manager.

Mike LaRosa, Chief Operating Officer for Florida Agency Network says, “With cyber fraud rampant in the title insurance industry over the past few years, the only responsible reaction appears to be securing transactions at the individual level. Compromised email attacks and social engineering have become highly sophisticated, and we in the industry have too much to risk. We deal with non-public personal information (NPPI) and significant amounts of escrowed funds on a daily basis. The move to individually-secured, portal-based communications seems like the most logical step in countering the current barrage of daily cyber-attack attempts.”

 

 

 

PREMIER DATA SERVICES is an IT/Managed Service Provider that remotely manages a customer’s IT infrastructure and end-user systems with the highest level of security. Its intelligent remote monitoring and security tools provide expert, cost-effective IT management ensuring a company’s system operations are not only healthy, but also optimized for performance. For more information, please visit http://www.pds-1.com.
Network News

Emergency Order on Roof Repairs

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Recently, Florida Land Title Association sent out an update concerning emergency roof repairs after Hurricane Irma, and we feel it’s imperative to share it with you.

“As real estate transactions are being impacted and/or delayed by Hurricane Irma’s damages, it’s important for us to share the latest Emergency Order from, Jonathan Zachem, Secretary of the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, in response to Governor Scott’s Executive Order.

Roofing contractors will be spread thin over the next several months and this will assist in accelerating the recovery and real estate closing process.

Zachem has ordered the following for counties identified in the Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster declaration DR-4337 as it relates to roof repair:

  1. The provisions of section 489.113(3), Florida Statutes, are suspended to the following extent: A certified or registered, general, building, or residential contractor is not required to subcontract roofing work for repair and installation of any flat roofs and roofs made of wood shakes, asphalt or fiberglass shingles, tiles, and metal.
  2. The provisions of section 489.117, Florida Statutes, are suspended to the extent that local jurisdictions are authorized to issue local specialty licenses, without additional local ordinances, for the repair and installation of flat roofs and roofs made of wood shakes, asphalt or fiberglass shingles, tiles, and metal, conditioned upon the requirement that all applicants for the specialty roofing licenses shall provide an affidavit of competency from their original jurisdiction, within Florida, proof of compliance with applicable workers’ compensation as required by Chapter 440, Florida Statutes, and public liability and property damage insurance as required by section 489.115(5)(a), Florida Statutes.
  3. Departmental fees associated with relocating or reopening businesses regulated under Chapter 455, Florida Statutes, that were closed from damage caused by Hurricane Irma and its effects are hereby waived. Only fees assessed by the department, or by a board within the department, are waived.

The effective date of this Order shall correspond with the effective date of Executive Order No. 17-235, and any amendments, provided however that all jobs issued permits during this period shall be allowed to be completed.”

Please make sure to pass this along to any buyers, sellers, REALTORS, and industry partners you think could use this information. To view the complete Order, click HERE.

Compliance, Network News

Independent Audit Confirms FAN’s Internal Data Security Controls

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Florida Agency Network completes SOC 1 Type 2 attestation

 

PLANT CITY, Fla. – Florida Agency Network, (FAN), the largest network of title agencies in Florida, has completed a meticulous third-party examination of its data security and privacy policies and procedures under the Service Organization Controls (SOC) 1 Type 2 standards.

The demanding third-party examinations were administered by the professional IT assurance and compliance staff at 360 Advanced, a respected national Qualified Security Assessor, HITRUST CSF Assessor and Certified Public Accountant firm based in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Companies that complete annual SOC 1 assessments can demonstrate a substantially higher level of security assurance and operational visibility as compared to those companies without an assessment. The assessment focuses on the internal controls impacting customers and the protection of their non-public personal information (NPPI).

“Proving up to date compliance with SOC 1 Type 2 is a rigorous process for all involved.  I am proud that FAN completed our annual assessment successfully and believe that it affords us a competitive advantage,” said Andrea Somers, Compliance Officer for FAN. She added that the staff at 360 Advanced is “knowledgeable, detailed, and a pleasure to work with.”

Press Releases

Hillsborough Title Family of Companies Proudly Announces New President

Tampa, Fla. – Hillsborough Title Family of Companies (HTFC) is pleased to announce the promotion of Amy Gregory to President of the organization. HTFC consists of Hillsborough Title, Paramount Title, Tampa Bay Title, Cornerstone Title and Stronghold Title. HTFC is the founding title conglomerate of the Florida Agency Network (FAN). Amy brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the position and has been with Hillsborough Title for 10 years.

“This is a natural fit and progression for Amy. There has never been a more committed or deserving person for this opportunity. She has been my right hand since the day she started, and has been the anchor for this organization for many years. There is no other person I would trust taking over the reins of our family business than Amy,” says Aaron M. Davis, former President of HTFC and current CEO of the Florida Agency Network.

In her new role as President, Amy will work in evaluating and improving overall operation effectiveness as well as implementing the organization’s culture, vision, mission and values. Her knowledge and leadership will help HTFC’s organic growth in an effective and successful manner.

As a licensed title agent in the State of Florida, with established proficiency in leadership and company policies and procedures, Amy has the experience, and expertise necessary to ensure all operations and compliance regulations are met within the companies. Entering the title world in 1995, she worked her way through the ranks to become the General Manager for Hillsborough Title, later transitioning to Operations Manager for HTFC and FAN’s Title Support Services.

“I am honored for this opportunity to lead such a talented group of people in this new role. Since starting almost a decade ago, I knew Aaron had an excellent vision for the company’s future and I felt it would be a great fit for my career goals. Amy remarked, “This company is truly a family to me. We have the most amazing team members and I am excited for what the future holds for all of us.”

Network News, Press Releases

Florida Agency Network Completes SOC 1, Type 2 Assessment Report

November 3, 2016 — TAMPA, FL  — Florida Agency Network (FAN), the largest network of title agencies in Florida, has completed a rigorous third-party examination of its policies and procedures under the Service Organization Controls (SOC) 1 Type 2 standards, demonstrating its commitment to data security and privacy at all levels of its operations.

The demanding third-party examinations were administered by the professional IT assurance and compliance staff at 360 Advanced, a respected national Qualified Security Assessor, HITRUST CSF Assessor and Certified Public Accountant firm based in Tampa, FL.

Developed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (“AICPA”), the Trusted Service Principles (TSP) Framework is based on criteria geared towards technology and cloud-based computing systems, and the TSP Framework is comprised of five standards by which a practitioner is required to examine and report on when analyzing the security of a candidate’s system.

Companies who complete annual SOC 1 assessments are able to demonstrate a substantially higher level of security assurance and operational visibility as compared to those companies who have not yet received their assessment. The assessment focuses on the internal controls impacting customers and the protection of their non-public personal information (NPPI).

Through its partnership with Premier Data Services, FAN is able to avail itself of a SOC 2, Type 2-assessed hosted environment with co-location backup and the most rigorous security controls in the industry. Premier Data Services is able to provide security measures as they relate to non-financial controls of an organization such as its IT network and processes, as well as protection of confidential data. As an IT/MSP, Premier Data Services specializes in compliance and security, overseeing its clients’ infrastructure and network solutions, and ensuring their software systems are not only healthy, but also optimized for performance.

“We are proud of this accomplishment and we feel our company has made a statement to our lender and real estate partners about how serious we take protecting and safeguarding our clients’ information. We value and protect NPPI as though it were money. Our goal is to become a vault for our clients,” said Aaron M. Davis, CEO of FAN.

“Having the SOC 1 Type 2 assessment completed puts us in the top one percent of agencies to reach this standard in our industry,” said Andrea Somers, Compliance Officer for FAN. She added that, “successfully completing the rigorous assessments provides FAN with a competitive advantage.  Lenders are asking more frequently for standards of protection for consumers’ NPPI.”

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ABOUT FLORIDA AGENCY NETWORK

The FLORIDA AGENCY NETWORK (FAN) is made up of a network of title agencies that have formed a strategic alliance to provide shared back office services, pooled resources, and greater geographic coverage throughout the State of Florida. Resources of FAN include multiple on-staff attorneys, access to private title plant and ancillary services, IT company, centralized processes & post-closing, agency administration, compliance management and financial oversight. Powered by multiple national underwriters, FAN offers residential, commercial, builder, lender and investor services, experienced escrow staff, personalized customer service, offices throughout the State of Florida, and much more. For more information, please visit https://flagency.net.

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ABOUT 360 ADVANCED

Known for its responsiveness, experience and professionalism, 360 Advanced has clients in more than 35 states that are major service providers in various industries, including cloud and SaaS based organizations.  360 Advanced is one of only a few specialized firms in the U.S. that assist service providers as their independent IT assurance and compliance assessor in maintaining and communicating security and compliance to their clients.

360 Advanced’s services are provided, but not limited to, the following industries: Title Services, Hosted and Managed IT, Data Center and Colocation, Software as a Service (SaaS), Healthcare, Financial Services, Insurance, HR | Payroll | PEO, Legal and Collections, Bulk Mail Printing and Distribution, Background Screening, Business Process Outsourcing and Marketing.

Services provided by 360 Advanced include SOC 1 (SSAE 16), SOC 2, SOC 3, PCI DSS, HIPAA Security/HITECH, Microsoft Vendor Policy and other security and compliance services.

Contact:         Eric Ratcliffe

eratcliffe@360advanced.com

866.418.1708 ext.710

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Network News, SETCO Services

FAN and SETCO Partnership Featured in The Title Report

Today’s Title Report update features FAN’s latest announcement on the partnership with SETCO Services LLC.

“Florida Agency Network (FAN) is joining forces with SETCO Services, LLC headquartered in Destin, Fla. FAN CEO Aaron Davis told The Title Report this latest venture marks a new initiative by the title insurance agencies…”

To read the full feature, click HERE.

To read the press release, click HERE.

Network News, Press Releases

Florida Agency Network and SETCO Services, LLC Join Forces to Bring Statewide Solutions

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Florida’s premier network of independent title agencies joins forces with the largest independent agency in North Florida to bring settlement services to real estate professionals throughout the state.

Tampa, Fla. – August 12, 2016 – Florida Agency Network (FAN), Florida’s largest network of independent title insurance agencies, announces that it is joining forces with SETCO Services, LLC,
headquartered in Destin, FL. This latest venture marks a new initiative by FAN to grow the Network through the creation of strategic relationships in certain key Florida markets where FAN is currently under-represented. As opposed to other FAN locations established through organic growth or formalized partnerships, the SETCO announcement represents FAN’s first non-equity relationship where the entities will support one another and avail themselves of each other’s locations, client relationships,
marketing, and other ancillary services.

Through these new relationships the network benefits by adding additional locations to its statewide footprint, and better service for its clients through additional brick and mortar offices with local
knowledge and expertise, while the new FAN agent partners gain access to vast resources and a robust menu of products and services.

“We are incredibly excited to announce the formation of this strategic partnership with SETCO Services, LLC, which is a first of this kind for us. It represents a new approach to true partnership amongst independent agents in Florida,” says Aaron M. Davis, CEO of the Florida Agency Network. “We are able to significantly expand our territory through additional brick and mortar locations while keeping that ‘boots on the ground’ local knowledge to better serve our client base. At the same time, both of our companies share the same vision and commitment to industry compliance through the completion of our SOC 1 and SOC 2 certifications. We plan to focus our combined energies and expertise on serving a broader range of customers and delivering more efficient solutions across the state.”

SETCO Services, LLC will utilize the back-office solutions provided by FAN. Centralizing the non-core title services will allow SETCO Services, LLC to better focus on providing exceptional service for every real estate professional while maintaining top-notch security and protection of NPPI via FAN’s compliance controls.

“The relationship with Florida Agency Network will allow SETCO to offer more diverse yet streamlined services which will only further improve the customer service to our clientele,” says George T. Brannon, Jr., Chief Operating Officer of SETCO Services, LLC. “The Leadership and goals of our companies are like-minded and this opportunity will provide all organizations partnered with Florida Agency Network to grow more efficiently and effectively in the markets they choose to lead.”

FAN’s tight security controls consist of SSAE 16 SOC 1 and SOC 2, ALTA Best Practices Certification (pillars 1-7 via 3rd Party), and support through its I.T. affiliate, Premier Data Services (PDS). PDS is a Managed Service Provider that offers solutions for unmet needs within the real estate and settlement services industry.

Network News

The Title Report Features FAN CEO, Aaron M. Davis, in NS3 Preview

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This week’s Title Report update included a special preview and details on the 2016 National Settlement Services Summit, specifically the Breakout Room Session “Business NOT as Usual” which features Florida Agency Network CEO, Aaron M. Davis and Orange Leaf Consulting CEO, Cynthia McGovern.

To read the full feature, click HERE.

To register for this year’s National Settlement Services Summit, click HERE.

Network News

FAN CEO, Aaron M. Davis, to Speak at 2016 NS3 Summit

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The National Settlement Services Summit offers a destination for industry leaders to come together for “unrivaled networking and learning.” This year’s theme is Knowledge In Action and will offer educational breakout sessions with keynote speakers who are highly regarded within the Settlement Services Industry. One of which will be our very own Aaron M. Davis, CEO/President of Florida Agency Network.

Davis will be speaking in the Breakout Session “Business NOT As Usual” on Tuesday, June 7 from 9:40 am – 10:40 am. Davis, along side Cynthia McGovern, Founder of Orange Leaf Consulting, will discuss life in a post-TRID world and how to embrace the changes to elevate business results.

To register for NS3, visit www.tinyurl.com/NS3Registration. You can save $30 when you use the Coupon Code: SPEAKER.

NS3 Registration - SM FAN (1)