This 2014 hack of the Sony computer system has lead many larger publishers to examine the security of their royalty software systems. The requirements in recent RFP’s often mention security as one of their key criteria.

What is security for a royalty software?

From our point of view royalty software security is composed of three components:

1. Data file encryption
2. Document management system encryption
3. User access rights
4. Security monitoring / auditing

Data File Encryption

Most royalty applications are built on a MS-SQL server.

Different servers do different jobs, from serving email and video to protecting internal networks and hosting Web sites. An MS-SQL server is a relational web hosting database that is used to store web site information like blog posts or user information.

Another type of well-known server is a web server where web pages can be accessed over the internet through a client like a web browser. You can learn more about web servers and discover the benefits of SeedboxCo’s Service by checking out their website.

Above all, when looking for servers, it is important to be able to distinguish between the different types so that you can find the right one for your needs.

For these applications here is a listing of the ten SQL database security tasks. These tasks include implementing cell level encryption and encrypting the data that is transmitted between the app and the database.

Document Management System Encryption

The DMS (document management system) stores copies of royalty agreements. PDFs of scanned royalty agreements may be stored within the royalty application or in a separate location.

For document security, we recommend that PDFs be stored on an encrypted drive. Access to the documents should be limited to the royalty software. Only users logged into the royalty software can access these documents in their unencrypted state. For most business, having a system similar to the one available on FilecenterDMS.com is effective, but for vital documents that are private, it will be worth looking into accessing an encrypted drive.

User Access Rights

Access rights controls which users can access the software. Many software intrusions result from the hacker breaking in with a user’s password. For greater security against this threat we recommend two factor user authentication for users accessing the royalty system.

Single factor authentication relies on the user submitting his user name and password.

Two factor authentication requires a users password and a PIN that is dynamically generated when the user attempts to sign in. This PIN may be created by a physical device that a user has access to or it may be emailed to the user’s mobile phone.

When an employee leaves the company their access rights should be immediately terminated.

Security Monitoring / Auditing

Third-party IT security solutions and services can monitor access to the selected folders and files to prevent downloading and copying to unauthorized locations. These same third-party security services can also conduct application testing to provide the application with the best security features regarding the applications weak points, this continues to make sure security or private data is never compromised.

New publishers on a shoestring budget need software for accounting, royalties, title information and editorial project management to manage their operations. With these tools in place they can focus on acquiring titles, publishing titles, marketing and sales. Visiting https://vantiq.com/modelo/ might also provide you with access to additional software that focuses on high productivity. [Read more…]

An important criteria of any book publishing software purchase decision is the vendor’s area of expertise.

Publishing software solutions often focus their development in a few specific areas. While some vendor solutions excel in financial management others focus on title information management, production management, royalties & rights, sales order processing or ecommerce sales.

A vendor’s area of expertise can be identified by their software development roadmap, reading press releases to see what are the most commonly implemented modules are and viewing the vendor’s website to see what functionality receives the most emphasis.

Example 1: IBS Bookmaster is known for their sales order processing, distribution management and warehouse management along with integrated financials. Most of their clients operate have distribution and warehouse operations. A review of their website shows an emphasis on supply chain management and financial reporting.

Example 2: Klopotek is known for their production management, title information and royalty & rights management functionality. This is where most of their ongoing development has occurred.

Example 3: knkPublishing is known for its integrated Microsoft Dynamics financials. Publishers that purchased their software did so in large part because of their integration with the financial management modules provided by Microsoft Dynamics. With any type of software used, the development of it needs to be monitored, to make sure it is working to its full capacity in the right way, in relation to its specific job. People can find more out about this over at expedition.co.

Example 4: Firebrand Technologies is known for its turn-key title information management.

Example 5: Easy Royalties is known for their powerful royalty solutions for small publishers.

Example 6: Publishing Technology is known for implementing e-commerce solutions for publishers and their order to cash solutions for publishers.

Example 7: Virtusales focus is title information management, production management, and royalties. They do not handle sales nor offer integrated financials.