Microsoft details Sarbanes-Oxley Office add-on

Microsoft Corp. will deliver an add-on for its Office System designed to help companies meet reporting requirements set in the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the vendor said Wednesday.

The Office Solution Accelerator for Sarbanes-Oxley is due out in March, Microsoft said in a statement. The product was created with the help of accounting companies and takes advantage of features in Microsoft’s Windows SharePoint Services and InfoPath 2003, the Redmond, Washington-based company said.

Several high-profile accounting scandals prompted U.S. lawmakers to pass the Sarbanes-Oxley Act last year. Among other things, the legislation sets specific reporting requirements for publicly listed companies.

Microsoft’s forthcoming Sarbanes-Oxley Office add-on is meant to help executives monitor financial data within their business. It provides functionality in four key areas: document and information management; process automation and workflow; collaboration and communication; and monitoring and reporting, Microsoft said.

The Sarbanes-Oxley offering, just as Microsoft’s other Office Solution Accelerators, will be available at no cost for Microsoft customers with a Software Assurance contract. The software will require some configuration and customization, which can be done by a Microsoft partner or by a customer’s own IT department, Microsoft said.

Other Office Solution Accelerators that Microsoft has released or are forthcoming include: Office Solution Accelerator for Proposals, Office Solution Accelerator for Recruiting, Office Solution Accelerator for Six Sigma, Office Solution Accelerator for XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language) and Office Solution Accelerator for Business Scorecards.