America's stringent corporate governance legislation was signed into law five years ago causing administrative burdens on directors and IT professionals alike

Five years ago today, Sarbanes-Oxley legislation was signed into law. The stringent legislation was brought in to restore public confidence in US businesses following the high-profile bankruptcy of global firms Enron and WorldCom.

But it's been a tough five years of compliance for all those involved in US-headquartered companies, with the effects frequently reaching the IT department, which has had to cope with a raft of controls.

Which IT director in their right mind would enjoy having to comply with the notorious Section 404, which laid down the horrors of Sarbanes-Oxley in full? How they wish this legislation could have been simply "Not Found".

Highlights — or could that be lowlights — from the first five years of Sarbanes Oxley follow.

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