The best protection for data at your firm might be a door, a lock and a process for keeping unauthorized people away from the server room. Because with the potential stricter requirements regarding personal data looming across the country, physical security stills remains the No. 1 issue, not viruses and spyware.

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service is seeking applications to fill 10 vacancies in five different customer segments for its Advisory Committee on Tax Exempt and Government Entities. Appointed by the Department of the Treasurery, members serve two-year terms beginning in June 2011.

Republic Bank, one of the few financial institutions remaining in the refund loan business, expects that in the upcoming tax season it will utilize as little as one third of the amount it borrowed to support its RAL business in the 2010 season. The statement was made in the quarterly SEC filing of the parent, Republic Bancorp. Since Republic borrowed just over $1 billion last year, that suggests its borrowings could drop to about $333 million for the first quarter of 2011. With the Santa Barbara Tax Products Group now apparently unlikely to offer refund loans, the will be little money to meet expected demand.