As the end of January approaches, 2011 takes on a sharper focus. That said, 2010 is still a very clear memory. In many ways, it is the perfect time to look ahead to what I expect will be a great year while the recollection of our spectacular 2010 is still fresh.

If I had to pick one of the most memorable moments for IntraLinks in 2010, it would have to be August 5, the day we became a public company. After more than six months of preparation and a three week road show, our IPO was both exhilarating and exhausting. It was a proud moment to ring the opening bell on the NYSE and then watch the first 10,000 shares of IntraLinks stock trade. Our IPO has brought with it some new roles and responsibilities for me including media coverage and having to become familiar with getting makeup at 5 a.m. for TV interviews!

While the Galleon news has primarily faded into the backdrop of the media landscape, its impact continues to pervade the financial services industry in myriad ways from a heightened focus on compliance to an increased spotlight on insider trading and the exchange of critical, sensitive and material non-public information. This single breach clearly illustrates the enormous impact one single employee can have on ruining the trust a company has spent so many years building with its clients, the financial services industry and its employees. Despite this new level of appreciation, three months later, what has Galleon truly taught us? IntraLinks deals with confidential business information by design, therefore making security our top priority when it comes to managing our technology and personnel. It’s all about keeping the trust we’ve spent more than 12 years building with our customers, including those in the financial services community, and with our employees. It is our duty to safeguard our clients’ most valuable asset — their information. Our business is based on earning and maintaining our customers’ trust in managing their critical, sensitive business information.

I was recently invited by Sasa Zorovic, Managing Director and Senior Software Analyst at Janney Montgomery Scott to attend their "Software and Service" conference in New York and participated on a panel titled "Best Practices in SaaS." Other panel participants included the CEOs of other SaaS or SaaS investment companies including Advent Software, Internet Capital Group and Management Dynamics. It was really energizing to be in the company of CEOs that share the same passion, energy and commitment to bring real and immediate value to customers through a SaaS-based software and delivery model!

Our CEO, J. Andrew Damico recently had the opportunity to speak with editor Brandy Chetsas at Bankruptcy Professional, a fantastic newsletter for professionals involved in the bankruptcy process.

Welcome to the IntraLinks blog! This blog is all about sharing our ideas and most importantly listening to your ideas. I do want to take one moment to introduce IntraLinks for those of you who may not know us.

Everyday companies exchange critical information within their company and outside their company with business partners and colleagues. If companies couldn't do this efficiently and extremely securely, business as we know it would come to a screeching halt. At IntraLinks we're all about helping companies across the globe exchange critical information every day - securely, compliantly and auditably. The result is that companies get business done faster, get business done easier and get business done more profitably. I am proud of our efforts over the last 10 years helping businesses exchange critical information. There's nothing that gets me more excited than hearing from one of our many customers after they've had a successful experience using our service.

Enough about us.

We are all conscious of the "carbon footprint" we leave behind us as we conduct business each and every day. Society is demanding that each of us be accountable to do what we can, both individually and corporately, to reduce carbon emission, reduce waste and think about ways to leave the world a "greener" place for future generations. While we focus on the longer term health of our planet, there is a more immediate concern for many of us as a result of the current financial crisis.