OCRA Master EventGuide

ARevenue AssuranceCertification Program

OCRA - ONLINE OPTION

BTable of ConTenTs

The class was excellent! The training is right on point, insightful and empowering.

Revenue Assurance Certification ...........................................................................................1Certification Options ..................................................................................................................2Advantages of Online Training ..................................................................................................3How is GRAPA Online Training Different? .................................................................................4The Online Certification for RA Professionals (OCRA) Program ...............................................5 How Do I Get Certified Online? .........................................................................................6Ten Courses to Choose From ....................................................................................................7 Course Pages (OCRA001-OCRA010) ......................................................................... 8-17Getting Ready Can I Make Online Training Work for Me? ...................................................18The Online Academy Checklist ................................................................................................19 Is My Internet Fast Enough? SPEEDTEST ...................................................................20 Will it Work with My Computer? CONFIGURATION ......................................................22 Can I Access the Online Classroom? ADOBE CONNECT ............................................23 Checking in With the Team and Students MEET & GREET ..........................................24 Making the Most of the Training PROTOCOL ...............................................................25About GRAPA ..........................................................................................................................26 Mission and Members .......................................................................................................27 Services Provided .............................................................................................................28 Faculty ..............................................................................................................................29 Alumni ..............................................................................................................................30

Testimonials .....................................................................................................................31

1CerTifiCaTion for Professionals

Revenue Assurance Career Opportunities Telecommunications is one of the fastest growing and most profitable businesses in the world. Facebook, Amazon, and Google are fueled by telecoms who, with a relentless drive, are constantly pioneering into new horizons of communications, commerce, and socialization in the 21st Century.

The success of the telecoms industry is due, in no small part, to the contributions made by revenue assurance professionals. Revenue assurance (RA) is a discipline unique to telecoms, and like the telecoms that invented them, RA professionals are a unique, highly motivated, and incredibly talented group of people.

An RA professional is above average in subjects such as Finance, Audit, Network Engineering, I/T, and Psychology in order to be successful. Each week, telecoms around the world cry out for more RA professionals to help them accomplish their challenging objectives.

Why is Certification Critical?While revenue assurance has existed in telecoms for many years, the incredible rate of change, volatility, and constant flux that typifies the telecom environment has made it difficult for revenue assurance professionals to excel, let alone keep up.

When it comes to telecoms revenue assurance, there is no expert greater than the resident RA team, but there is continuous pressure to:

Learn new technologies

Compete with new outside sources

Keep up with radical financial and compliance changes

Stay current with the radical and innovative people from Network and Marketing

This means that the RA professional is in continuous battle to:

1. Keep up with best practices

2. Gain confidence in current methods

3. Attain recognition and maintain credibility with unpredictable Finance, Commercial and Technical colleagues

This is the main reason for the foundation of GRAPA and for the development of the GRAPA revenue assurance certification program.

Since its inception, GRAPA has certified over 1,000 professionals and has provided more substance, credibility, and confidence to RA professionals than any other source.

All About

GRADUATING CLASS London 20099

2Since 2007, GRAPA has offered training and certification for Revenue Assurance, Fraud and Finance professionals. Clearly, different professionals have different needs, and in response to this demand, GRAPA has pioneered several methods to provide the training and certification needed.

CerTifiCaTion oPTionsA Few words About

PUBLIC VENUE The most popular of GRAPAs three certification options has been the GRAPA public venue event.

Conducted annually at cities around the world, public venues provide an exciting mix of exotic locations and an unprecedented opportunity to exchange ideas, perspectives, and best practices with other professionals from around the world.

Our public events feature 40 hours of training over a 5-day period and combine lecture, workshopping, and networking opportunities.

ONLINE The latest method of delivery for training offered by GRAPA is our exciting new Online Certification Program.

Online programs let students gain exposure to all of the same best practices, network-ing, world-class teaching, and focused study as the other pro-grams but with the added ben-efits of lower cost, more conve-nience, and a slower pace.

GRAPA training is intense and many students need to take it slower than the 40-hour pro-grams can provide. For stu-dents that have a decent internet speed, and can manage to put aside 2 hours a day, the online training option can be the best.

ON SITE Most of the certified profession-als received their GRAPA training and certification via an on-site training event. In those cases, the instructor comes to your location and the company can specify a customized program to meet their specific needs.

On-sites are often utilized by RA teams to open new channels of understanding between the many different departments involved in revenue management and have proved effective in helping with real workshop-based, specifically focused problem solving topics.

The best part is that on-sites have one set fee with no limit on the number of attendees.

ON SITEONLINEPublicVenue

3Study from Home Cant take classes during the day? With our flexible timetables you can take the course just as easily from home as from the office. (As long as you have internet youre ready).

Networking One of the biggest benefits is the interaction with other practicing professionals. Our classes make interaction easy and let you build professional connections that can last.

Night or Day Time Different people have different times that are best for their training needs. Our programs are offered at convenient times for you, no matter what part of the world you are in.

Time Pressure Small, reasonable 10-hour blocks. 2 hrs per day for 5 days. Short, easily managed time commitments.

Budget CrunchOnline training is less expensive per student hour, and offered in smaller blocks, meaning lower costs.

I Need it NOW! Over 30 courses; different course offered weekly. Its there when you need it.

Train While You Work Too much to do? Cant get away from the office for more than a couple hours? Perfect. Our 2 hour a day format means you can still meet those deadlines while improving your skills.

FocusWith our unique 10-hour training modules, you can focus on learning what you need, and skip the rest until you need it.

Live Interaction Training is online, but the teacher is live and so are your fellow students. In a true online classroom you get the same benefit of interaction and the personal attention you need to master the complex material.

nine reasons To Choose The online oPTionwhy online?

NextGen Certification for NextGen ProfessionalsFor many, the thought of taking serious certification training in an online environment may seem strange and inappropriate. Old, crude, unfriendly, boring, and ineffective training programs that promise self-paced training and quick study turn into nothing more than electronic books with a submit button.

The incredible increases in internet speed, coupled with next generation innovations in online interaction have, in many ways, made the online training experience better than an on-site or public venue event.

4Your Personal Portal Page We make it easy for you to get at the information you need and provide the tools to make your learning as efficient as possible. Each class has its own portal page, providing you with links to slides, handouts, entry to your course each day, and most critically, the certification tests that let you prove your mastery of the material and earn your certification.

Class MaterialYou will be provided with a .pdf version of all slides to be covered. This makes it easy for you to follow along, take notes, and have a copy for reference.

Daily TestingEach day, you will take a short online test (multiple choice and essay). Testing is required for certification and verifies that you have learned the material.

Easy AccessYour online portal gives you easy one-stop access to everything about the class.

WhaT is iT like in GraPa online TraininG?its eAsy ... its Fun ... its online

Inside the Online ClassroomGRAPA has been delivering online training to telecoms professionals for several years. In that time, we have learned a lot about how to make the training as interesting, effective, and engaging as possible. RA is a tough subject area, and training can get dry, boring, and mind-numbing if the material isnt made interesting.

GRAPA has established a reputation for being more effective than anyone else in blending technical intensity with the need for people to relate the material to themselves and the different business areas they serve.

Its Fun ... Its Easy Learning can be hard work. And if you cant figure out a way to make it easy to understand and integrate, then real learning just wont happen. We do more than just tell you how it works, we help you understand how it applies to your situation. Our interactive games, quizzes and light-hearted approach can make this the most enjoyable time you ever spent in front of a computer.

Its Interactive ... Its PersonalGrapa training events are conducted by live teachers and teacher assistants who are there to answer questions and make sure that you understand the material as you move ahead. students are required to have a webcam and voice connection because student questions and answers in a more personal, face-to-face environment are the key to comprehending GRAPA courses.

5For many years, revenue assurance professionals have excelled at keeping up with the many changes driving telecoms. Learning how to do the RA job is not easy. And keeping up with the many changes that have to be integrated into your workplan is a full time job all by itself.

Career Development GRAPA is first and foremost about helping RA professionals along in the development of their careers. Better jobs, higher salaries, more respect and recognition are the target. The GRAPA OCRA program was designed with the busy professional in mind. The program is built to address your needs no matter where you are in your career.

New Hires and Onboarding The GRAPA certification program provides a gradual, comprehensive immersion strategy that lets the person new to telecoms and new to RA become familiar with the basics without getting overwhelmed. Our graduated curriculum allows the beginner to tackle the immense body of knowledge associated with RA in small, easy to digest chunks.

Novice Analysts and Cross TrainingFor those already familiar with the basics of telecoms operations, and with some experience in RA, the curriculum provides the chance for the novice to fill in the gaps and round out their knowledge. Different tracks allow the student to develop a custom program that rounds out their knowledge about specific lines of business, technologies, and disciplines.

Experienced RA Pros The Top Gun ProgramFor the experienced professional, the OCRA program can serve as an easy to access refresher course, allowing them to fill in the blanks and update their knowledge of best practice and the latest trends. The program lets you cherry pick only those advanced topics of interest to you in order to supplement your current skills and provide you with the means to expand your career into other areas.

Managers and Executives For the business manager, this program provides a single, easy-to-reference point for assessment, training, and the advancement of your team in each of their own career paths. Our easy to manage 2-hour x 5-day courses let you assign different learning objectives to different employees at a time when it is convenient for them and for you. Not only can you send them to the class, you can get reports of how well they have mastered the material before assigning them to work in new areas.

Latest in Best Practice The OCRA program is made up of the latest in best practices from professionals like you around the world. Our program exposes you to the latest trends and approaches.

Updates on New Technologies and New Business Models Wouldnt it be great if telecoms just offered postpaid voice calls to consumers, like in the good old days? But in todays hectic world, network engineers bring in and launch new technologies every day. LTE. UMTS. IMS. OTT. M2M. These are technologies that defy our traditional understanding of the RA job and, without help, it is difficult to get up to speed. Our training focuses not only on how the technology works (the tech view) but on how it is marketed, packaged, sold, and priced (the commercial view), and of course assuring the commercials is what RA is all about.

online CerTifiCaTion - revenue assuranCeAbout the oCrA ProgrAm

6Elective Based Program Choose 5 Students are allowed to accomplish these objectives by choosing 5 of the available courses.

To become certified, students must participate in and pass tests for the OCRA001 Intro to RA, and at least one of the major Lines of Business (Principles of Voice or Principles of Data).

Other than that, students may elect to take any other courses of interest to them.

Build Your Own CurriculumClasses will be offered at a variety of different times throughout the morning, afternoon, and evening, making it easy for students to find a class they are interested in at a time convenient for them.

Students who have already attained their RA or Masters certification are invited to take these refresher courses at a reduced cost (alumni discount).

hoW Do i GeT CerTifieD online?how does it work?

5 DaysIn just 5 days you can be on your way to certification. And if our schedule does not work with yours this time, check again next month.

2 Hours per DayCan you spare just two hours per day for your education? We have a schedule that lets you decide between office hours, after-work, early morning, or late evening hours.

The GRAPA certification program leverages the end-to-end coverage of the body of knowledge for the revenue assurance professionals established over the past 7 years under our 40-hour certification programs, with the ease of access of an online training environment.

To attain certification, students are still required to take training and prove mastery of all of the major aspects of the revenue assurance discipline:

Principles and Practices of RA

GRAPA Standards and the Standards Controls Discipline

The RA Lifecycle and KPIs

Governance and Corporate Accountability

Principles of Financial Integrity and Risk Management

Principles of Network Assurance (Voice and/or Internet)

Principles of Billing Assurance and Controls

Principles of Operations for major lines of business (Roaming, Interconnect, Data, Cable, Broadcast, Corporate etc.)

Principles of Profit Assurance, Margin Protection, and Market and New Product Assurance

7OCRA 001 - An Introduction to Standards-Based Revenue AssuranceIntroduction and overview of GRAPAs proven standards-based approach to the professional practice of RA, adopted by hundreds of carriers around the world. Also introduces the RA Lifecycle, Principles, Practices, Methodologies, and Objective Controls along with a Compliance based approach to the scientific practice of Revenue Assurance.

10 Courses To Choose fromPiCk Any Five

GRAPA provides you with many different options designed to meet your time, pricing, and learning objectives.

OCRA 002 - Revenue Assurance for Voice ServicesAssuring the networks and billing systems associated with voice services (PSTN). Students are introduced to the terminology and concepts of circuit switch network assurance from a commercial and controls perspective, as well as industry standard practice in the management and assurance of postpaid and prepaid voice billing systems.

OCRA 004 - Revenue Assurance for Interconnect / Inter-Carrier Voice Assurance of networks and services associated with interconnect (inter-carrier, wholesale services). Students are introduced to the terminology, business protocols, and key controls associated with the understanding and protection of interconnect revenues, Identifi-cation and containment of fraud and leakage risk. (Bypass Fraud, Carrier Fraud, Settlement Leakage, Margin Protection and more).

OCRA 005 - Revenue Assurance for Roaming Service Assurance of the networks and services associated with roaming (GSM & data roaming). Students learn the terminology, business protocols, and key controls of protecting roaming revenues such as Prepaid, Postpaid, USSD, and Camel Roaming. Introduction to the workings of the DCH, HUR, NRT, Steering, and IREG along with the identification and containment of fraud and leakage risk.

OCRA 006 - Revenue Assurance for Cable / Cloud Services Assurance of the networks and services associated with cable and cloud services (DSL, cable, leased line, MPLS, cloud, corporate services). Terminology, business protocols, and key controls for protection of wired broadband and other data protocols. Introduction to the current standards and technologies including DOCSIS 3.0, IMS, cloud, WiFi, and other broadband delivery mechanisms.

OCRA 007 - Revenue Assurance for Sales, Channels and ProvisioningAssurance of points of sale, sales channels, and provisioning of telecoms products and services. Challenges of securing cash revenues, logistics mgmt cycle for prepaid top up cards and ebalance systems, and standard controls for provisioning, HLR/IN synch, HLR/PPB synch, A.Number services tables, and other major CRM and service provisioning leakage risks and controls domains.

OCRA 008 - Revenue Assurance for Finance, Audit and ControlsOverview of assuring financial systems and controls related directly to revenue management, including revenue recognition, revenue accounting, audit of revenue management switches and systems, and the overall Controls Inventory and discipline developed and advocated by GRAPA members.

OCRA 009 - Revenue Assurance for Marketing and New Product DevelopmentAssurance of telecoms profits and markets. Disciplines include monitoring and developing controls for margins generated by different lines of business (interconnect, roaming, VNO etc.), margin contribution of network assets (asset assurance), net profitability of rate plans, promotions, bundles, and products (profit assurance), management of risks and the net and future value of customer segments for both demographic, behavioral, and product segments including profit assurance for churn management. (Market assurance.)

OCRA 003 - PCRF, DPI, Diameter & AAA Billing and Assurance Wireless broadband services have surpassed voice networks as the number one source of revenues for telecoms around the world. But now that they are here, it is time for billing, finance and assurance teams to verify that all of the revenues earned are in fact being collected. This course provides telecoms professionals with the principles of service and policy billing systems and their assurance.

OCRA 010 - Revenue Assurance for Data RoamingThis course is designed to provide billing and assurance professionals with a comprehensive guide to the design, assurance and audit of data roaming environments. Key controls and the roles of DCH, GRX and other roaming exchange models are considered. Standard controls for the environment are highlighted.

8OverviewIdentified as one of the growth career paths for telecoms professionals, this course provides the student with an overview and introduction to the standards-based practice of revenue assurance in the telecom.

LTE, wireless broadband, and the exciting frontiers of M2M, cloud and other new business models are revolutionizing the telecom industry. These services are reshaping the core of the industry and the nature of commerce and socialization in the 21st Century.

One of the side effects of this evolution was the creation of a new type of professional: part network engineer, part marketing innovator, part accountant and part psychologist/socialogist. The revenue assurance professional is one of the key contributors to the success of the next generation of telecoms products and services.

In this fundamental course, we introduce the student to the exciting and ever challenging world of the revenue assurance professional and to the disciplines, methods, governance models, and tools that make them successful.

Learning ObjectivesStudents will learn the history of the revenue assurance profession and the different methodologies, principles and approaches to problem solving that successful practicioners employ to make sense of the chaos that is the modern telecoms organization, and how to make a career for themselves in this fast paced, ever changing environment.

OCRA 001:IntROduCtIOn tO StAndARdS-BASed Revenue ASSuRAnCe

Course overview: oCrA 001

Course Outline / Week-at-a-Glance

What is Revenue Assurance? - An introduction to revenue assurance and the career-based view of the RA profession

Why Revenue Assurance? - The critical role of revenue assurance in the success of nextGen products and services

Principles and Methodologies - The revenue assurance professionals toolbox. Systematic, scientific and comprehensive tools for a chaotic environment

Standards and Controls - The revenue assurance guidebook. The GRAPA standard controls methodology, controls mapping, and controls design

RA Governance and Measurement - The role of RA in the corporate governance, controls, finance and risk management universe. How RA fits

Key Concepts The Revenue Assurance Lifecycle Definition and application of industry standard controls Revenue Mapping and Controls Scoring Disciplines Principles of the professional practice of RA The Governance framework of the RA practitioner Role of the RA Professional as part of the Finance, Risk

Management and Executive management team Definition of the RA teams different roles Career path for an RA Practitioner

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9OverviewLegacy voice, GSM, and CDMA networks are still the most significant revenue sources for most telecommunications companies.

In this course, students learn about the history, principles of operation, and key control areas of standards-based revenue assurance. This knowledge is required to do an adequate job of understanding, mapping, and establishing proper security within the standard wireline, GSM, and CDMA environment.

Learning ObjectivesStudents learn the principles of AAA (Authentication, Authorization and Accounting) and understand how these commerical requirements are integrated into typical voice network infrastructure. They then learn about the standard controls and methods for assuring the commercial integrity of these businesses from the customers handset through the radio towers, network elements, and switches, all the way into the postpaid and prepaid billing systems that make them profitable. A comprehensive review of the end-to-end revenue cycle for voice networks.

OCRA 002: Revenue ASSuRAnCe fOR vOICe SeRvICeS


Key Concepts AAA (Authentication, Authorization and Accounting) for Voice

Networks Key commercial controls issues for voice network

environments Fundamentals of Topology, Network Element integrity, and

Referential Integrity controls for voice networks Principles and methods of risk control and assurance for

Mediation, Postpaid Billing and Prepaid Billing Systems. The role of the RA professional in the assurance of voice

network environments. The Role of the RA Professional as part of the Finance, Risk

Management and Executive management team


Postpaid and Prepaid Billing Overview and the history of Voice Telephony

Fundamentals of network topology, the network operations center (NOC) and SS7 based assurance

AAA for GSM, CDMA and Voice Networks and Mediation Systems Operations and Controls

Postpaid Billing Systems Assurance and Controls

Prepaid Billing Systems Assurance and Controls

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10

OverviewThe wireless broadband revolution is changing the face of telecommunications. The very nature of interpersonal relations, and of commercial business models, is changing at a frantic rate. And telco billing, finance and revenue assurance professionals are rising to the challenge.

These new paradigms are creating an entirely new way to track and bill customers, not for who they call, but for what they do.

The generation of policy- and charging-based services has created a new environment for billing professionals to deal with.

In this course, students will be introduced to the fundamentals of policy- and charging-based services and billing systems.

Learning ObjectivesStudents learn how each of the major new policies and charging systems work, how they are appropriately configured, secured, assured, and audited.

Students will be introduced to the operating principles, (steering, duration, volume, bandwidth, destination, service level) architectural components (PCEF, PCRF, PDNGW, SGSN, GGSN, BRA, HSS, and others) and the underlying Internet (IOS) and GSM (3GPP) standards that define the proper operational parameters.

Learn how to verify that your network engineers have configured the environment correctly. Learn how to implement industry standard controls for these environments.



The history of billing, AAA and commercial billing, and controls for the Internet. Evolution of 3GPP billing standards and their implementation in modern networks.

Fundamentals of network topology and the principles of authentication, authorization and accounting for Internet environments.

Implementation of 3GPP billing and policy standards. Basic configuration and principles of Radius, Diameter, PCRF, and DPI billing configurations.

Comparative review of principle architecture GPRS, 3G, 4G, LTE, WiMax and hybridized versions and implementation of Policy and Charging systems in those environments.

Design of policy/charging products and services, and proper methods for configuring and assuring their implementation.

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Key Concepts Principles of billing, assurance, service configuration,

and the commercial integrity of: PCRF Billing and Service Configuration DPI Billing and Service Configuration Diameter Billing and Service Configuration

How to verify that your network engineers have configured the billing and service environment according to standards

How to verify that you are not losing money from PCRF, DPI, AAA, Diameter and other policy- and charging-based architectures

Industry standard audits, controls, and checklists for PCRF, DPI, AAA, Diameter, and other environments.

OCRA 003: PCRf, dPI, dIAmeteR, And AAA BIllIng ASSuRAnCe

11

OverviewInterconnect billing (also known as CABS, Wholesale, International, and Domestic Inter-Carrier) has served as the backbone of telecoms revenue for over 100 years. While under assault by the pernicious VoIP, Interconnect voice still maintains a commanding position in terms of the revenues it earns and the assurance and security protection it requires.

In this course, students will gain an understanding of the history, principles of operation, and key controls that are required if an adequate job is to be made of mapping and establishing proper financial fraud and leakage security controls over the many different forms of the interconnect voice business.

Learning ObjectivesStudents learn the principles of AAA (Authentication, Authorization and Accounting) and how the standard voice network controls, combined with a superset of issues associated with inter-carrier integrity, work together to protect this valuable revenue stream. Also, about the complex inter-related frameworks that make up the Interconnect operations lifecycle and about the revenue assurance, fraud, finance, and risk controls required for each.

The primary business protocols that drive decision making and the best practices used in running an interconnect business unit

Fundamentals of Topology, Network Element Integrity, and Referential Integrity controls for interconnect partnerships.

Students will be provided with case studies and encouraged to apply best practices to their existing situations.

OCRA 004:RA fOR InteRCOnneCt / InteR-CARRIeR vOICe


Course Outline / Week-at-a-GlanceIntroduction to the interconnect line of business, commercial framework and key issues for financial controls and operational integrity

Technical overview of interconnect business models and the Interconnect operations lifecycle

Standard industry and best practices controls for each stage of the Interconnect lifecycle including partner selection, agreement mgmt, rate mgmt, provisioning, traffic mgmt, settlement, network engineering, profitability mgmt and segment mgmt

Interconnect Frauds Overview - introduction to Bypass frauds, Injection frauds, PBX hacks, Simbox, and others

Margin and profit management for the Interconnect line of business, and understanding of segmentation analysis, directionality and maximizing the value of interconnect customers

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Key Concepts AAA (authentication, authorization and accounting) for the

interconnect line of business

Methods of controls and management for: Partner selection, agreement management and price controls

for interconnect Billing intergrity and assurance for interconnect traffic The settlement process, inherent risks and standard controls

postures Pricing controls and assurance Margin and profit controls and assurance (red routes, black

routes and margin alarms and responses) Market controls and assurance (segmentation analysis,

directionality and segment maximization) Key network, provisioning and change management controls

(trunkgroup, routing controls, routing table controls, traffic controls)

Key interconnect frauds (injection, bypass, overpass, denial of revenue) and their symptoms and remedies

12

OverviewRoaming has represented one of the most profitable lines of business for telecoms in many years. Unfortunately, while the costs of getting into a roaming partnership are relatively low, the risks and operational pressures it places on the telecom can be phenomenal.

In this course, students learn about the history, principles of operation, and key control areas required to map and establish proper financial security and leakage controls over the complex world of voice roaming services.

Learning ObjectivesStudents will learn the principles of AAA (authentication, authorization, and accounting) for roaming as well as the many different complexities and layers of control that are needed to run a profitable, secure, and fraud-proof roaming operation.

An introduction to the roaming operations lifecycle, the roles of the GSMA, IREG, TADIG, DCH, and other parties. Students learn the revenue assurance, fraud, finance, and risk controls required for each.

The primary business protocols that drive decision making and best practice in running a roaming business unitFundamentals of topology, network element integrity, and referential integrity, SS7, signaling, the IMAP, CAP, INAP and other controls for roaming partnerships

OCRA 005: Revenue ASSuRAnCe fOR ROAmIng SeRvICeS


Course Outline / Week-at-a-GlanceIntroduction to the roaming line of business: Commercial framework and key issues for financial controls and operational integrity, the parties, roles, and responsibilities of the different roaming lifecycles and the controls associated with each Technical fundamentals of the roaming infrastructure. Roles of MSC, GMSC, HLR, VLR, STP, SCP, and the roaming signaling protocols and dependencies

Postpaid roaming billing, operational models, and roaming credit management using the HUR and NRTDE methodologies

Prepaid roaming models including CAMEL and USSD roaming and the key controls and issues associated with each

IREG, TADIG, TAP, and CIBER industry standard protocols for assuring a roaming environment, the role of the DCH, segmentation and steering controls

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Key Concepts AAA (authentication, authorization and accounting)

for the roaming line of business Industry standard methods for the initiation of a

roaming agreement with a partner Billing integrity and assurance for roaming traffic The settlement process and the DCH for financial

and data clearing Market controls and assurance (segmentation

analysis, IN-Roamer, Out-Roamer) and RCF analysis and management

Key network provisioning and change management controls (signaling tests - the IREG, TADIG, Signaling partner role, and management)

Symptoms of key roaming frauds (IRSF, CAP) and their remedies

Steering, segment management, and profit maximization

13

OverviewCable, Cloud, and Broadband services have returned with force in the deployment of leading edge telecommunications services around the world. These technologies have experienced an exciting explosion of interest and subscribership. The lightning fast, high capacity connections they offer have galvanized a generation to new levels of activity on the wired web.

In this course, students learn the history, principles of operation, and key control areas that prevent fraud and financial leakage of the standard cable, cloud, and broadband based businesses.

Learning ObjectivesBuilding upon the information in OCRA003, students learn how the fundamentals of AAA for internet are applied to the ever increasing range of products and services that typify the cable, cloud, and corporate leased line broadband industry. Students are introduced to the key architecture, controls, and assurance issues of cable, ADSL, cloud, and corporate broadband services.

They will learn about the key architecture, controls and challenges of the cable and ADSL industries including DSLAMs, Conditioners, Set Top Box, Tap Boxes, Star, Ring and Piggy Back Architecture, HeadEnd, CMTS and other architectural components, their role, and the necessary controls including the application of DOCSIS 3 cable standard.

Students are presented with the principles of corporate leased line broadband service configurations including layer 1, layer 2, layer 3, and layer n services with emphasis on corporate VPN, MPLS, FastEther, and other corporate service delivery strategies.

OCRA 006: Revenue ASSuRAnCe fOR CABle And ClOud SeRvICeS


Course Outline / Week-at-a-GlanceHistory of the Cable, ADSL, Cloud, and Corporate Broadband industries. Understanding Cable, Cloud, and Broadband as commercial enterprises. Key revenues and unique profit drivers for each way they can be optimized

Principles of the OSI 7 Layer network model and applications to the design of control strategies for wired technologies. An introduction to corporate broadband and wholesale internet services

The corporate broadband business model. Role of services, systems, asset engineers, and hosting them as components of the service package. The Corporate Deal Management lifecycle and controls for each stage

Fundamentals of topology, architecture, and revenue generation for Cable and ADSL providers. The principles of broadcast, PPV, Internet, VoIP, and triple play service packaging. Key controls and assurance issues for ADSL/Cable providers. Standard controls and exposures.

Principles of the cloud based services and the relationship to ADSL, Cable, and Broadband commercial service providers. NextGen service package design and the hybrid broadband carrier. Principles of market maximization, broadcasting, segmentation, and programming business models. The Hyper-Programming business model as a guide to broadband product design and profitability

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Key Concepts AAA (authentication, authorization and accounting)

for Cable, ADSL, Corporate, Broadband, and Cloud services

Key commercial controls issues for Cable, ADSL, Cloud, Corporate Broadband, and data network environments

Fundamentals of topology, network element integrity, and referential integrity controls for cable, ADSL, cloud and corporate broadband networks

Principles and methods of risk control and the assurance of centric and non-centric network design applications.

The role of the RA professional in the assurance of Cable, Cloud, and Broadband network environments.

Development of strategies for revenue maximiza-tion and segmentation disciplines for broadcast, bandwidth, and cloud based services including segmentation maximization, subsidy analysis, and programming disciplines

14

OverviewThis course provides students with the GRAPA standards based approach to the systematic diagnosis, troubleshooting, and establishment of controls over the provisioning of services and the security and integrity of channels.

Provisioning of telecoms services has challenged network operations and financial executives for decades. The utter complexity of telecoms billing, network activation and service assurance mechanisms creates a large number of exposures that the RA team must address.

Students will become familiar with the GRAPA Domain Management Methodology and see how this discipline provides a method for systematic containment of provisioning risk.

OCRA 007: RA fOR SAleS, ChAnnelS And PROvISIOnIng


Course Outline / Week-at-a-GlanceCustomer Identity Management and Assurance. Critical nature of KYC (know your customer) controls. Credit management and credit exposure.

Wireline provisioning for voice and ADSL. Controls, issues and methods.

GSM Provisioning for Prepaid and Postpaid. Controls, issues and methods.

Distribution channel assurance (external and internal). Controls and methods for containment of leakage and fraud risk in channels.

Point of sale and asset protection protocols. Understanding channel controls. Integrated protection of CRM (Customer Relationship Management) and Brand Management strategies.

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Learning ObjectivesStudents will learn how to apply a systematic and comprehensive set of industry standard controls to provisioning, point of sales, and sales channels. They will be provided with a baseline understanding of what typical operational guidelines are for these areas, and learn how to spot exceptions and high risk areas.

A checklist of key control areas, weakspots and preventive measures are highlighted. Students are encouraged to bring real world examples of leakage and risks in their own sales, provisioning and channels areas for consideration and workshopping.

Key Concepts Security and assurance for the point of sales and customer

facing internal sales teams Assurance and controls for the generation, movement and

distribution of cash, credit and other forms of currency within the organization

Fundamentals of customer generated frauds including customer identity frauds, subsidy frauds, and sales force collusion and leakage

Principles and methods of assuring the provisioning process for prepaid Sims, postpaid Sims, postpaid wireline accounts, ADSL lines and other service categories.

Security and assurance for customer service assets including smartphones, tables, PCs, routers and other distribution devices

The role of the RA professional in cases of sales commission controls and assurance

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OverviewRevenue assurance is and always has been a critical part of the overall corporate financial controls infrastructure. However, too few telecoms financial executives, or even RA professionals understand the complex, inter-relationships that the different financial controls disciplines entail.

In this course, we provide the student with a comprehensive overview of the corporate governance, financial governance, and controls framework and show how the GRAPA standard controls supplement and complement them all.

The students learn the concepts of financial governance coupled with an overview of the different approaches to implementation of a controls framework. We begin with a review of the different controls disciplines with a special emphasis on the behavioral controls approach.

OCRA 008: Revenue ASSuRAnCe fOR fInAnCe, AudIt & COntROlS


Course Outline / Week-at-a-GlanceIntroduction to Financial and Operational Controls - Learn what a control is, the different methods of implementing them, and their relationship to accounting and auditing

Principles of corporate governance and the role of the RA Controls Mapping Life-cycle. Audit, Revenue Recognition, IFRS, GAAP, the pricing life-cycle, revenue accounting and the role of RA

Network & Batch System Controls - Standard commercial controls for the NOC, network assets, and revenue producing technical infrastructure

Prepaid & Partner Controls - Industry standard controls over prepaid and postpaid billing systems. Standard commercial controls for roaming, interconnect and other partnership based business models

Margin, Profit, Marketing, Deal & New Product Controls - Standard commercial controls for profitability, lines of business, bundles, products and assets. Controls-based approach to forecasts, sales reporting, market segment valuation and churn management

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Day 3

Day 4

Day 1

Day 5

Learning ObjectivesStudents are inroduced to the concepts of Revenue Assurance as a primary asset of the finance organization in accomplishing the goals of their Corporate Governance mission.

Students will learn the relationship between RA, audit, revenue accounting, and the pricing disciplines and learn how to better interface with and supplement their primary financial controls missions.

Real-world examples and case studies are provided to help stu-dents map the issues covered to the situations they face in their own organizations.

Key Concepts Definition, types and methods of controls implementation The behavioral controls approach, foundations, effectiveness and

limitations Fundamentals of accounting and financial controls Fundamentals of corporate governance and the roles and relationships of

audit, financial accounting, managerial accounting, SOX and RA Revenue Recognition - definitions, issues and controls Revenue accounting, revenue accounting assurance and the role of RA Difference between GAAP, IFRS and impacts on revenue assurance

controls and effectiveness Standard financial and commercial controls for the network Standard financial and commercial controls for postpaid and prepaid billing Standard financial and commercial controls for interconnect operations Standard financial and commercial controls for roaming operations Margin and profit controls for telecoms management Market and Segmentation controls for marketing activities Churn management as a financial controls discipline

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OverviewStudents will learn how to approach the revenue assurance job from the top management perspective, with a view of the implementation of controls for the profitability of lines of business, products, assets, and marketing campaigns, as well as training and controlling the market risk associated with churn and other revenue drains.

They will learn how innovative RA teams are assisting the CEO by structuring a profit driven organization with revenue assurance methodologies and disciplines.

OCRA 09: RA fOR mARketIng And new PROduCt develOPment


Course Outline / Week-at-a-GlanceIntroduction to the Profit Engineering discipline. Understanding tele-economics and the dynamics of profit management

Telecoms profit accounting techniques and controls. How to utilize RA to implement profit controls in all aspects of the business

Principles of Profit Assurance. An introduction to margin controls, margin reports, and the systematic application of revenue assurance based profit management controls discipline

Principles of Market Assurance. Introduction to implementation of controls over the design, deployment and tracking of products, services, rate plans and bundles in order to gain better control over non-traditional products and services.

Behavioral analytics, Big Data and the marriage of technology, marketing and innovation into powerful new hyper-market offerings. Application of advanced analytics to the implementation of effective market strategies.

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Day 3

Day 4

Day 1

Day 5

Learning ObjectivesThe objective of this course is to expose students to the latest innovations in the expanding role of revenue assurance to assist management in accomplishing profitability and establishing controls in a new generation of non-traditional products, services and business models.

Students will learn a new way to organize their organizations thinking of revenue, forecasting, marketing, product planning, CAPEX / OPEX planning, budgeting, and profit tracking.

Students also learn how to make their entire organization more immediately accountable for the profit horizon of their decisions.

Key Concepts Tele-econometrics - the key to understanding and measuring

profitable activities and investments Profit Assurance - The organized and disciplined approach

that forecasts, tracks and measures the profitability of each marketing, sales or business model activity in a way that is consistent, measurable and accountable

Utilization of Big Data, Market Analytic and Complex Econometric /Forecast techniques to accurately predict outcomes and build measurable controls against catastrophic failure

Utilization of operational checkpoints, gateways, controls, and continuous revenue /sales reports to allow management to have their finger on the pulse of profitability outcomes in near real time

A straightforward approach to making the entire organization more PROFIT-CENTRIC and to build PROFIT CONTROLS that keep profit wasters in check

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OverviewData Roaming represents one of the largest, most innovative sources of revenue for many telecoms. But data roaming is much more complicated than voice ever was.

New ways of traffic exchange, new methods of billing, and implementation of new roaming agreements create a universe of assurance, audit, and security issues to be addressed.

This course provides students with a comprehensive review of the different architectures, roaming models, billing models, and audit/assurance disciplines to secure these environments.

OCRA 10: Revenue ASSuRAnCe fOR dAtA ROAmIng


Course Outline / Week-at-a-GlancePrinciples of the Internet environment. Key architectures and methods of transport, principle participants in data transport (GRX, DCH, Tier 1,2,3 providers, ISPs and Wisps).

Commercial foundations for voice and data roaming. The roaming partnership and exchange models for WiFi and wireless data.

The roaming commercial life-cycle and commercial exchange models for data roaming. Key operational controls for the assurance of data roaming.

Revenue assurance for in-roamers. Key controls, issues, billing integrity, and fraud protection controls for management and settlement of traffic when your customers are on other networks.

Revenue assurance for out-roamers. Key controls, issues, billing integrity, and fraud protection controls for management and settlement of traffic when customers of other carriers are on your network.

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Day 3

Day 4

Day 1

Day 5

Learning ObjectivesThe primary objective of this course is to provide students with the knowledge, background, and tools to assist their organization in the audit, security, and assurance of wireless data roaming environments.

The key principles behind service design (policy definition), service calibration (volume, time, bandwidth, service level, throttling, best effort, service specific configuration, and destination specific configuration) are explained and studied.

Students will learn how to audit and verify the integrity of data roaming billing and commercial relationships and how to verify the accuracy of settlement and partner disputes.

Key Concepts Learn the basic GPRS, 3G, 4G, LTE, WiFi, and WiMax

data roaming architectures Learn the role of the DCH, GRX, and other specialty

service providers Learn the key dimensions and issues involved with

developing a robust and effective billing system

Learn the fundamentals of data roaming settlements and partner relationship management

Learn the main sources of leakage and revenue loss that carriers have experienced, and most likely will experience during the first years of data roaming

Learn how to build an effective set of operational and commercial controls around the data roaming environment

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GeTTinG reaDy for Classbe PrePAred!

Technical and Operational Requirements for Online Training

IM READY

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GeT reaDy CheCklisTPrelAunCh requirements

GRAPA provides you with many different options designed to meet your time, pricing, and learning objectives

Over the years, we at GRAPA have learned a lot about how to make the process of getting ready for online training as easy as possible. While online training can be fun, interactive and convenient, failure to prepare can turn it into an I/T and Operational nightmare. For this reason, we have provided the following checklist and steps that we require students to take before coming to class. These steps have proven to be effective in minimizing the stress and inconvenience involved in setting up for an online class.

Failure to Launch If for some reason, you find that your internet access, PC, or work environment do not meet these requirements, we will not be able to provide training to you at this time. Advancements in technology and network speeds are increasing rapidly, and it is very possible that you will get another chance in the near future.

If you cannot find a fast internet connection, sufficient CPU and processing speed, or an environment that makes training easy, then we are still able to offer our live public venue and onsite options to you and your team.

1) SPEED TESTThe speed test is done in order to verify that your internet connection is fast enough to provide for a high quality classroom experience.

5) CLASSROOM PROTOCOLThese tips and guidelines will help you make the most of your training and help you to make it optimum for your classmates as well.

4) MEET AND GREETOur weekly Meet n Greet sessions give you the chance to log into an actual classroom, meet some of the team and fellow classmates and get comfortable.

3) CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENTGRAPA uses the Adobe Connect application to power our online classroom. This step allows you to download the app and verify that everything works.

2) PC CONFIGURATIONGRAPA training is provided via an internet connection running on your PC. A minimum amount of memory, speed, proper software, and open ports are required.

6) THE REGISTRATION PROCESSThe GRAPA financial qualification and online scheduling process provides students with more options, more often.

The key sTePs in The CheCklisT inCluDe:

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sPeeD TesThow well Are you ConneCted?

About the Speed TestThe first and most important requirement for a successful training experience is to have a fast and reliable internet connection. The quality and speed of your connection will depend on the country you are in, and on where you will be taking the class.

If you plan on taking the class at work, then your corporate internet speeds, firewalls, and other requirements may hamper your success. If you plan on taking the class from home, your home internet services will have to meet minimum requirements.

Some people have found that they could acquire an LTE or wireless broadband modem and get enough speed to take the class from anywhere.

If you cannot meet the minimum speeds, there is no way that you are going to be able to take the class. Even if you are willing to take the chance, unfortunately, a poor connection on your computer will cause problems for other students, so it is critical that you verify speeds before beginning the enrollment process.

Your GRAPA membership manager or teacher assistant will ask for proof of speed at several points during the set up process in order to assure that you will have a good class.

Make sure that you do the test with the same computer and internet connection from the same location you intend on using for the class. Changing PCs or locations may have a drastic impact on your success.

Speed Test Instructions To attend the online training, students need to have at least the minimum internet connection speed to the server

location. This speed needs to be measured from your machine, through your corporate LAN / WAN (or home), to your ISP, and finally to the US based server.

We recommend that you or your technical staff complete at least two of these tests. For each test we will explain the ideal, acceptable, and minimum results.

The Speed test should be set to test from your machine to any major server hosted in the US (preferably in Texas or Florida).

If you are concerned with the results of multiple tests, please consult with your GRAPA representative for

further technical support.

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Go To -- hTTP://sPeeDTesT.neT/getting uP to sPeed

At this speed test, click and drag the target box to the south-west United States.

Zoom into the state of Texas, and highlight the Austin, TX dot on the map. Mouse over the Austin, TX flag and click it to start the speed test.

Once the test is done, it will show your speed data, as shown below.

*If you have any questions or issues with the technical requirements, contact [email protected]

Please record this data.

Make sure that you do the test from the location and using the computer and internet connection you intend to use for the class. Changing PCs or locations will have a drastic impact on your success.

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ComPuTer ConfiGuraTionPrePAre your work stAtion

About Your ComputerThe PC that you choose to use for your training class will be critical to the quality of the training environment. A PC that does not meet minimum speed and configuration requirements will not only make it impossible for you to see and hear the teacher, but it will also have an adverse effect on the other students. Please verify your configuration before attempting to register for a class.

Equipment Requirements All students need to have a webcam that can broadcast video of their faces while attending the class. This is a requirement to verify the identity of students using facial recognition software. It also lets you be seen by the other students. If you do not have a working webcam, or if your PC or work environment will not allow it, then you cannot attend this training.

It is also required that students have a functional remote microphone and headset to wear during the class. Students attempting to attend class using the microphones and speakers built into the PC can cause feedback and noise distor-tion problems for themselves, teachers and other students. Please be sure that this equipment is available and tested along with the PC configuration itself.

If the headset /microphone problem and/or the VoIP quality is bad, GRAPA can provide a dial-in voice bridge for students to utilize during the class. This might entail an additional cost.

Setting up the SystemTo participate in our interactive virtual environment, there are certain hardware, software and internet (network) conditions that need to be met.

Hardware Requirements and RecommendationsThe online training environment was built to support a Windows PC based environment.Apple, LINUX, Android and other hardware or operating systems are NOT SUPPORTED. CPU - 1.4GHz Intel Pentium 4 or faster processor (or equivalent) for Microsoft Windows XP, Windows 7 or

Windows 8; 2GHz Pentium 4 or faster processor (or equivalent) for Windows Vista RAM - 512 MB of RAM (2GB preferred) An Ethernet card or a WiFi connection Video Camera: Any type of camerafrom a webcam to high-end digital video camera, built-in or USB Microphone: Internal or external (built-in or USB) external preferred Speaker or Headset external preferred

Software Requirements and Recommendations (General) Windows XP or higher (Windows 7 or Windows 8 preferred) Mozilla Firefox 17.0 , avaScript and Cookies enabled Adobe FlashPlayer 11.5 + Active X enabled and unblocked Java 6.0 or above

Browser RequirementsIn an effort to provide a seamless online learning environment, we request students use the following browser: Firefox 3.x and above (most stable for a majority of students)

Firewalls & Proxy ServersMany organizations have found that the following ports cause problems and need to be opened and cleared. RMTP Default RMTP Port 1935 RMTP Port 80 RMTP Port 443

RMTPT (Tunneling) Default RMTPT (Tunneling) Port 80 RMTPT (Tunneling) Port 443 RMTPT (Tunneling) Port 1935

UDP Port 9000 TCP Port 80 SSL 443

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Classroom environmenTthe Adobe ConneCt virtuAl ClAssroom

About Adobe ConnectAdobe Connect is a web conferencing platform for web meetings, eLearning, and webinars. It powers mission critical web conferencing solutions end-to-end, on virtually any device, and enables organizations from leading corporations to improve productivity and to deliver immersive experiences in live and on-demand classes.

During your training, a GRAPA Teacher Assistant will track learner engagement in real time to help maximize participation. This program enables GRAPA students to view their assigned training and easily track their individual progress through learning paths. The teacher along with the teacher assistant will provide prerequisites and test-outs to guide access and content selection.

Configuration for Adobe ConnectThe Adobe Connect environment requires that students download the latest versions of Java and Adobe Player software. Students can download the proper modules from the Adobe Connect Help site and verify the performance from this location.

1. Go to -- http://admin.adobeconnect.com/common/help/en/support/meeting_test.htm

2. Make sure your PC is verified for each of the 4 connection tests:

Flash player

Adobe Connection Test

Connect Speed Test

Add-in Test

3. Use resources on that page or contact us for technical support if your PC is having an issue with any of these tests.

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meeT anD GreeTAn exCiting dAy

About the Meet n GreetEach week, GRAPA holds a complementary Meet n Greet online session to prepare students for the upcoming training event. The Meet n Greet is essential for all of GRAPAs online training courses.

During the Meet n Greet, students will get the chance to meet teachers, teacher assistants, membership managers, and other students while at the same time becoming familiarized with the online virtual classroom.

Not only is it a great way to break the ice with the teachers and TAs and set a comfortable learning environment, but it is also a GRAPA online certification requirement to see if your tech specs are up to par with our standards set in parts 1-4 of our online technical specifications.

We will also check headphones, mics, cameras etc. during the Meet n Greet session.

During the Meet n Greet, students are provided with the following information and services:

1. A sound check to verify that you can hear the teacher, audio and video recordings. A chance for you to make sure you audio settings are optimal.

2. A video check to verify that you can see the teacher, videos and other students. A chance to make sure your video settings are optimal.

3. A walk-through of the different features and protocols for attendance in the virtual classroom including: a. How to raise your hand to ask questions

b. How to take a break and leave the classroom temporarily

c. How to answer poll questions

d. How to change your screen settings

e. How to take a break in a breakout area to meet with other students and to chat about the class or anything else youd like

4. Familiarization with the classroom protocols including: a. Attendance policies

b. Policy for excused and unexcused absences

c. Testing procedures

d. Testing policies and re-testing options

e. Security

f. Adjusting volume

g. Adjusting your screen settings

Students who fail to attend one of the weekly live Meet n Greet sessions will be required to watch a recorded tutorial for attending AND will be required to login to the Green Room staging area to verify their readiness before being properly invited into the classroom.

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Classroom ProToColmAking the most oF your virtuAl ClAssroom exPerienCe

About Your Classroom ExperienceGRAPA faculty and staff have found that there are several things you can do to make your training experience a great one. It is absolutely critical that you spend some time thinking about where, when and how you want to have your training, and prepare your area before you begin.

GRAPA training is easy and fun, but it is also intensive and hard work. Be prepared to concentrate and focus.

To enable that process, please consider the following: 1. Choose a location that is isolated from distractions Passing trucks, screaming children, or noisy co-workers will distract you from the material being covered and make It difficult for you to concentrate and interact. Make sure your training area is quiet and stable.

2. Clear your calendar Warn family, friends, co-workers, and bosses that for 2 hours you will be focusing on the training. Arrange in advance for someone else to take your calls and handle your issues. You are paying for this class and investing your valuable time. Dont waste it!

3. Have a comfortable chair with decent lighting A comfortable seating arrangement, in a place where you can see and write will make training easier.

4. Download the slides and take notes Learning studies show that people retain more when they write things down and read things over again. Seeing the slides and hearing the teacher is great, but reviewing the slides and taking notes while the class is going on will more than double the retention and application of the covered materials.

5. Ask questions and interact Dont be shy! The GRAPA training environment is interactive for a reason. This material is complicated and it is expected that you will hit bumps where you need some help in putting it all together. Asking questions and interacting is what it is all about.

6. Take the tests after the class This will help you reinforce what you have learned and provide proof of mastery (and passing grades are required for certification).

7. Be courteous to your fellow students Keep your microphone muted unless you are speaking. Avoid making distracting gestures and actions on your webcam.

8. Stay on topic GRAPA training is focused and systematic. Dont wander into subjects that are not directly related to the issue at hand. Save questions that are not relevant to the subject matter for after the class.

9. Come to class early Come 10 minutes before class starts for your check-in. Teacher Assistants take attendance each day and report to managers and the certification committee.

10. Let us know if you will be late The Adobe Connect system will lock students out if they come late. Let the TA know if you cannot be on time or you might have to get a special administrative pass.

11. Dont miss classes The material covered is comprehensive, and it is not fair to other students if you miss material and then force everyone else to go through it again.

12. Relax and have fun GRAPA training events are a great chance to focus on you and what you want to know. We try to maintain an easy and relaxed atmosphere for everyone.

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The Global Revenue Assurance Professionals Association (GRAPA) Is a traditionally defined professional association.What that means is that we exist solely to support the development of professional practices in the execution of Revenue Assurance, Fraud Management and Logical/Physical Security protection for telecommunications and communications companies.

Since its founding in 2007, GRAPA has enrolled more than 8000 members from around the world. We have trained more than 1800 of those members and certified over 1200. Our membership represents every line of business in telecommunications and communications including wireless (GSM,CDMA, WIMAX, Microwave, Satellite), wireline (POTS, Fiber, DSL), Internet (ISP, VOIP) and Broadcast.

GRAPA works hard to accomplish its objectives through: Establishment of a set of standards for the practice of revenue assurance

and fraud management embraced by the industry (through ratification by our membership)

Creation of a training /testing /certification program that provides professionals and their managers with clear objective and subjective criteria for evaluation of the practices, approaches and impacts

Creating a community of RA professionals that share best practices and promote the professional practice of their skills.

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grAPAs history

grAPAs mission The mission of GRAPA the Global Revenue Assurance Professionals Association is to provide revenue assurance professionals with a standards and certification body that allows them to gain recognition for their unique skills and accomplishments and to provide them with an independent source of verification of best practices in the telecommunications industry.

grAPAs visionOur vision is to help propel revenue assurance, as a profession to the highest levels of management recognition and contribution to the financial success of telecoms organizations. To this end, GRAPA has worked tirelessly to promote

the continuous innovation and reinvention of the profession to better meet the ever changing demands of the telco financial organization.

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Standards and Certification Since 2007, GRAPA has focused on the development of standards for the professional practice of revenue assurance, and on the certification of professionals to recognize their attainment of levels of excellence. Our 2009 standards have been ratified by our membership of over 8000 members and have been accepted by hundreds of telecoms around the world.

Advisory Services Many times, training is simply not enough. In those cases, GRAPA is able to provide additional one-on-one advisory services in the form of workshops, audits and the preparation of analyses of different challenges faced by RA teams and CFOs to address a myriad of accounting, controls, operational, I/T, and compliance issues.

Revenue Assurance AcademyThe Revenue Assurance Academy is the GRAPA school dedicated to the provision of world class training in revenue assurance best practices to professionals around the world. The RA-Academy is our method of reaching out to organizations and providing training in the many forms required.

Telecom Fraud AcademyThe Telecom Fraud Academy provides training and certification testing to our community of over 2000 telecoms fraud professionals. Founded in 2010 the Academy fulfills a function equivalent to not only that of the RA Academy but to the fraud specialists around the world.

GraPa serviCesthe serviCes we Provide

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GraPas insTruCTorsFACulty

GRAPAs faculty is the real driving force behind the GRAPA approach. Our faculty does the research, prepares the workshops and tests, manages the benchmarking research, publishes the standards and teaches the classes. GRAPA faculty members maintain active membership and participation in several related professional associations including the IIA (International Auditors Association) and ACFE (Association of Certified Fraud Examiners), and they participate and contribute to the industry by membership in a number of industry standards efforts. Meet two of the instructors below.

Rob Mattison -President of GRAPA- is considered by many to be one of the worlds leading authorities in telecommunications billing, revenue assurance and analytics. Rob has taught nearly 2000 students in the practice of revenue assurance.

Robs experience spans multiple generations of tele-coms technology from the oldest, pre-SS7-based voice and satellite, through the early days of cable and voice, and through the latest in wireless LTE, IMS, NGN and DOCSIS 3.0. As a former member of the ITU, IEEE and Unix International Steering committees, Rob has participated in the forefront of each new generation of telecoms technology and innovation expansion.

Rob has authored over a dozen books on the topics of telecoms revenue assurance, Telecoms Business Intelligence, Internet and Web programming and de-

sign and the fun-damentals of database ar-chitectures.

Robs highly charged, in-teractive, and e n t h u s i a s t i c style of teach-ing has helped hundreds of people to gain

fresh insight and better methodologies for the practice of revenue assurance in all communications areas and regions of the world.

Rob Mattison Pamela NoriegaPamela Noriega has been GRAPAs Regional Chair-person for Latin America since 2008. Her background includes extensive experience in Finance, Risk Analysis and Project Management in several industries, including Banking and Telecommunications. She is the lead faculty for the South American region, and provides GRAPA training in both English and Spanish.

Pamela has assisted GRAPA in pioneering our Spanish language, Latin American prog-ram and has been instrumental in the preparation of our latest generation of training materials.

As an experienced trainer, Pamela has taught in exotic locations like Oman, as well as serving as speaker at conferences around the world.

GRAPA is pleased to include Pamela as our bi-lingual Revenue Assurance and Fraud Management Lead Faculty member.

Pamelas patient and systematic teaching style makes her easily approachable and an excellent mentor for students of all persuasions.

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GraPas alumniOveR 1500 SmIlIng fACeS

We take a group picture at the closing ceremony of each of our certification class. Our website has many of these photos.

Just 8 out of the more than 100 classes conducted since 2007

Jakarta Chicago

Las Vegas Muscat

Luxembourg Bangkok

Johannesburg Miami

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hunDreDs of TesTimonialswhAt our Alumni sAy

We are very proud of the incredible diversity, motivation, and enthusiasm of our alumni Many have posted glowing testimonials. Read a few for yourself or see them all on our website.

As an analyst with a programming background, I thought I was too smart for the job with a handful list of areas for assurance. After attending the training, obviously I could not be more wrong. The new knowledge attained posed as a professional challenge and yet a chance to be a real telco asset. Personally, I am more confident. - Revenue Assurance Analyst, TIGO, Tanzania

I enjoyed the course. The course was a great experience for me as a newbie on the revenue assurance team. It helped me know what I must do as a revenue assurance pro by showing me the logic to apply and how to do so. - Fraud Coordinator, Zain, DRC

[The training] is a comprehensive, practical training that provides a framework and specific guidance so that Revenue Assurance Managers can better assure end to end. I highly recommend anyone involved with assuring revenue attend this training. - International Compliance Director, Trilogy International Partners, USA

I have really benefited from the training I have received. My revenue assurance focus, footprint and orientation have been sharpened to be more efficient. Every RA person SHOULD have this training.

- Revenue Assurance Analyst, Bolivia

The Telecom Fraud Academy II training provided me with an eye-opening view of a wide scope of fraud in telecoms that needs looking into. A centralized and organized approach in fighting fraud in a very fluid environment is indeed a challenge and the training gave me that much-needed insight on how to go about it. Knowing that somewhere special people are also doing what I do makes me feel more motivated in my line of work. - Fraud & Security Supervisor Smart, Philippines

This is the most comprehensive training course on telecommunications generally and Revenue Assurance specifically that I have ever attended. The GRAPA trainer had intimate knowledge of the material and presented it in a clear and simple manner. - Regional Revenue Assurance Manager, LIME Caribbean, Jamaica

Documents

OCRA Master EventGuide