The data is worth more
A single tax return holds a full identity: name, SSN, income, dependants, and bank routing numbers. Stolen returns are used for refund fraud and identity theft, so one compromised laptop can expose hundreds of clients.
Cybersecurity for Accounting Firms
Cybersecurity for Accounting and CPA Firms That Holds Up in Tax Season
Accounting firms hold exactly what attackers want: Social Security numbers, bank details, and years of returns. TechFiscal protects that data with layered security built for CPA and tax practices. Endpoint protection, MFA, email filtering, backups, and monitoring work as one system, mapped to IRS Publication 4557 and the FTC Safeguards Rule.
Get a Free Security Assessment- Built for CPA and tax firms
- Mapped to IRS Pub 4557
- Supports FTC Safeguards Rule
- MFA and encrypted backups
Why accounting firms
Why Attackers Target Accounting Firms
Small and mid-sized firms often run on the same tools as large ones, without the security team. That gap is what attackers look for, especially in the weeks before a filing deadline.
Deadlines create pressure
Phishing and business email compromise spike when staff are rushed. A fake client email with an “updated W-2” or a spoofed partner asking for a wire looks routine in March.
Regulators expect controls
The FTC Safeguards Rule treats tax and accounting firms as financial institutions. IRS Publication 4557 and your PTIN renewal both expect a written plan and working safeguards, not just antivirus.
Threats and controls
Common Threats to CPA Firms and the Controls That Stop Them
Each control below maps to a requirement you already have to meet. That way security work and compliance work are the same work.
| Threat | How it shows up in a CPA firm | Control TechFiscal puts in place | Requirement it supports |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phishing and BEC | Spoofed client or partner emails asking for documents, logins, or wire changes | Advanced email filtering, link and attachment scanning, staff phishing training | FTC Safeguards: staff training; IRS Pub 4557 |
| Credential theft | Stolen passwords used to open tax software, email, or remote desktop | Multi-factor authentication on email, VPN, and hosted apps; least-privilege access | FTC Safeguards: MFA and access controls; IRS Security Six |
| Ransomware | Client files and tax software encrypted days before a deadline | Endpoint protection, patching, and encrypted backups kept separate from the network | IRS Security Six: anti-virus, backups |
| Lost or stolen laptop | A device with client returns left in a car or airport | Full-disk encryption, remote lock, and device management | IRS Security Six: drive encryption |
| Unsecured remote access | Staff connecting from home over open RDP or weak VPN | Secure VPN or hosted desktop with MFA and session logging | IRS Security Six: VPN; FTC Safeguards: monitoring |
| Unpatched systems | Old Windows builds or tax software versions with known flaws | Managed patching and vulnerability checks | FTC Safeguards: regular testing |
| Vendor and cloud gaps | Misconfigured Microsoft 365 or third-party tools with weak settings | Secure cloud configuration and vendor review | FTC Safeguards: service provider oversight |
What we cover
Cybersecurity Services for Accounting Firms
Six layers, managed together. If one fails, the next one still stands between an attacker and your client files.
01
Endpoint security
Every workstation and laptop is protected, patched, and encrypted, whether staff work in the office or from home.
- Endpoint protection on every device
- Managed OS and software patching
- Full-disk encryption and remote lock
02
Email security and phishing defense
Most breaches at accounting firms start in the inbox, so email gets its own layer.
- Advanced filtering beyond basic spam rules
- Protection against spoofed client and partner emails
- Phishing awareness training for staff
03
Identity and access management
The right people get into the right systems, and a stolen password alone is not enough.
- Multi-factor authentication on email, VPN and apps
- Role-based, least-privilege access
- Prompt removal of access when staff leave
04
Network and cloud security
Office networks, Microsoft 365, and hosted tax software are configured so client data stays private.
- Firewall and secure VPN setup
- Secure cloud and Microsoft 365 configuration
- Segmented access to client data
05
Backup and disaster recovery
If ransomware or hardware failure hits, you restore and keep filing.
- Encrypted backups kept off the main network
- Tested restores, not just backup jobs
- Recovery plan sized for tax-season deadlines
06
Monitoring and security assessment
Ongoing visibility into what is happening on your systems, plus regular reviews of where you stand.
- Security monitoring and alerting
- Risk assessment and gap report
- Regular review and improvement
How it works
How We Secure Your Firm in Four Steps
We start with what you already have, fix the biggest risks first, and keep improving from there.
Security assessment
We review devices, accounts, email, network, backups, and your WISP to see where client data is exposed.
You get a plain-language gap report.Risk-ranked plan
Findings are ranked by risk to client data and by what IRS and FTC rules require.
Quick wins first, larger changes scheduled.Implementation
We deploy MFA, endpoint protection, email security, encryption, and backups with minimal disruption.
Timed around your filing calendar.Monitoring and review
Systems are monitored and reviewed regularly, and your documentation stays current.
Evidence ready if a regulator or insurer asks.What is at stake
What a Breach Costs an Accounting Firm
The damage rarely stops at the IT bill. These are the costs firms tell us worry them most.
Client trust and retention
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Clients hand over their most sensitive records because they trust you. A notification letter about stolen returns can end relationships that took years to build.
Reputational damage often costs more than recovery.Regulatory exposure
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Under the FTC Safeguards Rule, a security event affecting 500 or more consumers must be reported to the FTC within 30 days of discovery. State breach notification laws may apply too.
Missing safeguards make a breach harder to defend.Downtime at the worst time
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Ransomware that locks files in March or April can mean missed deadlines, extensions, and penalties for clients.
Tested backups are what turn days of outage into hours.PTIN and e-file risk
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Tax professionals confirm they have a data security plan when renewing their PTIN. Weak or missing safeguards put that attestation and your e-file standing at risk.
Your WISP should describe controls that actually run.The controls that prevent most incidents
Most incidents we see at small firms trace back to a short list of missing basics:
- No MFA on email or remote access
- Backups never tested with a real restore
- Staff never trained on phishing
- Unpatched devices and old software
Compliance checklist
IRS and FTC Security Requirements for Tax Professionals
Use this as a quick self-check. Every item here is part of the security work we manage for your firm. For the full written plan, see our WISP compliance service.
IRS “Security Six” (Publication 4557)
- Anti-virus and firewalls on every device and network
- Multi-factor authentication for email, tax software and remote access
- Backups and drive encryption so lost data and devices are recoverable and unreadable
- Virtual private network (VPN) for any remote connection to client data
FTC Safeguards Rule (16 CFR Part 314)
- Qualified Individual named to oversee your security program
- Written risk assessment and safeguards based on it
- Staff training and vendor oversight reviewed on a regular schedule
- Incident response plan written down before you need it
FAQ
Cybersecurity for Accounting Firms: FAQs
What cybersecurity do accounting firms need?+
At minimum, accounting firms need the IRS “Security Six”: anti-virus, firewalls, multi-factor authentication, backups, drive encryption, and a VPN for remote access. Most firms also need email filtering, staff phishing training, patching, and monitoring, all documented in a Written Information Security Plan.
Are CPA firms required to have cybersecurity controls by law?+
Yes. The FTC Safeguards Rule treats tax and accounting firms as financial institutions and requires a written information security program with specific safeguards, including MFA, encryption, access controls, training, and an incident response plan. IRS Publication 4557 sets the same expectation for paid preparers.
How is this different from the antivirus we already have?+
Antivirus covers one layer on one device. Most attacks on accounting firms start with a phishing email or a stolen password, which antivirus does not stop. We add MFA, email security, patching, encryption, backups, and monitoring so the layers cover each other.
Do you replace our current IT provider?+
Not necessarily. We can run your full managed IT and security, or work alongside an in-house person or existing provider and handle the security layer. The security assessment shows which option makes sense for your firm.
Can you help us meet IRS Publication 4557?+
Yes. We implement the technical safeguards Publication 4557 describes and keep them documented. If you also need the written plan itself, our WISP compliance service builds a plan specific to your firm.
What happens if we get hit by ransomware?+
With tested, encrypted backups kept off the main network, we isolate affected systems, restore clean data, and get your team working again. We also help you follow your incident response plan, including notification steps the FTC Safeguards Rule may require.
Do you secure remote and hybrid staff?+
Yes. Remote staff connect through a secure VPN or hosted desktop with MFA, and their laptops are encrypted, patched, and protected like office machines. That keeps client files off personal devices and unsecured home networks.
How do we get started?+
Book a free IT and security assessment. We review your devices, accounts, email, backups, and current WISP, then send a prioritized list of fixes. There is no obligation to sign up for ongoing services.
Related services
More Ways We Protect CPA Firms
ComplianceWISP ComplianceA custom, audit-ready Written Information Security Plan.Learn more ↗Managed ITManaged IT for CPA FirmsDay-to-day IT support built around tax season.Learn more ↗HostingTax Software HostingDrake, Lacerte and more on a secure cloud server.Learn more ↗Start hereFree IT AssessmentSee where your firm is exposed before you decide.Learn more ↗
Next step
Find Your Security Gaps Before Tax Season Does
A free assessment shows where client data is exposed and what to fix first, mapped to IRS and FTC requirements.
Get a Free Security Assessment