SOC 2 & Client Data Protection
Accounting Firms
Specialized cybersecurity services for CPA firms, accounting practices, and tax professionals. Protect client financial data, achieve SOC 2 compliance, and build trust with comprehensive security programs.
Compliance Requirements We Address
Expert support for accounting-specific regulations and standards
Security Challenges Facing Accounting Firms
Industry-specific threats and compliance requirements we help you address
Client Financial Data Security
Protect sensitive tax returns, financial statements, bank account information, and other confidential client data from cyber threats and unauthorized access.
Tax Season Readiness
Ensure your systems and security controls can handle increased workload and cyber threats during peak tax season without compromising security.
Client Trust & Reputation
Maintain client confidence with robust security practices that demonstrate your commitment to protecting their most sensitive financial information.
FTC Safeguards Compliance
Meet new FTC Safeguards Rule requirements for non-banking financial institutions, including written information security plans and risk assessments.
How Guarded Protects Accounting Firms
Comprehensive security solutions tailored to your practice and client needs
SOC 2 Compliance
Achieve and maintain SOC 2 certification to demonstrate your commitment to client data security and meet service organization requirements.
Learn More →vCISO Services
Part-time CISO expertise to build and maintain your cybersecurity program, ensuring compliance and protecting client data year-round.
Learn More →Risk Assessment
Comprehensive NIST-based risk analysis identifying vulnerabilities in your accounting systems, client portals, and data storage solutions.
Learn More →Penetration Testing
Ethical hacking to test your defenses and identify security gaps before malicious actors exploit them during tax season.
Learn More →Security Awareness Training
Train your accounting staff to recognize phishing, social engineering, and cyber threats targeting financial data and tax information.
Learn More →Incident Response Planning
Develop response plans for data breaches and cyber incidents to minimize client impact and meet notification requirements.
Learn More →Our Approach for Accounting Firms
We understand the unique challenges facing CPAs and accounting firms: seasonal workload spikes, sensitive client financial data, increasing regulatory requirements, and sophisticated threats targeting tax professionals. Our approach delivers practical security that works within the realities of accounting practice management.
Tax Season Threat Preparedness
Tax season brings unprecedented cyber threats targeting accounting firms: W-2 phishing scams, tax preparer identity theft, ransomware attacks timed to maximize disruption, and business email compromise targeting client refunds. We prepare firms before tax season with security assessments identifying vulnerabilities, enhanced email filtering to block tax-themed phishing, employee training on seasonal threats, and backup verification ensuring data can be recovered if systems are compromised.
During peak season, we provide expedited incident response if security events occur—because a ransomware attack in February can't wait until April 16th for remediation. Your clients depend on timely filing, and we ensure security incidents don't derail your busiest season.
SOC 2 Compliance Without Disruption
Enterprise clients and many accounting software vendors now require SOC 2 certification. Achieving SOC 2 Type II seems daunting: 6-12 months of evidence collection, extensive documentation, and auditor scrutiny. We guide accounting firms through SOC 2 without disrupting tax season or client work. We start after tax season, implement controls during lower-volume months, and collect evidence continuously so audit preparation doesn't overwhelm your team.
Our SOC 2 programs focus on controls accounting firms actually need: access management, data encryption, backup and recovery, vendor management, and change control—not unnecessary documentation that adds complexity without improving security. You get SOC 2 certification that opens business opportunities while building genuine security improvements.
Client Portal & Document Security
Many accounting firms still share tax returns and financial statements via unencrypted email—a significant security risk and potential compliance violation. We implement secure client portals with encryption, multi-factor authentication, granular access controls, and audit logging. Clients appreciate the professional experience and enhanced security. Your firm gains defensible security practices and satisfies requirements under FTC Safeguards and state data protection laws.
We also help firms transition from on-premise file servers to cloud-based solutions that provide better security, automatic backups, and remote access—critical capabilities in today's hybrid work environment. Cloud migrations are planned around your schedule, with minimal disruption to client service during transitions.
Practice Management Integration
Your accounting practice management software, tax preparation systems, and client portals are the backbone of your operations. Security implementations must integrate seamlessly with CCH Axcess, Thomson Reuters, Drake, Lacerte, QuickBooks, and other tools you depend on. We have extensive experience securing accounting technology stacks without breaking integrations or creating workflow disruptions.
When implementing security controls like multi-factor authentication or endpoint detection, we test compatibility with your practice management systems, phase rollouts to minimize workflow changes, and provide user training tailored to accounting staff—not generic security awareness that doesn't address your specific tools and threats.
What Sets Our Accounting Firm Practice Apart
We've worked with dozens of CPA firms and accounting practices ranging from sole practitioners to 50-person firms. This experience gives us deep understanding of your business model, seasonal challenges, and security requirements.
Seasonal Scheduling Flexibility
We understand tax season is untouchable. Security projects, compliance initiatives, and major system changes happen outside January-April. Need to delay a penetration test because you're slammed with 1040s? Not a problem. Want to implement new security controls in May when workload drops? We can start immediately. This flexibility—respecting your seasonal business rhythm—differentiates us from security firms treating accounting like every other industry.
Accounting Software Expertise
We've secured CCH, Thomson Reuters, Intuit, Drake, and other major accounting platforms. We know these systems' security capabilities, common misconfigurations, and integration requirements. When securing your practice management software, we leverage built-in security features you may not know exist, identify unnecessary permissions creating risk, and implement multi-factor authentication without breaking workflows. This platform-specific expertise accelerates implementations and avoids costly mistakes.
IRS Security Summit Alignment
The IRS Security Summit provides cybersecurity guidelines for tax professionals. Our security programs align with Security Summit recommendations: securing tax software, protecting client data, implementing authentication controls, and recognizing tax-specific phishing threats. When you implement our recommendations, you're not just checking boxes—you're following IRS-endorsed best practices that reduce your risk of becoming an identity theft victim and potentially suffering IRS sanctions.
Pragmatic Risk Management
Accounting firms can't implement enterprise-grade security on small business budgets. We recommend security controls proportionate to your firm size and risk profile. A 5-person tax practice needs different security than a 50-person full-service CPA firm. We scale recommendations appropriately: essential controls every firm needs regardless of size, valuable enhancements for growing practices, and enterprise-grade solutions for larger firms. You get security that protects without overinvesting in capabilities you don't require.
Our Commitment to CPAs
We measure success by your outcomes: passing SOC 2 audits, preventing tax season security incidents, protecting client data, and maintaining security programs that don't consume disproportionate time or budget relative to firm size.
Many accounting firms work with us year after year because we understand your business: respecting tax season deadlines, speaking your language about practice management, and recommending security improvements that genuinely protect your firm and clients—not selling unnecessary services to inflate invoices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about cybersecurity for accounting firms
What is SOC 2 compliance and does my accounting firm need it?
How do we protect client data during tax season when cyber threats increase?
What are the FTC Safeguards Rule requirements for accounting firms?
Should our accounting firm purchase cyber insurance?
How do we securely share sensitive documents with clients?
Ready to Strengthen Your Data Security?
Schedule a free consultation to discuss your SOC 2 compliance needs and client data protection requirements. We'll help you build a security program that protects your practice and maintains client trust.