Weekly articles on FTC Safeguards Rule, IRS Publication 4557, cybersecurity best practices, and governance strategies for accounting firms of every size.
The FTC Safeguards Rule doesn't just require you to write a policy. It requires you to develop, implement, and maintain a comprehensive information security program. Ten FTC enforcement complaints have specifically cited inadequate implementation. Here's what separates a document from a program.
Read ArticleA data breach costs financial services firms an average of $6.08 million. But for a CPA firm, the real damage isn't the fine. It's the client attrition, the operational shutdown, and the reputational erosion that follows. Here's what the full cost picture actually looks like.
Read ArticleTax season is over. Your team is finally breathing. But the IRS received over 250 data breach reports from tax professionals last year, and many of those gaps opened during the rush. Here's your post-season security checklist before those gaps become next year's headlines.
Read ArticleThe absence of a breach is not evidence of security. Attackers spend a median of 11 days inside compromised systems before detection, 47% of small businesses have no incident response plan, and the FTC requires ongoing monitoring whether you've had an incident or not. Here's why "nothing has happened" might be the most dangerous assumption your firm can make.
Read ArticleMulti-factor authentication blocks 99.9% of automated attacks. But in 2025, token theft accounted for 31% of Microsoft 365 breaches, and 79% of business email compromise cases involved organizations with MFA in place. Here's what CPA firm owners need to understand about MFA's limits.
Read ArticleTax season means new hires who need system access fast. But new employees are 71% more likely to click on phishing links in their first 90 days, and the FTC requires security training for every person who touches client data. Here's the checklist your firm is probably missing.
Read ArticleYour IT provider manages firewalls, patching, and email filters. But the FTC Safeguards Rule puts compliance responsibility squarely on the firm owner. Here's where IT security ends and your obligations begin.
Read ArticleSmall CPA firms are 2.5 times more likely to be targeted by cyberattacks than larger organizations. Attackers don't choose by size. They choose by vulnerability. Here's what the data actually says and what firm owners can do about it.
Read ArticleCanadian transcription firm VIQ Solutions secretly offshored thousands of sensitive Australian court files to India, violating its contracts for months while ignoring employee warnings. The breach exposed domestic violence cases, national security documents, and witness identities. Here's what CPA firm owners need to know about vendor oversight — and why your contracts alone won't protect your clients.
Read ArticleHackers used a simple voice phishing call to trick a Harvard administrator into handing over credentials. No malware. No code exploit. Just a convincing conversation. Here's what CPA firm owners need to know about preparing their people.
Read ArticlePlans starting at $99/mo · Billed annually
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