As accounting practices will handle a high-volume of people’s personal information, such as their tax records and financial data, they have a responsibility to safeguard the information every day.
Keeping each client’s data safe and secure must be a primary responsibility, which is why your firm may need to introduce various techniques to do so effectively.
If you want to protect your company from a potential data breach, here are four data security tips for all accounting firms.
- Install Cybersecurity Solutions
To prevent a potential hacker from stealing or exposing your clients’ sensitive information, you must install various cybersecurity solutions into your business. For example, you should invest in a business-grade firewall and a dependable anti-virus software package, which can keep cybercriminals at bay. You also must introduce a password policy to ensure a hacker cannot exploit vulnerabilities in your admin accounts.
- Secure the Premises
Creating a bulletproof network might secure your online data, but it is possible that someone may attempt to gain access to your premises to steal your clients’ financial information. You must, therefore, improve your office’s physical security to prevent trespassers.
For example, you should introduce:
- Card key access
- Visitor badges
- Visitor logs
You also should add cable locks onto your company’s desktop computers, laptops, tablets, and other internal devices, or ensure they are locked away in a secure area every night.
- Shred Sensitive Materials
It is likely your accounting firm will need to print various data from time to time, as well as store a variety of client contracts. However, loose papers can result in the exposure or theft of sensitive materials, which could damage your company’s reputation and lead to a loss of clients.
For this reason, you should arrange for off site shredding services to remove and destroy the documents away from your premises, and you will receive a Certificate of Destruction for peace of mind that no-one can gain access to the critical data.
- Educate Your Employees on Security
The biggest threat to your accounting firm could sadly be your employees. Human error could potentially lead to the exposure of sensitive client data or may result in a malicious cybercriminal gaining access to your network.
To ensure your members of staff are never responsible for a data breach, you must introduce various security protocols for them to adhere to and educate your team on the various risks to the business.
For example, you could inform them of the dangers of mobile devices in the workplace, and how to avoid falling for a phishing scam. You also can boost their knowledge through cybersecurity training and weekly newsletters, which can update them on the latest threats to your network and data.
It is also imperative to advise them never to send any sensitive information via email unless they have encryption, and request they immediately report a potential cybersecurity threat to an IT department or business owner to stop it in its tracks quickly.