Every day, accountants and CPAs handle a tidal wave of sensitive financial data. Social Security numbers, income statements, investment details—you name it, it’s in your hands. But while you’re focused on making sure your clients stay compliant and maximize their financial well-being, cybercriminals are focused on you.
And here’s the reality: Most financial professionals are cybersecurity savvy enough but not experts. That’s not a dig—it’s just that your expertise is in tax law, financial planning, and compliance, not battling hackers. But in today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, cybersecurity isn’t just an IT issue—it’s a trust issue. And trust is your currency (Accounting Today, 2025).
So, let’s talk about how to keep that trust intact year-round.
The Perfect Storm: Why Cybercriminals Love Financial Firms
Financial firms are prime targets for cybercriminals. Why? Because firms manage high-value data that hackers can exploit for financial fraud, identity theft, or resale on the dark web. The combination of increased workloads, reliance on digital tools, and sensitive data creates an attractive opportunity for cybercriminals.
Think about it:
- Staff are juggling multiple clients and could miss a phishing attempt.
- Clients might send documents via insecure methods out of convenience.
- Firms might delay software updates because “there’s no time right now.”
Cybercriminals know this and are ready to take advantage. But here’s what you can do about it.
Lock It Down: Key Areas to Secure
1. Email is Your Weakest Link (Yes, Really)
Let’s start with the obvious: Email is NOT secure for sharing financial documents. Period.
Once an email is sent, it’s out of your control. It can be forwarded, intercepted, or left exposed in an inbox that isn’t properly secured. Worse? Phishing attacks disguised as “urgent financial inquiries” are more sophisticated than ever, tricking even the most cautious professionals (Accounting Today, 2025).
The fix:
Use a secure client portal for document exchanges. Train staff to spot phishing attempts (and test them with simulated attacks). Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all firm email accounts.
2. Guest Wi-Fi Isn’t Just a Convenience—It’s a Security Must
Clients love to check their emails while waiting for their appointment, right? No problem—as long as they’re not on your main network. If your guest Wi-Fi isn’t separate from your firm’s network, you’re one malware-infected device away from a breach.
What to do: Set up a dedicated guest network (and hide the SSID for extra security). Restrict guest access to internet only—no printers, no internal files. Use strong passwords and update them regularly.
3. Device Security: If It’s Not Encrypted, It’s Not Safe
Laptops, USB drives, external hard drives—if they’re not encrypted, they’re vulnerable. One lost or stolen laptop with unencrypted financial files? That’s a data breach waiting to happen.
Steps to take: Encrypt all company devices and storage media. Use endpoint security software with real-time malware protection. Implement mobile device management (MDM) for firm-issued phones and tablets.
4. Back It Up—Because Ransomware Won’t Wait
Ransomware attacks don’t just steal data—they lock you out of your own files until you pay up. And paying the ransom? That’s no guarantee you’ll get your data back.
The best defense? A rock-solid backup strategy. Use automated, encrypted backups (stored offsite or in the cloud). Regularly test your backups (a backup is useless if it doesn’t restore properly). Have an incident response plan in place so your team knows what to do if an attack happens.
5. Train Your Team (And Keep Training Them)
Cybersecurity isn’t “set it and forget it.” Hackers evolve, and so should your defenses. The biggest vulnerability? Human error. One click on a bad link, and it’s game over. Hold quarterly security awareness training (not just during onboarding). Run simulated phishing tests to see who takes the bait (and train accordingly). Make cybersecurity a firm-wide responsibility—not just an IT problem.
Final Thought: Cybersecurity is an Investment, Not an Expense
Cybersecurity isn’t just a compliance requirement—it’s about protecting your business, your clients, and your reputation. Implementing strong security measures isn’t just about checking a box—it’s about preventing costly breaches and maintaining client trust (Accounting Today, 2025).
So before your firm gets too comfortable with the status quo, take a step back and ask: Is my firm truly secure? If the answer isn’t a confident “yes,” now’s the time to fix it. Because in cybersecurity, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure—and a whole lot of saved stress.
Stay sharp. Stay secure. And make cybersecurity a year-round priority.
Reference: https://www.accountingtoday.com/opinion/cybersecurity-best-practices-as-2025-tax-season-kicks-off/