IT & cybersecurity insights for professional services firms

Expert insights on cybersecurity, compliance, AI adoption, and managed IT — written for CPA firms, law practices, and financial services firms.

A financial advisor reviewing a security compliance checklist on a laptop at a small office desk Compliance

What 'Reasonable Security' Actually Means for a 10-Person Financial Advisory Firm

Regulators use 'reasonable security' as the standard-but what does it mean for a small RIA? Here's how to translate vague rules into concrete controls.

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Two attorneys reviewing documents at a conference table with laptops open, representing IT due diligence during a law firm merger Managed IT

The IT Due Diligence Checklist Law Firms Forget During a Merger

Law firm mergers stall on IT surprises. Use this pre-merger IT due diligence checklist to protect billable work, data, and security from day one.

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An accountant at a desk surrounded by sticky notes with passwords, with a laptop showing a login screen Cybersecurity

The Password Manager Conversation Your CPA Firm Keeps Avoiding

Shared spreadsheets and sticky notes are a security crisis waiting to happen. Here's how CPA firms can fix credential management before it costs them.

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A CPA reviewing AI-generated tax analysis on a laptop, with client financial documents visible on the desk beside them AI & Automation

What CPAs Need to Know Before Adopting AI-Assisted Tax and Audit Tools

Before your CPA firm adopts AI tax or audit tools, here's what you need to know about data privacy, professional liability, and vendor due diligence.

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CPA firm accountant at desk surrounded by monitors and tax documents during busy tax season Managed IT

The Hidden IT Costs of Tax Season: How CPA Firms Can Stop Paying the Crunch-Time Penalty

Tax season IT failures are predictable. Learn how CPA firms can avoid VPN slowdowns, license lapses, and security gaps with a simple Q4 planning checklist.

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A financial advisor reviewing compliance documentation at a desk with a laptop and printed policy binders Compliance

How RIAs Should Document Their Cybersecurity Program for an SEC Examination

The SEC is asking RIAs to prove their cybersecurity program works - not just say so. Here's what examiners actually want to see from small firms.

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A CPA reviewing Microsoft 365 security settings on a laptop in a professional accounting office Cybersecurity

Microsoft 365 Security Settings Your CPA Firm Probably Has Wrong

Most CPA firms leave Microsoft 365 on default settings that expose client data. Here's what to fix - no dedicated IT team required.

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A financial advisor reviewing vendor security documentation on a laptop at a tidy desk with compliance folders in the background Compliance

How Boutique RIAs and Financial Advisors Should Think About Vendor Risk Management

Boutique RIAs are responsible for how client data is protected-even when a vendor holds it. Here's how to build a practical vendor risk management process.

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An accountant reviewing document retention schedules on a laptop next to organized file folders in a professional office setting Compliance

What Accounting Firms Should Actually Put in a Client Data Retention and Destruction Policy

Most CPA firms' data retention policies are outdated or missing entirely. Here's what a defensible, practical policy actually needs to cover.

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A financial advisor reviewing a vendor contract on a laptop, with a security checklist visible on a second monitor AI & Automation

How to Evaluate an AI Tool Before Your Financial Advisory Firm Starts Using It with Client Data

A practical checklist for financial advisors, CPAs, and attorneys to vet AI tools before client data ever touches them.

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A lawyer reviewing security settings on a laptop displaying the Microsoft 365 admin center dashboard Cybersecurity

The Microsoft 365 Settings Small Law Firms Forget to Lock Down After Setup

Microsoft 365 isn't secure out of the box. Here are the specific default settings small law firms must change to protect client data and meet bar obligations.

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A CPA reviewing email records on a laptop at a desk with tax documents and a coffee mug, representing email archiving compliance for accounting firms Compliance

The Email Archiving Requirements CPA Firms Keep Overlooking (And the IRS Notices That Follow)

AICPA, IRS, and state board rules each govern CPA email retention. Learn what's required, what's missing, and how to fix it before an audit.

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