![logo-new-23[1]](https://agrtech.com.au/wp-content/uploads/elementor/thumbs/logo-new-231-qad2sqbr9f0wlvza81xod18hkirbk9apc0elfhpco4.png "logo-new-23[1]"){kind=logo}
If you run an accounting firm today, you’re not just managing tax returns and financial statements, you’re running a high‑value data hub that cybercriminals would love to break into.
We see it all the time: firms relying on legacy systems, email for everything, and a few “IT fixes” stitched together. It works, right up until it doesn’t. A single ransomware attack, a compromised email account, or a lost laptop can expose years of client records and stop your practice in its tracks.
In this guide, we’ll walk through the cyber security services accounting firms actually need, how they protect your clients and your reputation, and what to look for in a security partner like AGR Technology. Our goal is simple: help you reduce risk, stay compliant, and keep your firm running smoothly during your busiest seasons.
If you want to move from “hoping we’re secure” to “knowing we’re secure”, this is for you.
Need help with your cyber security for your firm? Contact AGR Technology today
Reviews from our happy clients:
Justine Brummans
Alessio is both incredibly knowledgeable and personable! He gave me great advice that was catered to me and my situation. Thank you Alessio! Super helpful!
Springfield Equestrian Park
Alessio is amazing! I can not speak highly enough of how helpful and knowledgeable he is, my website he created far exceeded my expectations, he is so accomodating and I can only wish him every success with his business. I rate AGR technology 10 out of 10.
Legacy Energy
We used AGR Technology and dealt with Alessio to design and build our website as well as host our emails. Alessio was a pleasure to deal with and had plenty of ideas that we could implement into our site. He has a great attention to detail, he is also very polite in understanding our goals and what we wanted to achieve with our website.
Thanks mate,
Alex & Rob
Excellent Service
Alessio developed our website for our business and has done a wonderful job. He is very personable and knowledgeable. We have enjoyed working with him. We will be referring others to him and highly recommend him to those who need Tech advice.
MRC Performance
I have been in business for over 10 Years and recently moved to AGR Technology for all our IT needs. They are able to fix nearly anything remotely and always very helpful in recommending appropriate hardware upgrades that do the job as required but not costing more than needed.
Alessio provided an excellent service. He was very dedicated in his method of finding solutions to problems. He continued to try different avenues until he found the reason as to why a particular application was not working. He was very knowledgeable in his understanding of the internet and of applications and how they work, and he was able to apply this knowledge in understanding how to resolve the obstacles that continued to appear. He is understanding towards his client's needs and goals and he is willing to work with his client in achieving those goals. He is a very polite and well mannered person and very calm and gentle in his approach. I would highly recommend Alessio's services to anyone.
Palmira Rigoli
Great work ethics Alessio! We at Totally Gluten Free Products are very happy to have you on board as our IT and SEO master. Very reliable, trustworthy and knowledgeable in the field.
YouTube Comment
Nat's Custom Designs
Alessio from AGR Technology has recently helped me create a website for my business.
Throughout the whole process from start to finish Alessio made the process easy for me, by calling me and explaining each step of the way. I'm not very computer savvy, but with Alessio taking the time to explain in detail everything I needed to know from putting inventory in to having it shipped. He even remotely joined my computer to help guide me through everything.
He's very knowledgeable and is experienced in everything I needed and if there was anything else I needed to know that wasn't something he was familiar with, he researched it.
I would HIGHLY recommend Alessio to anyone. He has not only helped me for now but I know that if I ever needed help with anything else he would definitely go above and beyond to help. Thank you so much for everything you have done. It's been a long process but well worth it 🙂
Byron Macumber
AGR Technology is amazing. not only do they stick with you through out the process, they also accommodate to your wants and needs. They are efficient in their work and they have high integrity. Their capabilities are shown through their website design, and appropriate knowledge of utilities regarding software. over the many years of working with them they have been fantastic. I would recommend to everyone
Very helpful
Alessio was thorough, diligent and kept me updated at all time points. I was very impressed with his performance, passion and dedication. I will continue to use his services.
Wantrup & Associates
Alessio of AGR Technology is an IT guy we rely on whenever we need IT help. His professionalism impressed us right at the first time. He solved many of our IT problems in no time. Excellent communication and speedy response.
We highly recommend this company
From a happy customer
Valeria Bianco
I received AGR contact information from a previous client, who had found their service excellent. So I contacted AGR with some expectations, and I can say they exceeded them. Professional, honest, punctual, reliable, their service is faultless. We can't recommend them highly enough.
Very fast, value for money and a comprehensive service
AGR is professional, organised and very skilled at what they do. They take the initiative, looking after all the details that you would not have thought of to enhance your website presence, marketing funnel and automated appointment bookings. Big bonus - pricings are at a fraction of the cost of competitors.
Customer testimonial
Alessio from AGR Technology is wonderful at gently guiding the less technically savvy users to solve problems. Back up service excellent. Highly recommended
SEO for website
The team is very cooperative and delivers clean and very efficient work.
Raimond Volpe
Nothing but good things to say about Alessio. He has been great service and great at communicating with me by both phone and email. Very good knowledge and problem-solving ability with our web development. I would thoroughly recommend Alessio and AGR Technology to anyone wanting online marketing or web development
Website design
Big thank you to Alessio at AGR Technology for a smooth and easy website development process. Nothing was to difficult to accomplish, I can highly recommend his first class service.
Proudly supporting clients of all sizes to succeed through digital solutions
Why work with us?
Why Accounting Firms Are Prime Targets For Cyber Attacks
Accounting firms are on the front line of financial data, which makes them a favourite target for attackers. It’s not just the big firms either, small and mid‑sized practices are often easier to breach and can be just as lucrative.
High-Value Financial And Personal Data
We hold exactly the sort of information attackers want:
- Tax file numbers and Social Security numbers
- Bank account and credit card details
- Payroll and salary information
- Company financials and forecasts
- Identity documents and personally identifiable information (PII)
This data can be:
- Sold on the dark web
- Used for identity theft and fraud
- Leveraged in business email compromise (BEC) scams
Without proper data protection, even one compromised mailbox or shared drive can expose thousands of records.
Seasonal Workloads And Time Pressure
Busy season is when many breaches happen. Under pressure, people click faster and double‑check less.
We regularly see:
- Staff rushing through emails and missing phishing red flags
- Temporary workers or contractors added without tight access controls
- Remote work from home networks that aren’t properly secured
Attackers know this. They time phishing campaigns around key dates, tax lodgement, year‑end, and regulatory deadlines, when partners and staff are overloaded.
Regulatory And Client Trust Implications Of A Breach
A cyber incident isn’t just an IT headache: it’s a business and compliance crisis.
You may face:
- Mandatory data breach notifications
- Investigations from regulators
- Contract breaches with business clients
- Professional indemnity and legal exposure
Most damaging of all is the loss of trust. Clients expect us to be guardians of their financial information. One publicised breach can undo years of relationship‑building.
That’s why we recommend structured cyber security services, not just ad‑hoc IT fixes.
Core Cyber Security Services Every Accounting Firm Needs
A secure accounting firm starts with solid foundations. At AGR Technology, we focus on a core stack of managed cyber security services designed specifically for professional services and financial practices.
Managed Security Monitoring And Incident Response
You can’t defend what you can’t see.
Managed security monitoring gives you:
- 24/7 monitoring of key systems, logins, and networks
- Detection of suspicious activity, not just known viruses
- Alerting and guided response when something looks wrong
Paired with incident response, this means:
- A clear playbook if an account is compromised
- Faster containment of ransomware or malware
- Documentation for insurers and regulators
Instead of finding out about a breach from a client, you’re the first to know, and you already have a plan.
Endpoint Protection For Laptops, Desktops, And Mobile Devices
Every device your team uses is a potential entry point.
We help firms carry out next‑generation endpoint protection that includes:
- Behaviour‑based threat detection (not just signature antivirus)
- Ransomware protection and rollback
- Centralised management so nothing falls through the cracks
Whether staff are in the office, at home, or on the road, their devices, and your client data, stay protected.
Secure Email, Phishing Protection, And Spam Filtering
Most attacks start in the inbox.
We set up:
- Advanced spam and phishing filters
- Email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) to reduce spoofing
- Attachment and link scanning
Combined with staff training, this dramatically cuts the risk of:
- Invoice fraud and payment redirection
- Credential theft (stolen email passwords)
- Malware delivered via attachments
Secure Remote Access And VPN Services
Remote work is now standard in accounting. It needs to be secure, not just convenient.
We design secure remote access that:
- Uses encrypted VPN connections
- Limits access to the systems each user actually needs
- Logs and monitors remote sessions for unusual activity
You get the flexibility of remote work with the control of an in‑office network.
Identity And Access Management For Sensitive Systems
Who has access to what, and how easily can an attacker steal those credentials?
We help firms carry out identity and access management (IAM) such as:
- Multi‑factor authentication (MFA) for all critical systems
- Single sign‑on (SSO) to simplify secure access
- Role‑based access, so staff only see what they need
This makes account takeovers much harder and simplifies off‑boarding when staff leave.
Need help putting these foundations in place? Talk with us at AGR Technology and we’ll map these services to your current systems and budget.
Data Protection Services Tailored To Accounting Firms
For accounting firms, the question isn’t just “Can we stop attackers?” It’s also “If something goes wrong, can we recover quickly without losing data?”
Data Backup, Recovery, And Business Continuity Planning
We treat backups as a core control, not an afterthought.
A solid backup and continuity setup includes:
- Automated, versioned backups of servers, workstations, and cloud data
- Offsite or cloud backups separated from your main environment
- Regular recovery testing so you know restores actually work
We also help build business continuity plans so you can keep working, issuing payslips, meeting ATO deadlines, sending BAS, even if your primary systems are hit.
Encryption Of Client Data At Rest And In Transit
Encryption ensures that even if data is accessed, it can’t be read.
We focus on:
- Full‑disk encryption on laptops and desktops
- Encrypted databases and file stores for client records
- TLS/SSL for data in transit (web portals, email in transit where supported)
This reduces the impact of lost devices or intercepted traffic and is a strong control for compliance.
Secure Document Sharing And Client Portals
Email attachments are convenient but risky.
We help firms move towards secure document sharing, such as:
- Client portals with login protection and granular access
- Secure file sharing links with expiry dates and access controls
- Audit trails to see who accessed what and when
This not only improves security, it also presents a more professional client experience.
Cloud Security For Accounting Software And Hosted Applications
Most firms now rely on cloud platforms like Xero, QuickBooks Online, MYOB, or specialised practice management tools.
We review and harden your cloud security posture, focusing on:
- Strong access controls and MFA for cloud accounting systems
- Secure integrations between apps and add‑ons
- Configuration reviews to close risky defaults
Cloud providers run secure platforms, but how your firm configures and uses them is what really determines your risk.
If you’re unsure whether your cloud setup is secure, we can perform a focused review and give you a clear action list.
Compliance-Focused Cyber Security For Financial Regulations
Accounting firms operate in a heavily regulated environment. Cyber security controls need to support your compliance obligations, not fight them.
Understanding Relevant Standards And Regulations
Depending on your location and client base, you may need to consider:
- Privacy regulations for handling personal data
- Professional standards from accounting bodies
- Contractual security clauses from corporate clients
- Data retention and destruction requirements
We work with firms to translate these rules into practical controls, so partners know where they stand.
Security Controls For Compliance And Audit Readiness
Regulators and enterprise clients increasingly expect:
- Documented access control and change management
- Evidence of backups and disaster recovery planning
- Clear incident response and breach notification processes
We help put security controls in place that are:
- Proportionate to your firm’s size and risk
- Mapped to recognised best‑practice frameworks
- Supported by logs and reports that stand up to audits
This not only protects you day‑to‑day, it also reduces stress when a regulator or large client asks, “Show us how you keep our data secure.”
Policies, Procedures, And Documentation For Regulators
Good security isn’t just technology: it’s how people use it.
We help firms develop and maintain:
- Information security policies staff can actually follow
- Acceptable use, remote work, and password policies
- Incident response and data breach procedures
Clear, up‑to‑date documentation shows regulators, insurers, and clients that you treat cyber risk seriously, and gives staff practical guidance when something goes wrong.
Human-Centered Security: Training And Internal Controls
Most breaches still start with a human being tricked or rushed. Technology matters, but people and processes matter just as much.
Security Awareness Training For Partners And Staff
We run security awareness training built around real scenarios for accounting firms, including:
- Phishing emails posing as the ATO or major banks
- Fake invoices and payment redirection scams
- Social engineering attempts targeting partners or payroll
Short, regular sessions keep security top‑of‑mind without overwhelming busy teams. We can also run phishing simulations to test and improve resilience over time.
Access Controls, Segregation Of Duties, And Least Privilege
Internal controls that you already use for fraud prevention also support cyber security.
We help refine:
- Least privilege: staff only get access to the systems and data they need
- Segregation of duties: no single person can complete high‑risk actions alone
- Periodic access reviews to remove stale or unnecessary accounts
This reduces the damage a compromised or malicious account can cause.
Vendor Management And Third-Party Risk
Your firm depends on software vendors, IT providers, cloud platforms, and sometimes outsourced processing. Each one is part of your risk profile.
We help you:
- Identify key third parties that handle client data
- Review contracts and security practices at a practical level
- Set minimum security expectations for new vendors
This way, you’re not only securing your own systems, you’re also reducing the chance a supplier becomes the weak link.
If you’d like help tightening these internal controls, we can review your current setup and prioritise quick, high‑impact changes.
How To Choose The Right Cyber Security Partner For Your Firm
Not every IT provider truly understands the realities of an accounting practice. When you choose a cyber security partner, you want someone who can talk to partners, advisors, and support staff in plain language, and who understands deadlines are non‑negotiable.
Assessing Your Current Risk And Security Maturity
A good engagement starts with an honest picture of where you are today.
We usually begin with a security assessment covering:
- Current controls across devices, email, cloud, and backups
- Gaps against industry best practice and regulatory expectations
- Business impacts of different risk scenarios (for example, ransomware in March vs November)
You should walk away with a clear, prioritised roadmap, not just a list of problems.
Key Questions To Ask Prospective Security Providers
When you speak with potential partners (including us), it’s worth asking:
- Have you worked with accounting or professional services firms before?
- How do you support us during peak periods and after hours?
- What does your incident response process look like in practice?
- How will you report on security so partners can see value and risk reduction?
- Can you work alongside our existing IT provider if we already have one?
The answers will tell you quickly whether a provider understands your world.
Aligning Services With Firm Size, Budget, And Growth Plans
A five‑person boutique practice and a 150‑person multi‑office firm don’t need the same setup, but both deserve strong protection.
At AGR Technology, we:
- Tailor managed cyber security services to your size and risk profile
- Phase improvements over time to match budgets
- Plan for growth so today’s solution still works in three years
If you’d like to see what this could look like for your firm, we can schedule a short consultation and walk through options in plain language.
Conclusion
Strong cyber security is now part of running a modern accounting firm. It protects your clients’ financial data, supports your compliance obligations, and keeps your practice operating when something does go wrong.
The key building blocks are:
- Managed monitoring and incident response
- Strong endpoint, email, and identity protection
- Reliable backups and encryption
- Cloud and data security tuned to accounting workflows
- Compliance‑ready policies and documentation
- Human‑centred training and internal controls
You don’t have to solve all of this alone, or all at once.
At AGR Technology, we work with accounting firms to design practical, managed cyber security services that fit how you actually work. We focus on reducing real risk, not selling unnecessary tools.
If you’re ready to understand your current risk and see a clear path forward, reach out to our team. We’ll review your environment, highlight the critical gaps, and propose a straightforward, staged plan to secure your firm and your clients.
Book a consultation with AGR Technology and take the next step towards a safer, more resilient accounting practice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do accounting firms need specialized cyber security services?
Accounting firms handle tax IDs, bank details, payroll data, and sensitive financial records, making them prime targets for cybercriminals. Specialized cyber security services focus on protecting this data, maintaining compliance with financial regulations, and keeping the practice running smoothly during peak seasons when staff are most vulnerable to phishing and other attacks.
What core cyber security services for accounting firms are most important?
Essential cyber security services for accounting firms include 24/7 security monitoring and incident response, advanced endpoint protection, secure email and phishing filtering, VPN-based remote access, and robust identity and access management with MFA and role-based access. Together, these controls reduce the risk of data breaches, ransomware, and account takeover.
How do backups and encryption protect client data in an accounting firm?
Backups and encryption work together to limit damage when something goes wrong. Automated, versioned, offsite backups let you quickly recover data after ransomware or system failure. Full-disk and database encryption ensure that, even if a device or server is accessed or lost, client information cannot be read without the proper keys.
How should an accounting firm choose a cyber security provider?
Look for a partner experienced with professional services and accounting firms, who can explain risks in plain language and support you during peak periods. Ask about their incident response process, reporting, and ability to work with your existing IT. They should provide a clear, prioritized roadmap, not just a list of tools.
How much do cyber security services for accounting firms typically cost?
Costs vary based on firm size, number of users, and required services. Smaller firms might start with essentials—monitoring, email security, backups, and MFA—on a per-user monthly basis, while larger practices need broader coverage and 24/7 response. Many providers phase improvements over time to match budget and risk priorities.
Related resources:
Managed IT Services for Accounting Firms
Expert Penetration Testing Services in Australia
Cybersecurity Readiness For Business Leaders
Alessio Rigoli is the founder of AGR Technology and got his start working in the IT space originally in Education and then in the private sector helping businesses in various industries. Alessio maintains the blog and is interested in a number of different topics emerging and current such as Digital marketing, Software development, Cryptocurrency/Blockchain, Cyber security, Linux and more.
Alessio Rigoli, AGR Technology