Managed IT for Accounting Firms

PTG provides managed IT for accounting firms with compliance-first controls, industry-specific platform expertise, and evidence-backed security programs for accounting firms in Orlando and Central Florida.

Why accounting firms need specialized IT

Accounting firms sit at the intersection of some of the strictest data protection expectations in professional services. IRS Publication 4557 mandates a written information security plan for every paid tax preparer. The FTC Safeguards Rule applies to firms that engage in tax preparation, bookkeeping, or financial planning. Client engagement letters increasingly require attestation of specific cybersecurity practices. And ransomware groups actively target CPA firms during tax season, knowing that a compromised firm during peak filing weeks has extreme pressure to pay.

Generic IT support does not produce the WISP that IRS 4557 expects. It does not implement the specific FTC Safeguards controls. And it does not build the incident response playbook a firm needs when a ransomware event hits during March or April.

Perez Technology Group serves solo CPAs through multi-partner firms of 100+ staff across Orlando and Central Florida.

What is included in accounting firm managed IT

PTG's accounting firm managed IT program covers the full compliance stack:

• IRS Publication 4557 written information security plan (WISP) — documented, updated annually, and evidence-backed
• FTC Safeguards Rule qualified individual services — PTG can serve as your firm's qualified individual
• Tax and accounting platform support — Intuit Lacerte, ProSeries, Drake Tax, UltraTax CS, ATX, TaxSlayer Pro, QuickBooks Online, Xero, Sage, NetSuite
• Client portal with encryption — SmartVault, ShareFile, Citrix, or purpose-built portal for encrypted document exchange
• Endpoint security with EDR — 24/7 monitored on every device including seasonal remote workers
• Identity security with MFA — including per-application MFA for tax software and cloud accounting platforms
• Backup and disaster recovery — immutable backups with tax-season-aware retention (never delete anything from January to May)
• Tax season DDoS and ransomware readiness — pre-tested restore procedures ready before Jan 15
• Vendor management — inventory of every tool that touches client tax data, with annual review

IRS Publication 4557 is not optional

IRS Publication 4557 requires every paid tax return preparer to have a written information security plan appropriate to the size of the practice. It is not a suggestion — it is a requirement of the IRS Section 7216 regulations. The IRS Security Summit publishes updates annually and enforcement has intensified over the past three years.

PTG produces a WISP that meets IRS Publication 4557 expectations and integrates with the FTC Safeguards Rule requirements. The WISP is documented, updated at least annually, and stored where a future audit or examination can find it.

Real-world accounting firm IT scenarios PTG handles

Ransomware during tax season

Ransomware hits a firm on April 5. Every day offline is client filings missed and penalties for late returns. PTG's response: contain, restore from immutable backup, prioritize the return filings due first, notify affected clients, and produce a post-incident report. Firms with PTG restore quickly enough to meet filing deadlines without extensions.

Client data breach and IRS notification

A phishing email compromises a firm inbox and client SSNs are exposed. PTG's response includes IRS breach notification to the Stakeholder Liaison, state notifications where required, and client notification templates. Firms without a playbook stumble through notification timelines and expose themselves to state attorney general enforcement.

Departing staff and client data protection

A staff accountant leaves and the firm needs to confirm what client data the accountant accessed in the last 90 days. PTG's audit logging captures this; without it, the firm has no way to enforce non-solicitation or protect client relationships.

PPP or ERC-related fraud attempt

Fraudsters targeting recent government relief programs impersonate a client and try to obtain filed returns. PTG's identity verification workflow and email security catch the impersonation.

Pricing and engagement models

PTG accounting firm managed IT typically runs $150-$275 per user per month depending on:

• Number of preparers and support staff
• Tax and accounting platforms in use
• Whether PTG serves as the FTC Safeguards qualified individual
• Client portal and encrypted document exchange scope
• Tax season peak coverage requirements

We offer a free 60-minute IT resilience assessment specifically for accounting firms, ideally scheduled in the fall before tax season. The assessment covers your WISP status, FTC Safeguards Rule gaps, tax software configuration, and backup readiness. Contact PTG to schedule.

How PTG compares to generic MSPs