Cyber Security Tips For Accountants
As an accountancy firm, you’re likely to share confidential documents via email, hold clients’ financial details on file, and be responsible for millions of pounds’ worth of assets.
With so much expectation placed upon you, cyber security should be an essential component of your business operations.
Carry out a risk assessment
If you’re wondering where to start, your first step should be a risk assessment. This is the perfect opportunity to assess the type of data you store within your company and determine how well protected you are.
By identifying any potential risks and determining how likely they are to occur, you can lay out a plan of action and establish the next steps to be taken.
Introduce a password strength policy
Cyber security experts have been emphasising the importance of long and strong passwords for years, and yet it’s still one of the most commonly underused measures in a bid to protect both company and client data. It’s surprising just how frequently people use their pet’s name or a series of numbers in chronological order as their password. Not only are these straightforward passwords incredibly easy for humans to guess – they’re even easier for computers to crack.
By creating a password strength policy you can educate your team on the importance of password security and reduce the risk of cyber security issues further down the line.
We recommend using different passwords for each device and combining a variety of letters, numbers and special characters. When it comes to storing your passwords, it’s wise to use a well-trusted and respected password manager.
Train your employees
Your employees are one of the most valuable assets you have in your efforts to maintain strong cyber security. They don’t have to be cyber security experts to take actionable steps to protecting your business. By educating them on some of the most common risks that can pose a threat to company data, you can get everyone involved and increase the strength of your business operations.
Outsource the aspects you’re unsure of
There’s no shame in outsourcing certain aspects of your company’s cyber security operations. After all, you’re not expected to know everything. By seeking the support of an external team of IT experts, you can free up your own time to focus on what you do best – managing your accountancy firm and making your business grow.
To find out how Prism can help you, please get in touch with our team. We’ll take the IT and cyber security side of things off your hand, meaning you can use your team’s accountancy skills to your advantage.
