IRS Security Six on every computer
Anti-virus, firewall, MFA, backups, drive encryption, and VPN checked and fixed on each workstation and server.
The Problem
Tax Season Is When Your Client Data Is Most Exposed
The gap shows up in February. A new client emails a scanned W-2, a preparer works from home on the tax software, and phishing emails pose as new clients.
New-client lures
A fake new client sends a link that steals a preparer's login.
New-client lures
Tax software, portal, and email logins get MFA, so a stolen password alone can't get in.
Emailed W-2s
Clients email tax documents, and inboxes fill with Social Security numbers.
Emailed W-2s
Clients upload to your portal, and staff stop accepting tax documents as attachments.
Shared logins
Seasonal staff share one login for the tax software.
Shared logins
Each preparer gets a named login with MFA, removed when their season ends.
Remote desktop
Remote staff reach the office server over exposed remote desktop.
Remote desktop
Remote access moves behind a VPN with MFA, and the exposed port gets closed.
It's the second week of February. A message from a new client arrives with a link to their tax documents, and a preparer signs in to view them. Two seasonal staff use the same login for the tax software. Clients still email scanned W-2s and bank statements, so your inboxes hold years of Social Security numbers. Remote staff reach the office server over an old remote desktop connection. If client data were stolen tonight, nobody knows who to call at the IRS.
We start with the IRS Security Six on every computer: anti-virus, firewall, MFA, backups, drive encryption, and a secure VPN. Then your tax software, client portal, and email get named logins with MFA, and client files move to the portal instead of inboxes. You also get a data theft sheet with the IRS reporting steps. The work happens in the off-season, not the week before April 15.
IRS Security Six checked
Anti-virus, firewall, MFA, backups, drive encryption, and VPN checked on every computer.
Client files out of email
Clients upload documents to your portal, so inboxes stop collecting Social Security numbers.
A plan for data theft
A one-page sheet says who to call at the IRS and in your states if data is stolen.
Our Cybersecurity for Accounting Firms Process
From First Call to a Safer Filing Season in Five Clear Steps
You approve the scope and pick the dates, so changes land away from filing and extension deadlines. A partner signs off the fix list before anything reaches staff or clients.
We ask about your headcount, offices, tax software, client portal, and how clients send documents today. A written scope and fixed price follow within 2 days. If the checklist in IRS Publication 4557 already covers a practice your size, we'll say so before quoting.
What's Included
What You Get With Cybersecurity Services for Accounting Firms
The full scope covers the IRS Security Six on every computer, MFA on tax and portal logins, email authentication, portal-only file exchange, and a data theft plan. Larger plans add remote access, restore tests, and office baselines.
Compare Options
DeveloperLook vs General IT provider vs Tax software defaults
Accounting cybersecurity usually starts with a general IT provider and the security settings in your tax software. Both matter. Here is where each one fits and where firm-specific work adds something.
| Feature | DeveloperLookBest fit | General IT provider | Tax software defaults |
|---|---|---|---|
| Planning | Free call, written fixed scope | Bundled into the monthly contract | Vendor setup guides |
| IRS Security Six | All 6 checked on every computer | Often partly covered | Not covered |
| Tax software logins | Named logins with MFA | Set up when asked | MFA options built in |
| Client file exchange | Portal-only, with a client script | Email often left open | Portal bundled with some products |
| Data theft plan | IRS and state steps on one page | Generic incident steps | Not covered |
| Timing | Off-season, around deadlines | Whenever a ticket comes in | The vendor's release schedule |
| Ongoing support | 30 days, then your IT provider | Ongoing, part of the contract | Vendor help desk |
| Cost predictability | Fixed price from $700 | Monthly fee per user | Included in your license |
DeveloperLook
General IT provider
- Planning
- DeveloperLook: Free call, written fixed scopeGeneral IT provider: Bundled into the monthly contract
- IRS Security Six
- DeveloperLook: All 6 checked on every computerGeneral IT provider: Often partly covered
- Tax software logins
- DeveloperLook: Named logins with MFAGeneral IT provider: Set up when asked
- Client file exchange
- DeveloperLook: Portal-only, with a client scriptGeneral IT provider: Email often left open
- Data theft plan
- DeveloperLook: IRS and state steps on one pageGeneral IT provider: Generic incident steps
- Timing
- DeveloperLook: Off-season, around deadlinesGeneral IT provider: Whenever a ticket comes in
- Ongoing support
- DeveloperLook: 30 days, then your IT providerGeneral IT provider: Ongoing, part of the contract
- Cost predictability
- DeveloperLook: Fixed price from $700General IT provider: Monthly fee per user
Projects We've Built
Finance and Payroll Platforms We Have Built
Websites and apps we designed and built for fiduciary, payroll, and finance teams. They handle the same tax, payroll, and client financial data an accounting firm protects.
Armada AG Fiduciary and Consulting Services Website
- Finance
- Business
- Website
Payrole Global Payroll Website Design & Development
- HR & Staffing
- Dashboard
- SaaS Platform
Oasic Finance SaaS Web Design & Development
- Finance
- SaaS Platform
- Dashboard
Finto Corporate Website Design & Development
- Finance
- Dashboard
- Website
What Our Clients Say
What Clients Say After Launch
Feedback from teams we have built apps, platforms, and websites for.
We had a pretty specific idea of what we wanted our website to become, but I wasn’t sure how easily we could explain all of it to a development team. There were quite a few moving parts, and we were working toward a deadline, so I expected a few things to get lost along the way. That never really happened. They understood what we were trying to achieve, kept us updated throughout the process, and got everything ready within the agreed timeline. The final site feels much easier to navigate, works beautifully on mobile, and is noticeably smoother for our customers. It was a huge relief seeing the original idea actually turn into the website we had in mind.
The mobile experience is probably my favourite part of the new site. We had spent a lot of time making sure the desktop version looked right, and the team kept pushing us to think about how everything would actually feel on a phone too. They were right. The navigation is clean, the interactions feel natural, and everything we’ve tested so far works exactly as it should. They also went through the links, forms, integrations, and other details more than once before launch, which I really appreciated. And even after going live, we could still reach out when something came up. The whole process felt friendly, organised, and surprisingly straightforward.
What I appreciate most is that the website is actually easy for us to manage now. We can update content ourselves instead of sending a developer a message every time we need to change something small. They also paid attention to the technical SEO side, which mattered to us because we didn’t want a new website to create problems for the traffic we already had. I’ve probably asked more questions than I should have since launch, but every question has been handled patiently and without any fuss. The team is easy to work with, they explain things clearly, and when we need something changed, they focus on getting it done rather than making the process complicated.
1,250+
Projects shipped
10+
Years of experience
Top 3%
Upwork Top Rated Plus
5 stars
Average review score
1,250+
Projects shipped
10+
Years of experience
Top 3%
Upwork Top Rated Plus
5 stars
Average review score
Want results like these?
Tell us what you are building. You get a reply within 24 hours on business days, then a written estimate.
Work Culture
Why Accounting Firms Trust Us With Client Tax Data
Cybersecurity for accountants has to work around deadlines, seasonal staff, and partners with no time to spare. These habits keep our work out of your busiest weeks.
Off-season rollouts by default
We plan changes for the months after April and steer clear of the October extension deadline. If something urgent turns up in March, we fix that one item and save the rest.
Settings, not tax returns
We work in admin consoles and security settings, not client returns or workpapers. When a check needs a real file, a staff member opens it and tells us what the setting shows.
Seasonal staff planned for
Temporary preparers get named accounts that end with their season. Your leaver list stays short, and nobody keeps access into the summer.
Rules named, not interpreted
We point to IRS Publication 4557 and the federal rules where they apply. What they require of your firm is a question for your counsel or practice adviser.
Your IT provider stays in charge
The firm or person who runs your computers keeps that job. We hand them a written list of what we changed and why, so nothing breaks after we leave.
One price per firm size
Your price is set by headcount and offices before work starts. If you add an office or merge with another practice, we quote that change first.
Overview
What does cybersecurity for accounting firms cover during tax season?
DeveloperLook provides cybersecurity for accounting firms, tax practices, and bookkeepers. We check the IRS Security Six on every computer, add MFA to tax and portal logins, move client files out of email, and write your data theft steps. Projects start at $700 and take 2 to 7 weeks at a fixed price, outside filing season.
DEVELOPERLOOK
Project facts · Cybersecurity for Accounting Firms
- Service
- Cybersecurity for accounting firms (IRS Security Six, MFA, portal-only file exchange, data theft plan)
- Typical timeline
- 2 to 4 weeks up to 30 people, 4 to 7 weeks for multi-office firms
- Platforms
- Drake, UltraTax CS, Lacerte, CCH Axcess, QuickBooks, client portals, Microsoft 365, and Google Workspace
- Built with
- Microsoft Entra ID, Intune, BitLocker, FileVault, DMARC reporting, and VPN with MFA
- Experience
- 10+ years of development experience and 1,250+ shipped projects
- Post-launch support
- 30 days of support after handover
- Communication
- Calls in US, UK, and AU business hours
- Starting price
- From $700 USD, fixed scope after a free firm call
Reviewed 27 Oct 2026 by Saimul Islam
Good fit
Small tax and bookkeeping practices
Your 6-person practice runs Drake or UltraTax CS on office PCs, and you want IT security for accountants done before the next filing season.
CPA firms with seasonal staff
Your firm adds temporary preparers every January, and you need named logins and offboarding that keep up with the season.
Firms after a suspicious return
Your client's e-filed return was rejected as a duplicate, or the IRS asked about filings you didn't make, and you want gaps closed now.
Practices moving to a client portal
Your clients still email W-2s and bank statements, and you want a portal rule that staff and clients will actually follow.
Multi-office accounting groups
Your offices set up computers and sharing differently, and you need cyber security for accountants that every office follows the same way.
Not a fit
Need the plan document
You mainly need the written plan itself, not hands-on fixes. Our written information security plan page covers that document and checks it against your settings.
Tax software integrations
You need your practice management and tax tools connected so data flows between them. Our CPA practice management integration page covers that work.
Want year-round monitoring
You want alerts and sign-ins watched all year, not a one-time project. Our managed security services page describes that monthly plan.
Solo preparer, one laptop
You prepare returns alone on one laptop. The checklist in IRS Publication 4557 and MFA on your tax software may be all you need for now.
Not sure we're the right fit?
Book a free call or message us. We'll tell you honestly whether we're the right team.
Pricing
Transparent Starting Prices for Cybersecurity for Accounting Firms
These are starting points in USD. Your final price depends on headcount, offices, and how many tax and portal systems you run, and you get a fixed proposal after a free firm call.
For Agencies
White-Label Cyber Security for Accounting Firms, Delivered Through Your IT Practice
You own the accounting firm relationship. We supply the Security Six review, MFA rollout, portal rules, and data theft sheet under your brand, and you stay the provider the firm calls each season. Your clients get tax-practice security without you adding a specialist.
How the partnership works
White label: your client only ever sees your brand
Your clientSees only your brand
You, the agencyOwn the relationship
DeveloperLookBehind your brand
Send the practice details
Tell us the firm's headcount, office count, tax software, and client portal.
- Client needs
- You share the details
- Details received
Receive a fixed quote
A written scope and one price per firm come back within 2 days.
- Scope and plan
- Proposal to resell
- Your quoteYOUR LOGO
Fix, then you present
We make the fixes and hand you the gap list to present as yours.
- Done by our team
- Your brand on it
- Handed to your clientDone
- Your client
- You, the agency
- DeveloperLook
Send the practice details
Tell us the firm's headcount, office count, tax software, and client portal.
- Client needs
- You share the details
- Details received
Receive a fixed quote
A written scope and one price per firm come back within 2 days.
- Scope and plan
- Proposal to resell
- Your quoteYOUR LOGO
Fix, then you present
We make the fixes and hand you the gap list to present as yours.
- Done by our team
- Your brand on it
- Handed to your clientDone
Partner with DeveloperLookDelivered under your brand
The Right Technology for Your Project
Technology Stack
These are the tax, portal, identity, and device tools accounting practices run on, so every fix happens inside software your staff already knows.
- Drake Tax
- UltraTax CS
- Lacerte
- CCH Axcess
QuickBooks
Xero
- TaxDome
- SmartVault
- Canopy
- DocuSign
- Microsoft Entra ID
- Google Workspace
- DMARC reporting
- Duo MFA
- BitLocker
- FileVault
- Microsoft Intune
- Encrypted backups
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Related Services
Firms that finish this work often add the written security plan, a client portal, or practice software integration. Each page below covers one of those next steps.
Cybersecurity Services
DeveloperLook provides cybersecurity services for businesses without a security team. We assess identity, email, devices, cloud, and web apps, fix the gaps you approve, and recheck every fix, so you get a cybersecurity service provider that does the work.
Written Information Security Plan (WISP)
DeveloperLook writes a WISP (written information security plan) for tax preparers, CPA firms, and small offices that hold client data. We map your data, write the plan to IRS and FTC rules, and check that every safeguard in it is switched on.
TaxDome Client Portal & Website Integration
DeveloperLook sets up TaxDome client portal & website integration for accounting firms: the portal on your own domain, new clients routed to pipelines, and organizers, KBA e-signatures, and TaxDome workflow automation ready before tax season.This page
Cybersecurity for Accounting Firms
Pairs with the 6 services around it
CPA Practice Management & Workflow Integration
DeveloperLook sets up CPA practice management & workflow integration for accounting firms: website inquiries, Ignition proposals, engagement letters, and billing flow into Karbon, Canopy, or TaxDome without retyping, after an honest software fit review.
FTC Safeguards Rule Compliance
DeveloperLook provides FTC Safeguards Rule compliance for auto dealers, lenders, and other non-bank financial businesses. We check whether the rule applies, map customer data, and put each required safeguard in place, from MFA to the FTC breach notice.
Business Email Compromise Response
DeveloperLook runs business email compromise response for companies on Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace. We lock attackers out of hijacked mailboxes, run the business email compromise investigation, and add the checks that stop the next fake invoice.FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers on cost, timing, the best services and solutions, client data, privacy methods, rising threats, and what to do after data theft.
Saimul IslamFounder & CEO, DeveloperLookStill have questions?
Send a message or book a call with the team.
It starts at $700 for practices of up to 10 people. That covers the IRS Security Six on every computer, MFA on tax software, portal, and email logins, DMARC, portal-only file exchange, and a data theft sheet. Firms of up to 30 people start at $1,800, and multi-office practices of up to 75 people start at $3,750, fixed after a free call.
Schedule it outside the February to April rush and the weeks before the October extension deadline. A practice of up to 30 people takes 2 to 4 weeks, and multi-office practices take 4 to 7 weeks. If you find a serious gap in March, we fix that one item quietly and leave the rest for the off-season.
The best services fix the gaps tax practices actually have, not just report them. Look for someone who checks the IRS Security Six on every computer, sets up MFA inside your tax software and portal, and writes your data theft steps. Before you hire any cybersecurity service for accountants, ask for sample deliverables and who will do the work.
The best solutions are the IRS Security Six controls plus a client portal. The Six are anti-virus, a firewall, MFA, backups, drive encryption, and a VPN for remote access. Most firms already own these through Microsoft 365, Windows, or macOS. A portal that replaces emailed tax documents does more for client data than another paid tool.
Many firms now protect client data by moving document exchange to secure portals, requiring MFA, and keeping a written security plan. Some also advise business clients on their own controls, especially around payroll and payment fraud. Either way, it starts at home: clients judge your firm by how it handles their tax files.
The best methods are encrypted drives, MFA on every account, client portals instead of email, and limits on who can open each client's files. Add secure disposal of old paper and drives, and keep records only as long as you need them. IRS Publication 4557 lists these safeguards for tax professionals.
Because tax and financial data turns into money quickly, through fraudulent returns, payroll diversion, or wire fraud. Cloud tax software, remote work, and client portals also mean more logins to steal. The IRS and its Security Summit partners repeat this warning each filing season, which is why MFA and staff training come first.
Build security into the accounting workflow itself. That means client intake through the portal, MFA on every tax and bookkeeping login, and a phone check before changing anyone's bank details. Firms that advise clients can add a short security review to their year-end checklist. Cybersecurity for accounting practices works best when it follows the same calendar as the work.
Yes. The FTC Safeguards Rule requires tax preparers to keep a written security program, and IRS Publication 5708 offers a sample plan. This page fixes the controls a plan describes, such as MFA, encryption, and backups. If you need the document written, see the plan page linked under Related Services.
Report it to your local IRS Stakeholder Liaison right away, so the IRS can watch for fraudulent returns in your clients' names. Then call your cyber insurer, reset passwords from a clean device, and notify the states where you prepare returns. The data theft sheet in every plan lists these steps in order, and our 30 days of support covers questions.
Saimul IslamFounder & CEO, DeveloperLookStill have questions?
Send a message or book a call with the team.
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