Industries · CPA & Tax Firms
Managed IT & Cybersecurity for CPA and Tax Firms
Our leadership holdsCISSPMCSEMCT
Overview
Managed IT and Cybersecurity for CPA and Tax Firms, Nationwide
Your clients give you their Social Security numbers, bank accounts, and income records, and they trust you to keep them safe. Every April deadline also depends on systems that work. Blue Edge Networks provides concierge IT and cybersecurity to CPA, tax, and accounting firms across the country. We protect taxpayer data, keep your tax software and remote access running, and help you meet the security expectations set by the IRS and the FTC.
We don’t sell packages or tiers. We start by learning how your firm works: your tax and accounting software, how many seasonal staff you add, and where client files live. Then we scope the support around that.
The challenges
Challenges We See in CPA and Tax Firms
Written security plan requirements.
Under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, the FTC Safeguards Rule (16 CFR Part 314) treats firms that prepare income tax returns as financial institutions. That means you need a written information security program. The IRS and the Security Summit point tax professionals to IRS Publication 4557, Safeguarding Taxpayer Data, and Publication 5708, Creating a Written Information Security Plan for your Tax & Accounting Practice. Many firms have a template on file that no one has tested against how the office really works.
Multi-factor authentication everywhere.
The updated Safeguards Rule calls for MFA for anyone accessing customer information on your systems. In practice, that covers email, tax software, cloud storage, remote desktops, and VPNs, and it’s easy for one of them to slip through.
Phishing and business email compromise.
Tax season is the busiest time of year for scammers posing as clients, the IRS, or your software vendor. One clicked link or a spoofed “updated wire instructions” email can expose client data or move money.
Tax-season uptime.
A down server, failed update, or locked-out workstation in March costs much more than the same problem in July. Firms need their systems patched, tested, and stable before the rush starts.
Secure remote and seasonal access.
Partners work from home, preparers work remotely, and seasonal staff come and go. Each person needs the right access on day one, and that access needs to end cleanly when they leave.
Breach reporting obligations.
Under the Safeguards Rule, covered firms must notify the FTC of certain security events involving unencrypted information about 500 or more consumers. Knowing what to do before an incident matters.
Our services
How Blue Edge Helps
Managed IT
Proactive management of workstations, servers, cloud apps, and networks, with patching and maintenance planned around filing deadlines so your systems are ready for tax season.
Cybersecurity & CMMC
Endpoint protection, email filtering, MFA rollout, encryption, and monitoring from our dedicated security team, built around the safeguards described in Pub 4557 and the FTC Safeguards Rule.
vCISO / vCIO
Senior-level guidance to help you build, review, and maintain your Written Information Security Plan using Pub 5708 as a starting point. That includes risk assessment, incident response planning, vendor oversight, and a technology roadmap tied to how your firm plans to grow.
Support / Repair
Fast troubleshooting when a workstation, printer, scanner, or line-of-business application gets in the way of client work.
Remote Support
Secure remote help for partners, staff, and seasonal preparers wherever they work, plus clean onboarding and offboarding.
We also help with security awareness training so your team can spot phishing and BEC attempts. Our goal is a security program your firm can explain and defend, not a binder on a shelf.
The concierge difference
Why Concierge IT Instead of a Typical MSP
Most managed service providers sell standard bundles and fit your firm into one. We do it the other way around. Blue Edge was founded in 2019 by Joey Police, who holds the CISSP, MCSE, and MCT credentials and has more than 30 years in IT and cybersecurity. Every engagement is scoped to your firm, from the software you rely on to the requirements you answer to, so you pay for what you need and get advice that fits.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Do CPA and tax firms really need a Written Information Security Plan?
Yes. The FTC Safeguards Rule requires firms that prepare tax returns to keep a written information security program, and the IRS reminds tax professionals of this every year. IRS Publication 5708 provides a sample WISP framework. We can help you adapt it to your firm and keep it current.
What is IRS Publication 4557?
Publication 4557, Safeguarding Taxpayer Data, is the IRS guide to protecting client information. It covers the FTC Safeguards Rule, recommended security practices, and steps to take after data theft. It’s a helpful checklist, and we use it as one reference point when we review your environment.
Is multi-factor authentication required for tax preparers?
The amended FTC Safeguards Rule requires MFA for any individual accessing customer information on your information systems, with limited exceptions. IRS guidance also strongly encourages MFA for tax software and email. We help you roll out MFA without slowing your team down.
Can you help us get ready for tax season?
Yes. We plan updates, hardware refreshes, backups, and access reviews ahead of filing season, so systems are tested and stable when the workload peaks.
Do you only work with firms in a certain region?
No. We serve CPA and tax firms nationwide, using secure remote tools along with on-site support where the engagement calls for it.
Can an IT provider take responsibility for our IRS and FTC obligations?
Those obligations stay with your firm, and no honest provider can promise a particular outcome. What we do is help you meet and support your IRS and FTC requirements with sound controls, clear documentation, and ongoing guidance.
Next step
Book Your Free IT Assessment
Find out where your firm stands before the next filing season. We’ll review your systems, security controls, and WISP readiness, then give you a plain-English picture of what needs attention.
Book a free IT assessment or call 859-888-2041 (Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm ET). You can also email [email protected].