Tax Season Vulnerability Analysis

You have one priority right now – get through tax season unscathed. And for the second year in a row, it’s more complicated than in the past. There’s never a good time for a data breach. But during tax season, it could be catastrophic.

We understand your time is very limited. So here’s what you need to know…

What is a Vulnerability Analysis?

ACT’s proprietary Vulnerability Analysis carefully reviews your entire network. The Analysis identifies where your practice has gaps and vulnerabilities in your systems, and shows you the level of risk each one carries. The security risk consultation includes ACT’s best practices for fixing these issues before they cause a problem, ensuring your network is a secure as it can be.

How Do You Conduct a Vulnerability Analysis?

Your Vulnerability Analysis is performed by qualified ACT engineers, trained in the latest cybersecurity and risk trends. They work quickly and efficiently, and are able to complete the entire process remotely.

After an initial conversation with you, our engineers will complete a detailed analysis of your network, identifying all risks to your network and your clients’ confidential information. We will then review our findings with you and provide you with our recommendations.

How Do I Get Started?

We know your time is valuable, and we promise to make the process as painless as possible. To request your Vulnerability Analysis, simply email us or call Bryan Cicalese at 973-758-0500 ext. 314. 

I Have a Firewall in Place. Why Should I Worry?

Typically, a firewall alone cannot provide enough protection against today’s cyber threats. It’s necessary, of course; but to protect the sensitive data you store, while supporting a professional’s desire for “anywhere, anytime access” you need a more comprehensive security solution.

You and your team may still be working from home, and every home office represents a tremendous security risk. Did you know that if your employee’s home network or computer is hacked or infected with a virus, your entire network could be compromised? Viruses travel through networks quickly, and hackers can easily gain unfettered access to every piece of your data.

Security protocols must extend to every device that has access to your network. Yes, that includes an employee’s personal tablet and scanner, if they have access to your network and are used for business. More than 53% of employees have no idea if their home networks are secure or if their software is up-to-date. In fact, 60% of breaches involved vulnerabilities for which a patch was available but not applied.

Video conferencing solutions can be hijacked – and are. While a “zoom-bomber” might be embarrassing and disturbing, an undetected intruder is a nightmare for corporate security and individual privacy. According to The Washington Post, thousands of private recordings of Zoom meetings have been discovered on the open web.

Not all IT firms have returned to full capacity, resulting in security gaps. Are you certain your network and systems are being monitored 24 hours a day, 7 days a week? Has every device been updated and patched? ACT’s managed services promises 24/7/365 monitoring and proactive maintenance.

How Widespread Are Security Breaches Among Small and Medium Size Businesses?

Accounting firms and financial institutions are leading targets of cyber attacks because their databases are bursting with sensitive financial data. With 71% of breaches being financially motivated, hackers profit when they sell the data on the Dark Web. Social security numbers, bank account numbers, credit cards, credit lines, tax identification numbers, and more are stored in the databases of nearly every accountant and financial professional and are of great value to a cyber criminal.

Here are a few recent statistics you should be aware of:

• Data breaches exposed 4.1 billion records in the first half of 2019.
• 94% of malware was delivered by email in 2019. 
• The top malicious email attachment types are .doc (the extension used by Microsoft Word) and .dot, followed by .exe. While most employees say they would hesitate to open a .exe file, they admit they would likely open a .doc file as they believe it to be a traditional business document.
• 60% of breaches involved vulnerabilities for which a patch was available but not applied.
• Attacks on IoT devices (any device that can be connected to the internet) tripled in the first half of 2019.
• 61% of organizations have experienced a security incident in the past five years.

What Does it Cost?

As a preferred partner to the accounting and finance industries, ACT remains committed to ensuring the financial community is secure. Therefore, as long as are able to, we are offering this Vulnerability Analysis free of charge.

Contact us today to arrange for your Tax Season Vulnerability Analysis.