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The IRS Says a Cybersecurity Professional Can Help Protect Your Business

Aside from an ever-present threat to businesses and individuals alike, cybercrime is something of a mystery to the average public. Just because their motivation is basic—a quick payday—doesn’t mean their methods are easy to understand. Luckily, an entire industry has popped up to help keep your business and private finances safely out of reach.

Think about it this way: Your clients trust you to handle the complexities of filing their tax return; it might make sense to trust a data security specialist to protect your business’ data. After all, identity thieves see your database a goldmine.

Well, if you make the decision to hire a cybersecurity professional, the IRS has some tips for finding the right person for your tax practice.

First, the IRS says you should ask other businesses about cybersecurity professionals that they would recommend. You don’t have to stick to other tax businesses for suggestions, take time to consider which businesses might be likely to hire a professional to handle their data security and build a list of candidates.

Next, you need to make a decision. Here’s what the IRS wrote: “Ultimately, a preparer or business owner will need to select the person they trust most.” (I’d wager that sounds familiar, since your clients trust you with their finances—their livelihood.) Since trust is often a gut feeling, it makes sense to have a sit-down conversation with the top candidates on your list.

When you have those face-to-face meetings, the IRS suggests treating them like a job interview to learn more about their qualifications. To help get you started, they provide some sample questions to ask:

  • “How does ransomware work and what can we do to protect our systems?
  • What are the best options to securely back-up data and why are those options the best?
  • Do you have suggestions regarding data encryption, malware, firewalls, disaster recovery, and remote access tools?
  • Have you ever created a security plan for a similar business?
  • Can you do an assessment of my systems and processes to find vulnerabilities or weaknesses? If so, will you then provide recommendations to strengthen my security?
  • Will you provide ongoing monitoring of my systems as security threats evolve? If so, how often do you recommend changes?”

  • You’ll probably have questions that don’t appear on this list, and you need to ask them. Remember, if you don’t feel comfortable talking openly with someone, they’re probably not the right fit.

    Once you’ve decided which person or organization works best for you, the IRS says to “secure an agreement or engagement letter so both parties understand the terms of the agreement.” Basically, make it official, and make it clear.

    Good luck out there!

    Source: IRS Tax Tips

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