Cybersecurity & Accounting

Cybersecurity in an accounting firm is not an option: it’s a strategic, regulatory, and ethical necessity. As accounting becomes digital, protecting financial, HR, and tax data is now a top priority.

What is cybersecurity in accounting?

In a chartered accounting firm, cybersecurity aims to protect sensitive data—financial, tax, personal—whether exchanged or hosted. The challenge is twofold:

  • Confidentiality of your financial statements, payroll, tax declarations, or consolidated accounts.
  • Integrity & availability: prevent data loss, corruption, or service interruption from attacks or technical failures.

Key threats include phishing, ransomware, and client portal breaches. One fraudulent email could compromise your entire accounting operations.

Accounting cybersecurity relies on:

  • Organization & governance: access control, roles, and security protocols.
  • GDPR compliance: legal obligations (registers, consent, breach notifications).
  • Recognized frameworks: ISO 27001/27002, NIS2, or DORA depending on scope.

👉 Failure to comply may result in GDPR fines of up to 4% of revenue or €20 million. (CNIL)

Why is cybersecurity important?

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR – EU 2016/679) requires accounting firms to secure the personal data they process. In case of breach, they must notify the CNIL within 72 hours.

Non-compliance may result in fines of up to 4% of annual worldwide turnover or €20 million (GDPR article 83). This is one of the most serious legal risks for a firm.

Technical (firewalls, MFA, encryption) and organizational (backups, impact analysis, logging) measures must be implemented to reduce risk.

Moreover, the Ethics Code for Chartered Accountants also requires client data protection.

Accounting firms are prime cybercrime targets due to the sensitive information they handle: bank IDs, tax records, payrolls...

A cyberattack leads to major trust loss. Clients may leave, file complaints, or spread negative word-of-mouth—especially in small businesses.

Even after resolution, the firm’s reputation may suffer without proper crisis management and recovery actions.

Some cyber insurance providers deny coverage if basic security (MFA, backups, internal policies) is missing.

A cyberattack (like ransomware) can completely paralyze a firm: software, servers, client platforms shut down.

Without an effective BCP / DRP (Business Continuity / Disaster Recovery Plan), operations may be halted for days— missing deadlines and facing penalties.

ISO/IEC 27031 recommends tested recovery procedures. The CNIL and ANSSI also urge regular vulnerability audits.

The Ethics Code for Chartered Accountants (Article 13) requires professional secrecy.

This means ensuring client data confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

Cybersecurity is an ethical and regulatory duty—not just IT’s job. Internal audits can also enhance your firm’s professional image.

Our cybersecurity services 🛡️

  • 🛡️ Risk Assessment:
    Comprehensive audit of your accounting information system: access management, backups, network weaknesses, GDPR compliance.
  • 🔒 Security Controls:
    Implementation of password policies, 2FA, software protection, continuity plans, and incident protocols.
  • 📄 CSRD & GDPR Audit:
    Audits by certified professionals (CNCC, EPITA), meeting CSRD governance and data traceability standards.
  • 📚 Team Awareness Training:
    Workshops on cyber risks in accounting: phishing, cloud security, data protection, secure messaging habits.

Tips to strengthen your digital security

🔑

Strengthen your passwords

Use strong passwords (12+ characters, symbols, uppercase, numbers), and enable 2FA on emails and accounting platforms.

☁️

Back up your data regularly

Set up automatic backups to a remote or cloud server. Test your restore plans and keep an offline copy (“cold backup”).

📬

Watch out for emails

Always check the sender. Never click suspicious links or attachments. Train your teams against phishing and install a good spam filter.

🧠

Train and involve your team

Cybersecurity is a shared responsibility. Train staff on secure habits: screen locking, unusual activity alerts, updates, etc.