Additional Assistance with FTC Safeguards Rule
Book a Time To Talk With A Certified Specialist
Use the calendar on this page to set up a time to speak with a specialist about your current set up and how you plan to tackle FTC Safeguards Compliance.
The government is forcing all accountants, specifically tax accountants, to comply with the new laws by June 9th, 2023.
Any firms that do not have full compliance by that time face severe penalties from the government.
We can help assist you with getting compliant if you do not have a qualified provider, or if you plan on doing everything yourself, we can assist with policies and procedures to make things easier for you.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What size firms does this apply to?
The FTC Safeguards Rule applies to firms of all sizes. There are a handful of items that aren’t required if you have access to less than 5,000 records of PII. Do note, if you have access to your client’s customers, that also counts as a PII record.
Simple Example: You have 1,000 clients on QBO and access to all of their books & customers. Each one of your clients has 100 customers of their own. You would effectively have access to 100,000 records.
How much does getting compliant with you cost?
This answer will vary a lot depending on the size of your accounting firm, the current measures that are already in place, how much work will go into getting you compliant to begin with.
The first phase of compliance is similar to a QuickBooks cleanup. The scope is going to vary so much that there isn’t a blanket answer for everyone.
Why is this required?
Due to COVID and the giant increase of cyber attacks, it has been determined that all service providers need to be doing more to ensure their clients’ data is safe.
Can my current tech person do this for me?
This is similar to the “my brother’s friend’s son is a sophomore in college for accounting and is doing my corporate returns.”
Simple due diligence: You can ask them “What are we doing to be compliant with the June 9th deadline?” – if there is a puzzled face of bewilderment or long pause on the phone, they may not be qualified to handle that piece of your business. We can work alongside existing IT employees / teams / providers to ensure your compliance, fill the gaps, and let them continue to handle your day-to-day work.
You can also ask to see if they are Safeguards Certified Technology Providers and get verification that way:
