Accounting Firm IT Support in Dallas — Protect Client Financials
Your clients hand you their most sensitive financial data. Your IT infrastructure should protect it with the same care you bring to their returns.
The Accounting IT Challenge
Tax preparers and CPA firms face unique technology pressures that most IT companies ignore.
The IRS didn't mince words: if you prepare tax returns, you must have a Written Information Security Plan (WISP). This requirement comes from the FTC Safeguards Rule under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, and it applies to every tax preparer regardless of size — from solo practitioners to large regional firms.
But compliance is just the starting point. Accounting firms face a seasonal workload that can double or triple during tax season. Systems that work fine in June can buckle under the pressure of February through April. Remote staff working extended hours need reliable, secure access. Client portals need to handle increased document traffic without delays.
And the data you handle makes you a prime target for cybercriminals. Tax returns contain everything an identity thief needs — Social Security numbers, bank account information, income data, employer details. The IRS reported thousands of data theft cases at tax preparation firms in recent years, and phishing attacks targeting tax professionals spike dramatically during filing season.
Type 5 Technologybuilds accounting firm IT environments that are compliant, resilient under load, and hardened against the specific threats that target financial data. We don't wait for busy season to find problems — we find them before they matter.
What We Provide
IT services designed specifically for the regulatory requirements and seasonal demands of accounting practice.
WISP Compliance (IRS Written Information Security Plan)
Since 2022, the IRS requires all tax return preparers to maintain a Written Information Security Plan. This isn't optional — the FTC Safeguards Rule under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act mandates it, and the IRS now actively checks for compliance. We help you develop, implement, and maintain a WISP that satisfies both IRS Publication 4557 guidelines and FTC Safeguards Rule requirements, with documented policies, technical controls, and annual reviews.
Tax Season Readiness
January through April is not the time to discover your server can't handle the load. We conduct pre-season infrastructure reviews every November that stress-test your systems, verify backup integrity, confirm software licensing, and ensure remote access is stable for extended hours. If something is going to break, we find it before busy season — not during it.
Secure Client Portals
Emailing tax documents back and forth is a security risk your clients shouldn't have to take. We deploy and manage secure client portals that allow encrypted document upload, download, and e-signature. Clients get a simple, professional experience. You get a documented chain of custody for every file exchanged.
Financial Data Encryption
Client financial data — tax returns, bank statements, payroll records, Social Security numbers — requires encryption at rest and in transit. We configure full-disk encryption on every workstation, encrypted file storage on servers and in the cloud, TLS for all data transmission, and encrypted email for any client communications containing sensitive information.
Multi-Factor Authentication and Access Controls
The FTC Safeguards Rule requires multi-factor authentication for any individual accessing customer information. We implement MFA across all systems — email, remote access, cloud applications, and client portals — and enforce role-based access controls that limit data access to authorized staff on a need-to-know basis.
Backup and Disaster Recovery
Losing client tax data isn't just a business problem — it's a regulatory nightmare. We implement automated backup systems with encrypted offsite replication, documented recovery procedures, and regular restore tests. If your office floods, your server crashes, or ransomware encrypts your files, we get you back to work within your defined recovery time.
Staff Security Training
The IRS WISP requirements include employee security awareness training. We provide ongoing training programs that cover phishing recognition, secure data handling, proper disposal of client documents, and incident reporting. Training is documented with completion records for your WISP compliance file.
Incident Response and Breach Reporting
If a breach occurs involving taxpayer data, you have reporting obligations to the IRS, affected clients, and potentially state authorities. Our incident response plan defines containment, investigation, and notification procedures specific to accounting firms. We help you respond quickly and document everything regulators will ask for.
WISP Compliance — What Your Firm Needs
The IRS Written Information Security Plan isn't a one-time checklist. It's an ongoing security program.
What a WISP Must Include
Your WISP must designate a security coordinator, identify and assess risks to customer information, design and implement safeguards to control those risks, regularly monitor and test your safeguards, and update your plan as your business changes. The document itself must describe your specific technical controls — not generic policies copied from a template. We help you develop a WISP that accurately reflects your actual environment and is defensible during an IRS review.
The FTC Safeguards Rule Connection
The WISP requirement stems from the FTC Safeguards Rule, which classifies tax preparers as “financial institutions” under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act. The updated rule (effective June 2023) added specific requirements including multi-factor authentication, encryption, access controls, penetration testing, and incident response planning. These aren't suggestions — they're enforceable requirements with penalties for non-compliance.
Annual Assessment and Updates
Your WISP isn't a document you write once and file away. The Safeguards Rule requires regular risk assessments and plan updates — at minimum annually, and whenever significant changes occur. New staff, new software, new office locations, or changes in the threat landscape all trigger a review. We schedule annual WISP reviews for every accounting client and update technical controls throughout the year as needed.
Who We Serve
Accounting firms across Dallas/Fort Worth trust us with their IT.
CPA Firms
From solo CPAs to multi-partner firms with multiple locations. Tax preparation, audit, advisory, and consulting practices.
Tax Preparation Services
Seasonal and year-round tax preparers who need WISP compliance and secure client data handling.
Bookkeeping Firms
Bookkeeping and payroll service providers handling sensitive financial data for multiple clients.
Financial Advisory Firms
Financial planners and advisors subject to SEC, FINRA, or state-level security requirements in addition to GLBA.
Accounting IT Pricing
Predictable per-user pricing that covers compliance, security, and day-to-day support.
$125 – $175/user/month
Accounting IT managed services tier. Includes WISP compliance assistance, tax season readiness, secure client portals, infrastructure management, security monitoring, help desk support, and backup/disaster recovery.
Pricing depends on firm size, software environment, number of locations, and specific compliance requirements.
Accounting IT — Frequently Asked Questions
Related Services
Accounting IT support builds on our core managed services foundation.
Managed IT Services
The managed services platform that powers our accounting firm IT support — monitoring, help desk, and infrastructure management.
Learn More →Microsoft 365
Secure Microsoft 365 environments with encrypted email, DLP policies, and compliant collaboration tools.
Learn More →Networking
Reliable network infrastructure that handles peak-season workloads without slowing down.
Learn More →Last updated: April 2026
Get your firm WISP-ready
Schedule a free compliance assessment with Type 5 Technology. We'll review your current security posture and help you build a WISP that satisfies IRS and FTC requirements.