As the world rang in 2022 and the Year of the Tiger emerged, many companies have looked inwards to evaluate their business operations to determine how to progress in the new year. With the rise of remote work and teleworking demands due to the pandemic combined with increased cybersecurity threats, migrating to the cloud is an effective way for CPA firms to improve their 2022 services for their clients. Although CPA firms may want to migrate to the cloud, time is not on their side due to the approach of “Tax Season.”
In the U.S., CPA firms and companies are weeks away from “Tax Season,” which is an incredibly hectic and busy time for CPA and tax-related companies. If the organization hasn’t made the transition to a cloud-based platform yet, then they are unlikely to make the switch until after tax season. Not to worry, however — companies can take steps now in order to be completely prepared to transition by the late spring or early summer. Actually, a great time for companies to transition to the cloud is during the summer, which is usually less busy and many employees take vacation. However, it is best to not wait until the fall or early winter to reach out to cloud-based providers to make the changeover.
Security is one of the key reasons why CPA firms choose to migrate to the cloud. When it comes to the accounting industry, firms are protecting sensitive data, thus making them a target to cybercriminals. The strongest way to fend off attacks on that data is by aligning with a security-focused cloud provider. Cloud providers are capable of offering best-of-the-breed security technologies that store data in encrypted databases, prevent interruptions with backup strategies, offer employee training, and proactively take steps to ensure security. Providers such as Cetrom also utilize artificial intelligence to detect potential intrusions, respond to threats, and act as a first line of defense. Their focus is to help keep firms up and running 24x7x365 so security is always a top priority.
As identified previously, cybersecurity challenges will continue to evolve in 2022, which include more data cybersecurity threats, increased ransomware or malware attacks, and more phishing schemes. According to O’Reilly Media, cloud usage among respondents went up to 90%, and about 48% said they planned to migrate half or more of their apps to the cloud in 2021. Moving an organization’s sensitive data, IT and business operations, and applications to a cloud-based network has never been more crucial. Companies will save on overhead costs, such as for staffing IT departments, eliminate end-of-life concerns for software, consolidate data centers, enable a digital transformation, accelerate growth, leverage new technologies, as well as manage security measures, regulatory compliance, and even compliance with ESG standards (environmental, social, and governance). These cloud-migration benefits will especially help firms providing accounting and tax services.
CPA firms can smoothly migrate to the cloud in 2022 with some prep work.
Set a Strong Foundation for Remote Work. Due to the pandemic, more workers are teleworking and working remotely than ever, remote work setups must function effectively. A firm’s teams should have access to the latest computing technology (i.e., laptops or desktops). Companies should have a method and schedule for updating those devices to the latest software to avoid interfering with critical CPA work, particularly during tax season. Also, firms should ensure their workers have reliable and fast-enough internet to download applications and updates from the cloud.
Download the Cloud-Based Accounting Software. Members of the CPA firm can download the accounting software straight from the cloud — no need for an IT professional to install it for them. The cloud-based accounting software will enable employees to access it from anywhere in the world and at any time. Additionally, clients will be able to access the portal as well, so in-office appointments are no longer necessary.
Enhance Security Measures for CPA Firms. Cloud-based programs have built-in security measures that help restrict access to sensitive information, more so than traditional systems. Only those CPA employees with access to the accounts will be able to utilize the documents. Also, the cloud structure acts as an online vault, so sensitive information is harder to steal. Adding VPNs or two-factor authentication to the cloud-based platform will only enhance security measures. Even if there were a breach, the cloud-based provider’s IT security team will be able to act quickly.
Enable a Multi and Hybrid Cloud Environment. Some CPA firms may have to stick with some traditional practices as well as keeping paper documents in the office due to legal or tax requirements. Yet, a cloud-based platform can work with CPA companies to have a flexible approach, which can mean using more than one system or including dated legacy systems. Fortunately, cloud-based providers can enable these systems to talk to each other and be integrated for a smooth transition.
By migrating to the cloud in 2022, CPA firms will have better and more secure access to their data 24/7, be able to provide new client services, increase productivity with clients (especially with more remote and teleworkers), reduce overhead IT costs, and improve quality control.
While the transition to the cloud might seem daunting, migration to the cloud can be an easy process. To ensure a smooth transition, organizations will need to do some homework first. They will need to make sure they take stock of what data and information they have stored, what they need to switch, and what they have coming down the road. By doing this prep work, companies can properly plan, communicate the transition to users, and make smarter decisions for their organization.
Fortunately, Cetrom provides top-notch and innovative cloud-based solutions to help organizations move to the cloud. They utilize a system that embraces both a preventative and predictive approach and provides round-the-clock support to reduce burdens on IT teams. Cetrom’s cloud-based platform has enterprise-level security to prevent attacks and mitigate them immediately. Also, it enables mobility and flexibility to access the data anywhere and across devices for employees. As a proven cloud-hosting solution for CPA firms since 2001, Cetrom’s services continue to be 100% focused on the needs of CPA firms. Their successful track record makes Cetrom uniquely positioned to help these organizations protect sensitive clientele data most effectively.
Contact Cetrom today to learn more about how we can assist you with the transition to a cloud-based platform for your organization.
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