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Coffee Talk Series: CPA Firm Security with Randy Johnston

Written by Cetrom | July 10, 2024

In this four-part series of Coffee Talks, Cetrom's Christopher Stark hosts Randy Johnston, Executive Vice President of K2 Enterprises, to discuss important developments in cybersecurity for CPA firms, as well as the potential for new, developing technology to impact how the industry operates. 

WISPs & FTC Safeguards: How to Ensure Your Firm Stays Compliant

What's a WISP, and why are they important to ensuring a CPA firm complies with the new FTC Safeguards rule? Our Coffee Talk with the Experts demystifies the regulatory statutes that come with being a PTIN and more with Randy Johnston. 


In this video, Randy tackles the following hot questions affecting CPA Firms today:

  • What is a WISP? And what should firms consider when creating or maintaining their own WISP internally?
  • What are the finer points of the FTC Safeguards Rule, and what are some tips for firms still working on compliance?
  • How do I know if my firm falls under the FTC Safeguards Rule? Does it make a difference if we have fewer than 5,000 customers or clients?
  • Why should firms prioritize eliminating admin users on their networks?

EDR & MDR: Two Related but Distinct Security Solutions

With the continuing shift to the cloud and increasing cyber-attacks targeting CPA agencies, the cybersecurity landscape is changing in a way that requires proactive protection. That means firms must find solutions that work around the clock to monitor, detect, and respond to threats.

The two main ways to do this—endpoint detection and response (EDR) and managed detection and response (MDR)—have undergone significant changes in recent years. Our Coffee Talk with Randy Johnston goes into these changes and compares them to see how they work and if they can overlap to create a solid, proactive protection strategy for accounting firms.


In this video, Randy tackles the following hot questions affecting CPA Firms today:

  • What are the main characteristics and functions of EDR and MDR?
  • What are the latest trends in the accounting industry regarding adopting EDR and MDR?
  • What are the considerations when evaluating EDR and MDR security solutions?
  • What are you seeing in terms of EDR and MDR requirements for firms when it comes to insurance and
    compliance?

Wi-Fi 7 is Coming – Here’s What You Should Know

When it comes to an online access point, the pursuit of a faster, more reliable internet connection is relentless. Recent strides in Wi-Fi 6 and its extension, Wi-Fi 6E, have set a high bar for speed and performance. However, the dawn of Wi-Fi 7 heralds a new era of connectivity, promising unprecedented speeds, lower latency, and superior management of multiple connections.


In this video, Randy tackles the following hot questions affecting CPA Firms today:

  • What’s the latest on the Wi-Fi 7 release?
  • What can we expect Wi-Fi 7 to be like?
  • How will firms benefit from the upgrade?
  • What is Wi-Fi 7’s impact on wired connections?

Microsoft Copilot - How Are CPA Firms Using AI?

Accountants often find themselves in situations requiring both productivity and creativity. From presenting complex financial data in engaging ways to tackling challenging audits, the profession demands more than just number-crunching skills. Unfortunately, the demanding nature of the job can often deplete creative energy, leaving accountants feeling overwhelmed and uninspired.

Microsoft announced Copilot in September of 2023, and there has since been time to test out its features as a promised "everyday AI companion" in the context of accounting. AI has shown an early potential to streamline many processes, which could remedy the industry's productivity fatigue epidemic.


In this video, Randy tackles the following hot questions affecting CPA Firms today:

  • What are the different levels of Microsoft Copilot? Which are best for CPA firms?
  • How can accounting firms use Microsoft Copilot?
  • What are some of the policy controls around AI usage?
  • How do Google Gemini and ChatGPT compare with Microsoft Copilot in terms of both function and adoption?

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Learn more about Cetrom: https://www.cetrom.net/
Visit K2 Enterprises: https://www.k2e.com/ 
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