Accounting Firm IT Support in Reno
Accounting firm IT support from Computer Services Reno keeps CPA, bookkeeping and tax practices in Reno, Sparks and Carson City ready for filing season: tax software installs and updates, client portals, secure file storage, multi-factor sign-in and backups, plus help with the technical controls in your written information security plan. One flat monthly price.
What does IT support for an accounting firm cover?
An accounting practice holds Social Security numbers, bank details and full tax returns, and its busiest weeks fall on fixed dates. Our managed IT services cover the systems that work depends on.
Tax and accounting software
Installs, annual version upgrades and updates during the season, whether the software runs on a local server, on each workstation or in a hosted environment. The software vendor supports the program itself; we handle the systems under it.
Client portals
Setting up and maintaining portal access for staff, multi-factor sign-in, and folder permissions so each client sees only their own documents.
Multi-factor sign-in
On email, remote access, the tax software where it supports it, and the portal. Part of the baseline on our small business cybersecurity page.
Workstations and scanners
Dual-monitor desks, document scanners for source documents, and printers that hold up through April. Repairs go through business computer repair.
Servers and storage
The server that hosts tax and accounting data, encrypted storage, and permissions on client folders, with server support and maintenance.
Backups
Off-site, restore-tested copies of client data and email through backup and disaster recovery, backed up and restore-tested ahead of filing season.
How should an accounting firm prepare its IT for tax season?
The time to change systems is the fall, not February. A pre-season list:
- Replace computers that are slow, failing or out of support
- Install the new tax year's software and test it on every workstation that needs it
- Confirm licenses and user counts for tax, accounting and portal software
- Run a test restore from backup, not just a check that backups ran
- Review user accounts and remove anyone who has left
- Confirm multi-factor sign-in on email, remote access and the portal
- Test remote access for staff who work from home during the season
What changes during filing season?
Mostly, fewer changes. Large upgrades wait until after the deadlines, and updates are scheduled around filing deadlines where possible. Larger work that can't wait, such as replacing a failed server, can be booked for a weekend by appointment.
Office hours are Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monitoring runs 24/7, and urgent after-hours support is available. Staff reach our help desk for the everyday problems: a locked account, a printer, a program that won't open.
Do tax preparers need a written information security plan?
Yes. Paid tax return preparers are covered by the FTC Safeguards Rule, which requires a written information security program, often called a WISP.1, 2 IRS Publication 4557, Safeguarding Taxpayer Data, explains this requirement for tax professionals and the steps that go with it.3 The firm writes the plan and designates its Qualified Individual. We support the technical controls; see our FTC Safeguards Rule page for the full rule.
| Element | Your firm | How IT support helps |
|---|---|---|
| Qualified Individual | Designates one; it can be an outside provider, but a senior employee must oversee them | We don't serve in this role; we report to whoever does |
| Written risk assessment | Performs and documents it | Provides an inventory of systems and current settings |
| Access controls | Decides who may see customer information | Sets up individual accounts and permissions |
| Encryption | Requires it in the plan | Turns on encryption for laptops, storage and data in transit |
| Multi-factor authentication | Requires it for anyone accessing customer information systems | Configures it on email, remote access and supported applications |
| Staff training | Trains staff and keeps records | Can share phishing awareness guidance |
| Incident response plan | Writes it and makes the notification decisions | Technical support during an incident, such as resetting accounts and restoring systems |
Firms that hold information on fewer than 5,000 consumers are exempt from some requirements: the written risk assessment, continuous monitoring or annual penetration testing, the written incident response plan and the annual report to the board. The rest still applies. Since May 2024, a security event involving unencrypted information of 500 or more consumers must be reported to the FTC as soon as possible, and no later than 30 days after discovery.2
How do we start working with a Reno accounting firm?
With a visit. A free on-site IT assessment looks at your computers, network, backups and security and gives you a prioritized list of what to fix before the next season. It is a starting point, not a substitute for the written risk assessment the FTC rule asks your firm to perform.
From there we quote a flat monthly price with no contracts or minimums; managed IT pricing explains how. Our in-house team supports practices across Reno, Sparks and Carson City, on-site and remotely. Firms with attorneys on staff may also want to read about law firm IT support.
This page is general information, not legal advice.
Accounting firm IT FAQ
See where your IT stands, at your office.
Book a free on-site IT assessment. A local technician comes to you, looks at your setup, and gives you a plain-English list of what to fix first. No cost, no contract.