Before you think about the security of the electronic data, make sure the places where servers and other financial records are stored are properly secured. Also make sure you have every information about the type of access employees have to record area or databases – figure out whether the server room is secured, and if secured, then what types of security measures are in place. If you are partnering a remote staffing company, ask them what steps are in place to monitor the location and dissemination of data. Make sure virtual employees are logged into secured servers that don’t allow for transfers of information to local computers or local printing.
4 Important Security Questions to Ask To accounting services provider in London
Being an accounting practice in London, you want your clients’ accounts to be managed professionally and accurately. For that, you need to hire an in-house accountant or even a part-time bookkeeper to complete the work on time and to maintain the reputation of your firm. But always hiring a full-time accountant is not an economical solution, when you have the option of accountancy outsourcing services in the London. Outsourced accounting services offered by companies like Affinity Outsourcing is an ideal solution for accounting practices in London.
As you are sending a great deal of sensitive financial details to a third party, here are some truly important security questions to ask and they are;
But what are the tasks and services that can be outsourced to an external accounting firm in the UK? If you are not sure, then kindly read the concluding paragraph.
Also Read: Outsourced Bookkeeping Services – Here’s How It Works
Physical Security within the Office Premises:
Encryption Security on Their Website and Login Portals:
The most common encryption method uses an SSL Certification for 128-bit or 256-bit encryption for sending files to the website. This type of encryption prevents the information from being recovered in plain text by any hackers sniffing packets, preventing them from decoding the details sent to the accounting firm. If your outsourced accounting company is sharing and receiving the client’s data via cloud storage or file room, then make sure to find out what security features are in place to protect access by third parties.
What About the Older Data You’ve Completed Working Together:
Once the allocated tasks are finished, try to find out what your outsourced accounting partner is doing with those older files and data. Is it storing it somewhere for a specific period of time? Are they destroying/deleting the data after giving you the copies of finished tasks? Or Are they still saving it? Make sure to know, in writing, what also happens to your files if you choose to end your relationship with your bookkeeping service.
Security Measures in Case of Data Breach:
Data breaches are quite common these days; therefore, find out exactly what policies the company has put in place to lower the level of damage, compensate the affected, and recover the breached data. What alert system is kept in place? When will you be updated about the data breach? So, to overcome all these questions, make sure the company you hire has a solid emergency action plan in place before an emergency occurs.
Partnering with an outsourced accounting services provider can be frightening if you are not aware of data security and technology related to it. Therefore, before you choose an outsourced accounting and bookkeeping firm, you get answers to all the questions listed above.
If you are an accounting practice in London, and considering using outsourced accounting services for your bookkeeping, then we can help you weigh your options and needs. We have plenty of flexible hiring modules with proper security standards in place.
