us to deploy best practices around privacy and security. Most importantly they count on us to protect their data that they entrust to us.
The recent pandemic forced change onto our profession. With that change came massive disruption to how we do business and collaborate with our clients. Protecting data does not and should not result in a massive disruption to our business model, but instead, should be viewed as an opportunity to get to better know our clients and help them by delivering new services that in the past were never associated with a CPA firm.
In this discussion, Jim Bourke, Managing Director Advisory Services at WithumSmith+Brown, will share his perspective on what he witnessed during this period of change – the good and the bad, and he’ll share some of the best practices for security and privacy in our space around technology and innovative advisory offerings in this new world.
Attendees will:
• Understand the nuances of protecting your workforce and securing client data
• Gain an awareness of some of the unique technologies that are ready to take the accounting profession to the next level
• Learn how to define leadership’s role in keeping team members safe, functional, relevant and perfectly positioned to grow the practice
23. WiFi Password
Now that you’ve determined that your WiFi network has a password, its
time to change it from the default one that is clearly displayed on the back
of your telco or cable company combination modem/router. It’s a fairly
easy process accomplished wired through an open port on the back of the
device or wirelessly via a web address such as: 192.168.1.1 (or something
similar).
24. Administrator
Password
While inside the administrator settings area,
after changing the WiFi password, I would
also recommend changing the administrator
password. This password should be unique
from your WiFi password. Changing this
password will help to prevent unauthorized
access to the administrator setting (the keys
to the kingdom).
25. SSID –
Network Name
Most devices today come with a default SSID broadcasting
on two frequencies, 2.4GHz and 5GHz. Two steps I would
recommend taking here. One – Change the SSID to
something non-descript. In other words, don’t choose “CPA
Working From Home”. Two – You don’t need both a 2.4 and
5 GHz broadcasting. Pick the frequency that works best in
your environment and one that has little or no conflicts with
other wireless devices in the home (baby monitors, garage
door openers, etc..) and turn the other one OFF.
26. Disable WPS
(WiFi
Protected
Setup)
Although this feature was originally meant to
facilitate the addition of many devices to
your home network, the vulnerabilities out-
weight the benefits. Simply turn off this
feature in the administrator settings.
27. Guest Network
Most devices today allow for the use of a guest network. This feature is
ideal and an easy way to segregate personal and private WiFi traffic. For
example NEVER give your WiFi password out to relatives, friends and other
visitors to your home. Guest networks can work simultaneously
28. There are so many other things that can be done to
further protect the remote network. Check out the
Federal Trade Commission Website for some
additional guidance:
https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2020/03/online-
security-tips-working-home
