IT Services for Accounting & CPA
in Charlotte, North Carolina
Netsafe Solutions provides IT services for Charlotte CPA and accounting firms — IRS safeguards compliance, secure client portals, M365 hardening, 22+ years experience.
Netsafe Solutions provides IT services for CPA firms, accounting practices, bookkeeping firms, and tax preparers across the Charlotte metro from our office at 8510 McAlpine Park Drive, Suite 203. We manage the IT infrastructure that accounting firms depend on — Microsoft 365 with hardened email security, endpoint protection with SentinelOne EDR and Black Point Cyber SOC 24/7 monitoring, encrypted client document exchange, and security controls aligned with the IRS Written Information Security Plan (WISP) requirement under IRC Section 7216 and FTC Safeguards Rule. We don't manage tax software, accounting platforms, or client portals directly — we manage the IT environment around them and coordinate with vendors for platform-specific work. Pricing is per-device monthly for support, with each security tool priced individually on a month-to-month basis. No onboarding fee.
Why Accounting Firm IT Is Different
Accounting firms handle some of the most sensitive personal data in any industry — Social Security numbers, tax returns, bank account details, financial statements, payroll records, and investment portfolios. A breach at a CPA firm doesn't just expose one person's data — it exposes every client's data, often going back years.
The regulatory reality: The IRS requires every tax return preparer to have a Written Information Security Plan (WISP) — a documented set of security controls protecting client tax information. This isn't optional and it isn't new, but enforcement has increased significantly. The FTC Safeguards Rule (updated 2023) adds additional requirements for firms handling consumer financial data, including encryption, access controls, MFA, and regular risk assessments. Firms that can't demonstrate compliance risk IRS penalties, FTC enforcement actions, and malpractice liability after a breach.
The threat landscape: According to the IRS, tax professionals were targeted in over 5,000 data theft incidents in a single recent tax season. Attackers know that CPA firms have concentrated PII — one successful phishing attack on a small firm can yield hundreds of SSNs and tax returns. Charlotte's accounting firms range from solo practitioners to mid-size regional firms, and all of them face the same regulatory requirements regardless of size.
Netsafe Solutions supports CPA and accounting firms in Charlotte with IT infrastructure specifically configured for the security controls these regulations demand. We build the environment to satisfy WISP and Safeguards Rule requirements from day one, then document it so you have evidence when you need it.
What Netsafe Solutions Provides for Accounting Firms
IRS WISP & Safeguards Rule Alignment
The IRS WISP requirement and FTC Safeguards Rule both demand specific technical controls. Netsafe configures these controls and documents them for your compliance records:
- Multi-factor authentication enforced for all users via Microsoft Entra ID — the single most impactful control for preventing unauthorized access to client data
- Encryption in transit and at rest — M365 encrypts email, OneDrive, SharePoint, and Teams data by default. We verify and document encryption status across your environment.
- Access controls — role-based permissions so staff only access the clients and data relevant to their work. PIM (Privileged Identity Management) for admin accounts.
- Audit logging — Microsoft 365 unified audit log retained 180+ days, exportable on demand for regulatory inquiries
- Regular risk assessment — quarterly Secure Score reviews documenting your security posture and identifying gaps before regulators find them
- Device encryption — BitLocker full-disk encryption enforced on all managed devices via Intune compliance policies. A lost laptop doesn't mean exposed client SSNs.
- Documented security plan — we help you build and maintain your WISP documentation with the technical controls mapped to each requirement
Secure Client Communication & Document Exchange
CPA firms exchange sensitive documents with clients constantly — tax returns, financial statements, W-2s, 1099s, bank statements. How those documents move determines your security posture:
- Checkpoint Harmony email security — AI-based email protection catching phishing, spoofed client emails, and BEC attempts. Tax season brings a spike in phishing targeting accounting firms with fake client document links.
- Microsoft Purview sensitivity labels — "Client Confidential" and "Tax PII" labels applied to client documents, with DLP policies preventing accidental external sharing of labeled content
- Data Loss Prevention (DLP) — policies that detect outbound emails containing SSN patterns, EIN numbers, or bank account numbers and block or flag them before sending
- Secure document sharing via SharePoint — password-protected, time-limited sharing links for client document exchange. Replaces insecure email attachments with auditable, controlled access.
- Black Point Cyber SOC on M365 — 24/7 monitoring for account takeovers, suspicious forwarding rules, and mailbox delegation changes. If an attacker compromises a staff member's email during tax season, SOC analysts detect and respond in 7-minute average response time — before the attacker can access or forward client documents.
Endpoint Security for Every Workstation
Every workstation in a CPA firm — from the partner's office to the reception desk — touches client data. The security stack must be uniform:
- SentinelOne EDR — endpoint detection and response on every managed device. Catches ransomware, credential theft, and data exfiltration attempts.
- Black Point Cyber SOC endpoint monitoring — 24/7 human SOC alongside SentinelOne with 16-minute average response time. Ransomware against a CPA firm during tax season is a worst-case scenario — this stack is designed to stop it before encryption begins.
- NinjaOne RMM — remote monitoring, patch management, and software deployment. Keeps tax season workstations patched without disrupting staff.
- DefensX DNS filtering — blocks malicious websites and phishing domains at the DNS layer on all managed devices
- BitLocker encryption — full-disk encryption enforced on every laptop and workstation. Verified via Intune compliance policy — a device that reports non-compliant encryption is flagged immediately.
Tax Software & Platform Support
Accounting firms run specialized software — QuickBooks, Sage, Thomson Reuters UltraTax, CCH Axcess, Lacerte, Drake, ProConnect, and client portals for secure document exchange. Netsafe's approach:
- We manage the infrastructure — the devices, network, M365 environment, security, backups, and connectivity that these platforms run on
- We coordinate with vendors — for platform-specific installation, configuration, migrations, and troubleshooting, we work with the software vendor on your behalf
- We handle updates and compatibility — when tax software vendors release updates (especially pre-season), we test and deploy across your devices through NinjaOne
- We secure the connection — VPN or Conditional Access policies for remote access to on-premise tax applications, encrypted connections for cloud-based platforms
How We Price Accounting & CPA IT
Most MSPs force their entire tool stack on every client regardless of need. Netsafe Solutions builds your stack around what your business actually requires — transparent, itemized, month-to-month on every tool.
Per-Device Support
Monthly per endpoint · Quoted- Unlimited remote helpdesk during business hours
- On-site support available (pre-approved T&M)
- 1-year service agreement — standard MSP practice
Microsoft 365 Licensing
Monthly per mailbox · MSRP rates- Business Basic — $7.20/user/mo
- Business Standard — $15.00/user/mo
- Business Premium — $26.40/user/mo
- Enterprise (E3/E5) — quoted per tenant
- Licensing sourced through Pax8
Security & Management Tools
Each priced individually · Month-to-month · No forced bundles- NinjaOne RMM — monitoring, patch management, remote management, vulnerability scanning
- SentinelOne EDR — AI-powered endpoint detection and response
- Black Point Cyber SOC — 24/7 human-led endpoint + M365 tenant monitoring
- DefensX — DNS filtering and web protection
- Checkpoint Harmony — advanced email security (anti-phishing, anti-BEC)
All M365 pricing reflects current month-to-month Microsoft MSRP. Tool pricing is quoted per customer based on environment size and needs. No onboarding fee — migrations and security hardening are included in the first month’s management fee. Contact us for a custom quote →
Why Charlotte Accounting Firms Choose Netsafe
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Netsafe support QuickBooks, UltraTax, or other tax/accounting software?
We manage the IT infrastructure that these platforms run on — the devices, network, M365 environment, security, and connectivity. For platform-specific configuration, data migrations, or troubleshooting within QuickBooks, Thomson Reuters, CCH, Drake, Lacerte, or any other accounting software, we coordinate with the software vendor on your behalf. One point of contact — Netsafe handles the vendor relationship.
What is a WISP and does Netsafe help with it?
A Written Information Security Plan (WISP) is required by the IRS for all tax return preparers under IRC Section 7216. It documents the security controls you have in place to protect client tax information. Netsafe provides the technical controls the WISP requires (MFA, encryption, access controls, audit logging, device encryption) and helps you document them. You still need to address the administrative and policy components, but the technology side is covered.
How do you handle security during tax season?
Tax season (January–April) brings increased phishing, longer hours, and zero tolerance for downtime. Our security stack runs year-round, but we're especially vigilant during tax season: Checkpoint Harmony catches the seasonal spike in phishing targeting accountants, Black Point Cyber SOC monitors your M365 tenant 24/7 for account compromise, and NinjaOne keeps all devices patched without disrupting staff. Remote helpdesk is available for the inevitable "my software won't print" and "I can't access a client file" calls.
Can staff work remotely during tax season?
Yes — and most CPA firms have at least some remote work during tax season. Microsoft 365 is cloud-native, so email, documents, and Teams work from anywhere. Conditional Access policies ensure remote devices meet security requirements (Intune-enrolled, encrypted, MFA-authenticated) before accessing client data. For on-premise tax applications, we configure secure remote access via VPN or published applications.
What happens if a laptop with client data is lost or stolen?
BitLocker full-disk encryption is enforced on every managed device. A lost laptop's data is encrypted and inaccessible without the user's credentials. We can also remote-wipe the device through Intune. With encryption in place and documented, a lost device is a hardware loss — not a data breach that triggers regulatory notification.
How do you protect against ransomware targeting our firm?
Ransomware against a CPA firm is a worst-case scenario — encrypted client data, IRS deadlines, potential breach notification obligations. Our defense is layered: SentinelOne EDR detects ransomware behavior before encryption spreads, Black Point Cyber SOC analysts respond in 16 minutes average, DefensX blocks malicious download domains, and Checkpoint Harmony catches the phishing emails that deliver ransomware payloads. M365 backups (immutable, offsite) ensure recovery even in a worst case.
Do you support multiple office locations?
Yes. NinjaOne RMM manages devices regardless of location. M365 and security policies are centralized. Whether your firm has one office or multiple locations across the Charlotte metro, all staff get the same security posture and support experience.
What about client portal security?
Most accounting firms use a client portal (from their tax software vendor or a third-party service) for secure document exchange. We manage the infrastructure side: ensuring the portal runs on a secure, patched workstation, the connection is encrypted, and access is controlled. For portal-specific configuration, we coordinate with the portal vendor.
Let’s Talk About Your Accounting & CPA IT
Tell us about your environment and what you’re dealing with. We’ll get back within one business day with a straight assessment and a quote. No pressure, no sales pitch.
Or call us directly
(704) 333-0404
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Areas We Serve
Netsafe Solutions provides IT services for accounting & cpa across 27 cities in North Carolina and South Carolina.
North Carolina: Charlotte, Concord, Huntersville, Matthews, Cornelius, Waxhaw, Gastonia, Kannapolis, Monroe, Mooresville, Salisbury, Statesville, Hickory, Newton, Shelby, Albemarle, Greensboro, Winston-Salem, Lexington
South Carolina: Rock Hill, Fort Mill, Columbia, Spartanburg, Lancaster, Chester, York, Gaffney
Netsafe Solutions — IT services for accounting & cpa in Charlotte since 2003.
8510 McAlpine Park Drive, Suite 203, Charlotte, NC 28211 | (704) 333-0404
Last Updated: April 2026