12. Client data security: Best practices to protect your firm and clients with Byron Patrick, CPA

According to a report from 2021, some 42 percent of business and professional services organizations suffered ransomware attacks over the past year. As the number of cyberattacks continues to rise, it is imperative that we prioritize protecting our data. Today, Blake meets with Byron Patrick, General Manager of Botkeeper, to talk client data security, and the best practices you should employ to keep your firm, and your data safe.

00:00 Client Data Security: Best Practices to Protect Your Firm
00:00 Preview Clip
01:40 What does botkeeper do for accounting firms?
02:30 Byron's CPA tattoo
03:47 Cybersecurity and client data security
07:09 Byron's background in cyber security
07:57 Why security matters
08:57 Kronos cyber attack
09:47 Ransomware attacks & frequency
11:06 How do firms protect themselves
12:27 Don't use easy email address to breach e.g AOL
14:06 Humans are the weakest link in security -
14:41 Byron "won the lottery" - stop clicking unknown links
16:07 Real story examples - Dentist & Deloitte & others
17:16 Backup your computer!
19:36 How many firms/businesses pay the ransom?
20:07 Best practices for protecting firms, clients, and data
20:24 Training
21:18 White hat hackers
23:35 Having good device management - work / home separation
26:02 Antivirus software - history and evolution vs EDS
29:41 VPN's
31:56 Thank you to our sponsor, Botkeeper
35:33 Okta experience - how it works
38:41 Removing former employees access
39:56 Password manager
43:43 Setting up virtual terminals- what are they, why, and how to setup
48:38 Backup plan in case things fail
49:00 Cyber liability insurance
52:08 Whaling scams
54:33 Barbara Corcoran scam story
56:57 Educate yourself and your workplace
59:26 Outro