Why Your CPA Firm Needs Network Infrastructure Management

Like most small businesses, the expectations placed on in-house IT staff working at certified public accountant (CPA) firms are increasing concerning network infrastructure management. As the industry and its related CPA technology continue to change and become increasingly complex, the traditional skill set of “network administrators” are frequently no longer enough and, as a result, many firms are turning to managed service providers (MSPs) for their IT needs.  

Of course, that isn’t to say that in-house staff members aren’t needed at all — I believe that having an in-house staff who can serve as the “boots on the ground” is highly beneficial. They can provide a vast amount of support to the MSP, who is responsible for managing your business’ IT infrastructure.

As your primary IT services provider, an MSP is responsible for managing your IT infrastructure and ensuring it remains in optimal condition to promote the best network uptime and performance. According to the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA), this means the MSP has to:

• Have the right team of knowledgeable and experienced network support experts in place
• Document everything concerning your network and CPA technology, and to develop a plan of action
• Identify opportunities in alignment with the firm’s strategic plan
• Develop solutions to existing issues and those seen on the horizon
• Prioritize the list of projects and tasks that need to be accomplished
• Optimize implementation by allocating time and power in specific ways to maximize efficiency

To Gain Access to Greater IT Resources and Varied Skill Sets

When you partner with an experienced IT managed service provider, it opens doors to a world of resources, talent, and experience. When you partner with an IT managed service provider, you get more than some disinterested help desk “tech” in an overseas call center. In fact, our U.S.-based Network Operations Center (NOC) team of IT support and IT security professionals, who work in our Encino office, are here to support and protect your organization and the sensitive data it is entrusted by clients to protect.

Our network support team helps to maximize your network’s uptime and performance to ensure that their IT infrastructure runs smoothly. Our network security team, on the other hand, is here to identify gaps in your security defenses and made recommendations about how they can be addressed.

As a CPA, it is your responsibility to ensure that your clients’ information remains confidential by properly maintaining your IT infrastructure and CPA technology. An IT managed service provider, such as VC3, can help you do it more efficiently and effectively than an in-house team.

To Save Money on Salaries, Benefits, and Services

Do you like saving money without sacrificing service quality? Yeah, we thought so. However, we frequently hear from prospects about their concerns regarding the cost of IT services from an MSP. What you may not realize is how much it can not only save you financially but offer as additional benefits.

Paying for an experienced and knowledgeable IT expert for your in-house IT staff doesn’t come cheap. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual salary of an Information Security Analyst surpassed $92,000 as of 2016. The cost of hiring just one of these professionals — let alone a team — to support your IT infrastructure can easily exceed six figures just for their salary (plus any fringe benefits and ongoing training costs).

Additionally, our team of network support and IT service experts can ensure that aging CPA technology and hardware aren’t holding back your firm from reaching its highest potential. These professionals perform a technology audit to inspect and analyze your systems to ensure that all assets are identified, accounted for, and are in good working order.

Partnering with an experienced IT MSP can help to increase your firm’s efficiency and effectiveness while reducing its overhead costs and operational risks. Our managed IT services and support can help your firm be more functional, successful, and profitable.

Why Choose VC3

As an IT services expert with more than 30 years of network support and network security experience, our team is incredibly knowledgeable and experienced in performing mission-critical projects for CPA firms.

Our network infrastructure management experts provide a variety of IT services that include everything from system installation and integration to network management to compliance, and other related tasks.