How PTG Secured Accounting & Financial Firms in the Triangle
Discover how Petronella Technology Group transformed cybersecurity, IT infrastructure, and compliance posture for accounting and financial services firms across the Raleigh-Durham-RTP Triangle. From protecting sensitive financial data to achieving regulatory compliance, PTG delivered measurable results that strengthened defenses and enabled business growth for firms handling millions in client assets.
Why Accounting Firms in the Triangle Needed Help
Accounting and financial services firms in the Raleigh-Durham-RTP Triangle operate at the intersection of sensitive data and regulatory scrutiny. Every day, these organizations handle Social Security numbers, tax identification numbers, bank account details, financial statements, payroll records, investment portfolios, and other highly confidential information that makes them prime targets for cybercriminals. The accounting industry has experienced a dramatic surge in targeted attacks, with cybercriminals deploying sophisticated phishing campaigns timed around tax season, business email compromise schemes targeting wire transfers, and ransomware attacks designed to lock critical financial data during the busiest periods of the year.
The firms that came to PTG for help shared common pain points that threatened both their operations and their client relationships. Many were operating with outdated IT infrastructure that lacked basic security controls. Firewalls were misconfigured or running expired firmware. Workstations were unpatched and running vulnerable software versions. Email systems lacked advanced threat protection, leaving staff exposed to increasingly convincing phishing attacks. Backup systems, where they existed at all, had not been tested and would likely fail in a real disaster recovery scenario. Most critically, these firms had no formal incident response plan and no clear understanding of their regulatory obligations under frameworks like the IRS Safeguards Rule, Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, SOX, PCI DSS, or state data protection laws.
The human element compounded these technical vulnerabilities. Accounting professionals, focused on serving their clients and meeting deadlines, had received little or no security awareness training. Staff routinely clicked on suspicious email links, used weak or reused passwords across multiple systems, shared files through unsecured channels, and failed to recognize the warning signs of social engineering attacks. Several firms had already experienced security incidents ranging from compromised email accounts to unauthorized access to client data, prompting them to seek a comprehensive security partner who could address both the technology gaps and the human factors driving their vulnerability.
A Comprehensive Approach to Financial Sector Security
Petronella Technology Group developed a multi-phase cybersecurity and IT transformation program specifically designed for the accounting and financial services firms it serves across the Raleigh-Durham-RTP Triangle. Led by founder Craig Petronella and executed by skilled team members including professionals like Autumn Wilkins, the program addressed every layer of the security stack while maintaining the operational continuity these firms needed to continue serving their clients without disruption.
The engagement began with PTG's proprietary comprehensive security assessment, a thorough evaluation of each firm's IT environment, security controls, compliance posture, and operational workflows. This assessment included network vulnerability scanning, endpoint configuration reviews, email security analysis, backup and disaster recovery evaluation, physical security inspection, and employee security behavior assessment. The results were compiled into a detailed report with prioritized remediation recommendations organized by risk severity and implementation complexity, giving firm leadership clear visibility into their most critical vulnerabilities and a roadmap for addressing them systematically.
Phase two focused on infrastructure hardening and security control deployment. PTG replaced outdated firewalls with enterprise-grade next-generation firewalls configured with intrusion prevention, content filtering, and advanced threat detection capabilities. All workstations and servers were enrolled in PTG's managed endpoint detection and response platform, providing real-time monitoring and automated threat containment. Email systems were secured with advanced anti-phishing, anti-spoofing, and attachment sandboxing technologies. Multi-factor authentication was deployed across all business-critical systems including accounting software, client portals, email, VPN access, and cloud applications. Secure file sharing solutions replaced the ad hoc methods previously used to exchange documents with clients, ensuring that sensitive financial data was encrypted both in transit and at rest.
Phase three addressed compliance requirements and human factors. PTG worked with each firm to develop written information security policies, incident response plans, business continuity plans, and data retention policies aligned with IRS Safeguards Rule requirements, Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act provisions, and applicable state data protection regulations. Comprehensive security awareness training was rolled out to all staff, with ongoing simulated phishing campaigns to reinforce lessons and track improvement over time. PTG established a continuous monitoring and management relationship with each firm, providing 24/7 security monitoring, regular vulnerability assessments, quarterly security reviews, and on-demand support to ensure that security posture improved continuously rather than degrading over time.
Solutions Deployed for Accounting & Financial Clients
Advanced Endpoint Protection
PTG deployed enterprise-grade endpoint detection and response solutions across all workstations, laptops, and servers within each accounting firm's environment. These solutions provide real-time behavioral monitoring that detects and automatically contains suspicious activity including ransomware encryption attempts, credential harvesting, unauthorized data access, and lateral movement. Unlike traditional antivirus software that relies on signature-based detection and misses novel threats, PTG's EDR platform uses machine learning and behavioral analysis to identify threats based on their actions, providing protection against zero-day exploits and advanced persistent threats that specifically target financial data. The platform integrates with PTG's security operations workflow to ensure that every alert is triaged, investigated, and resolved by trained security professionals.
Email Security & Anti-Phishing
Recognizing that email is the primary attack vector against accounting firms, PTG implemented multi-layered email security that goes far beyond basic spam filtering. The solution includes advanced anti-phishing protection that analyzes email headers, content, links, and sender reputation to identify sophisticated phishing attempts including those that impersonate clients, regulators, or software vendors. Attachment sandboxing technology detonates suspicious file attachments in an isolated environment before delivery, preventing malware from reaching user inboxes. Domain-based authentication protocols including SPF, DKIM, and DMARC were configured to prevent email spoofing. Additionally, URL rewriting and real-time link scanning protect users who do click on links by checking destinations against threat intelligence feeds at the moment of click, not just at the time of delivery.
Compliance Framework Implementation
PTG guided each accounting firm through a structured compliance implementation process covering the IRS Safeguards Rule, which requires tax preparers to maintain a written information security plan protecting federal tax information, and the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, which mandates financial institutions protect consumer financial data. This work included developing comprehensive written information security plans, conducting formal risk assessments, implementing required administrative, technical, and physical safeguards, establishing employee training programs, and creating vendor management procedures. PTG also helped firms prepare for audits by organizing compliance documentation, establishing evidence collection processes, and conducting internal assessments to identify and address gaps before external auditors arrived.
Backup & Disaster Recovery
PTG replaced unreliable or nonexistent backup systems with a robust, tested backup and disaster recovery solution designed for the unique needs of accounting firms. The solution provides automated daily backups of all critical systems, accounting software databases, client files, email archives, and business documents with both local and cloud-based copies for redundancy. Crucially, PTG conducts regular backup verification tests and full disaster recovery drills to confirm that data can be restored within defined recovery time objectives. This is particularly critical for accounting firms during tax season, when the loss of even a few hours of work or client data could have catastrophic consequences for client relationships and regulatory compliance.
Security Awareness Training
PTG implemented comprehensive security awareness training programs customized for the accounting profession. Training content addresses the specific threats targeting accounting firms, including tax-season phishing campaigns, W-2 scams, wire transfer fraud, client impersonation, and social engineering attacks that exploit the trust relationships between accountants and their clients. The program includes initial training for all staff members, regular refresher sessions aligned with seasonal threat patterns, and ongoing simulated phishing exercises that measure employee susceptibility and provide instant educational feedback when users fall for test scenarios. Firms can track improvement metrics through PTG's reporting dashboard, demonstrating due diligence to regulators and clients.
Secure Client File Exchange
Replacing insecure methods like unencrypted email attachments and consumer-grade file sharing services, PTG deployed secure client portal solutions that enable accounting firms to exchange sensitive documents with clients safely. These portals provide end-to-end encryption for all uploaded documents, user authentication with multi-factor verification, audit trails that log every file access and download, automatic file expiration policies, and compliance-friendly retention management. The result is a professional, branded experience that protects client data throughout its lifecycle while making document exchange more convenient for both the firm and its clients, eliminating the security risks associated with sending Social Security numbers and financial statements through unprotected email.
Measurable Outcomes for Financial Services Clients
Ready to see what PTG can do for your business? Schedule a free consultation and join the businesses across the Triangle that trust us with their technology.
919-348-4912PTG's partnership with accounting and financial services firms across the Raleigh-Durham-RTP Triangle has delivered consistent, measurable improvements in security posture, compliance readiness, and operational efficiency. These results reflect PTG's commitment to treating every client's data as if it were their own, applying the same rigorous standards of protection that have kept more than 2,500 companies breach-free over 22 years of operation. Firms that partner with PTG report increased client confidence, smoother audit experiences, and the peace of mind that comes from knowing their most sensitive data is protected by proven cybersecurity experts.
PTG Success Stories Across Every Industry
PTG's expertise extends beyond accounting and financial services to serve businesses across every major industry vertical in the Raleigh-Durham-RTP Triangle and throughout North Carolina. Our security-first approach, proven zero-breach (for managed security clients) methodology, and deep compliance expertise translate across sectors, providing the same level of protection and strategic value to every client we serve. Explore how PTG has helped organizations in other industries overcome their unique cybersecurity and IT challenges.
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Meet Craig Petronella
Learn about the founder who has spent 22+ years building PTG into the Triangle's most trusted cybersecurity and managed IT services partner.
Meet Autumn Wilkins
Get to know one of the skilled cybersecurity professionals who helps PTG clients maintain robust security and compliance.
The PTG Advantage for Accounting & Financial Firms
Financial Industry Expertise
PTG has deep experience working with accounting firms, CPAs, financial advisors, bookkeepers, and financial services companies throughout the Raleigh-Durham-RTP Triangle. We understand the specific threats, regulatory requirements, seasonal pressures, and operational workflows that define your industry, enabling us to deliver solutions that fit smoothly into how your firm actually operates.
Compliance-First Methodology
Our approach to security is built on compliance frameworks including the IRS Safeguards Rule, Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, PCI DSS, and SOX requirements. We do not treat compliance as a separate workstream; instead, we integrate regulatory requirements into every security control we deploy, ensuring that your firm remains compliant as a natural outcome of being properly secured.
zero-breach (for managed security clients) Protection
With 22+ years of experience and 2,500+ companies served without a single client data breach, PTG brings a proven track record that your firm can rely on. In an industry where a single breach can destroy client relationships, trigger regulatory penalties, and end careers, PTG's zero-breach (for managed security clients) methodology provides the highest level of assurance available in the managed security services market.
Responsive Local Partnership
Based in Raleigh, NC, PTG provides responsive, personalized service to accounting firms throughout the Triangle. We are not a faceless national provider routing your calls to an overseas help desk. We are your neighbors, and we are invested in the success and security of the local business community. When you need help, we answer, whether it is a routine question or a critical security event.
Questions About IT for Accounting Firms
Ready to Secure Your Accounting Practice?
Join the growing number of accounting and financial services firms across the Raleigh-Durham-RTP Triangle that trust Petronella Technology Group with their cybersecurity, compliance, and IT management. With 22+ years of experience, 2,500+ companies served, and zero breaches among clients who implemented our full security recommendations, PTG delivers the protection your firm needs to safeguard client data, meet regulatory requirements, and focus on what you do best: serving your clients. Schedule your free cybersecurity assessment today and discover how PTG can transform your firm's security posture in as little as 60 days.