Accounting Firm Case Study

Enterprise SOC 2–Ready Security Without Enterprise Cost

Client Overview

Industry: Accounting & Professional Services

Company Size: Small accounting firm

Client Profile: High-profile corporate and institutional clients

Primary Goal: SOC 2–aligned security posture to meet client security requirements

This accounting firm was preparing to onboard larger, high-profile clients that required strict security and compliance standards as part of their vendor risk assessments.

The Challenge

While the firm delivered excellent professional services, their internal IT environment was not built to meet SOC 2 security expectations.

Key challenges included:

• No centralized device management (MDM)

• Inconsistent security controls across staff devices

• Limited visibility into access, encryption, and compliance status

• No documented security baselines or formal data handling controls

• Increasing pressure from prospective clients to demonstrate enterprise-grade security

The firm needed to meet SOC 2 expectations quickly, but without the cost or complexity of a large enterprise IT stack.

The Solution

Beefed Up IT designed and deployed a SOC 2–aligned, audit-ready IT environment, purpose-built for a small accounting firm.

The approach focused on practical security, clear governance, and cost efficiency.

Key components of the solution included:

Modern Device Management (MDM)

• Implemented centralized device management across all endpoints

• Standardized secure device configurations

• Enforced full-disk encryption on all systems

• Ensured only compliant devices could access firm data

Identity & Access Security

• Implemented multi-factor authentication (MFA)

• Configured conditional access policies

• Restricted access to sensitive client data based on role and device compliance

• Centralized identity management for all users

SOC 2–Aligned Security Controls

• Defined security baselines aligned to SOC 2 Trust Services Criteria

• Implemented logging, monitoring, and audit-ready controls

• Established secure data storage and retention practices

• Created clear separation of client data and internal resources

Secure Collaboration & Data Protection

• Deployed encrypted cloud storage with strict access controls

• Structured client data repositories for controlled access

• Enabled secure collaboration without exposing sensitive information

• Ensured data encryption both at rest and in transit

Documentation & Readiness Support

• Helped define security policies and operational procedures

• Created a clear security posture that could be communicated to clients

• Prepared the firm for vendor security questionnaires and assessments

• Ensured ongoing compliance without adding administrative burden

The Results

• Achieved a SOC 2–aligned security posture

• Passed client security reviews with no remediation findings

• Successfully onboarded high-profile corporate clients

• Gained clear visibility into device and data security

• Reduced long-term risk exposure

• Implemented enterprise-grade security at a fraction of enterprise cost

The firm now operates with confidence, knowing their security controls meet modern compliance expectations.

Why This Matters

Accounting firms are increasingly held to the same standards as large enterprises — especially when handling sensitive financial and client data.

SOC 2 readiness is no longer optional.

Beefed Up IT helped this firm prove that strong security doesn’t require massive

budgets or internal IT teams — just the right architecture and expertise.

Looking to Meet SOC 2 or Client Security Requirements?

Whether you’re preparing for SOC 2, responding to vendor risk assessments, or simply want to protect your firm and your clients, Beefed Up IT can design a secure, scalable solution that fits your business.

Enterprise security — built for real businesses.