technology

don’t forget about encryption. you did, didn’t you?

by roman h. kepczyk
quantum of paperless 

your firm’s safety net in the event of any disaster is your data backup. it had better be consistently performed and securely stored offsite.

typically, firms have a problem when the process they relied on to make the backups didn’t work, or the tapes weren’t complete because all the data no longer fits onto one tape. this is becoming a common problem as more data, and more applications add significantly more volume, making the backup application require more storage and a longer running time to complete.

more on tech spending: cloud computing can cost less | laptop-only workers more common | scanners allow data capture at the source | in pc monitors, more is better

when backups are run during normal business hours, it can slow down the entire network, impacting everyone’s performance. make a note that the tape drive you have today will be the last one you will ever own.

according to the aaa 2015 survey, 67 percent of firms back up all their data to the internet with 56 percent doing so on a daily basis.

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desktops still hold value; tablets less so.

by roman h. kepczyk
quantum of paperless

getting the right mix of mobility is critical for firms today. the professional’s rule of thumb is that everyone who works out of the office one day per week or more and needs to be self-contained should have a laptop as their only machine.

more on tech spending: scanners allow data capture at the source | in pc monitors, more is better | standardize quickbooks support for clients | how to choose the right client portal solution | streamlining bill-paying at cpa firms | automating bank deposits offers instant roi | the 3 reasons firms are migrating to digital timesheets | accounting firms run on more than checklists alone | going paperless means convincing clients first | making digital tax process easier is all about the workflow | why firms need document retention standards

the obvious exception to this is for tax or administrative personnel who would never work from remote client sites, but have a computer at home that they can use to connect to the firm via a secure remote access solution.

the string of natural disasters over the past decade and the transition to more cloud-based applications has led to some firms making the decision that all professional staff will utilize a laptop as their only workstation.

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minimize paper handling right at the gate.

by roman h. kepczyk
quantum of paperless

one of the keys to optimizing production processes is capturing information at its “root” source. this means when data enters your firm, regardless of the format (mail, fax, email or on a flash drive).

more on tech spending: in pc monitors, more is better | standardize quickbooks support for clients | how to choose the right client portal solution | streamlining bill-paying at cpa firms | automating bank deposits offers instant roi | how to ‘go digital’ when partners demand monthly p&ls on paper | the 3 reasons firms are migrating to digital timesheets | digital tools streamline audit production | tech tools for today’s properly equipped field audit teams

ideally, documents would be provided to the firm in a digital format such as secured email or preferably through a web portal, but the reality today is that a significant portion of accounting firm source documents arrive from clients in a traditional paper format. your firm will need to develop processes to efficiently scan, name and store these documents.

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