Appendix C: Resource Center
Chapter 3: Infrastructure
Hosting and Managed Services
CPA ASP—A hosting provider for accounting and financial software, including QuickBooks, MAS90, Macola, Peachtree, Thomson Reuters CS Accounting, Act!, Goldmine, ProSystems fx, Ultratax, Drake Tax, Lacerte, and more.
NMGI—Provides comprehensive proactive management, maintenance, and troubleshooting for all your IT assets (servers, desktops, firewalls, routers, switches, and other devices).
Xcentric—CPA firm focused hosting organization that hosts 1,000+ applications for firms nationwide.
Remote Access
GoToMyPC—Citrix-owned organization that provides remote access via the Internet to most operating systems and platforms.
LogMeIn—Use LogMeIn to remotely support, manage, and back up hundreds or thousands of desktops, laptops, servers, kiosks, point of service/sale (POS) machines, and the applications that run on them.
Microsoft Remote Desktop Connection—Included in most Windows operating systems.
Chapter 4: Bandwidth
AT&T—National provider of various Internet solutions.
CenturyLink—Now includes Qwest to provide a larger national presence.
www.centurylink.com/small-business/products/business-solutions/
Charter—Regional cable Internet provider.
Comcast—Regional cable Internet provider.
Time Warner Cable—Regional cable Internet provider.
TW Telecom—Regional Internet provider.
Verizon—National provider of various Internet solutions.
http://smallbusiness.verizon.com www.verizonbusiness.com/Medium/
XO Communications—Regional Internet provider.
Utilities
SpeedTests—Use these sites to test your Internet speed, including download and upload speeds.
Chapter 5: The CPA Technology Toolkit
Adobe Acrobat
Version comparison—A detailed comparison of the features of the various Adobe Acrobat versions.
www.adobe.com/products/acrobatpro/buying-guide.html?promoid=JIJYS
Adobe TV—Online video resource for expert instruction and inspiration about Adobe products.
Microsoft
Office
General information, help, templates, and more—A starting point to find learning resources for Microsoft Office.
Version comparison—Provides a comparison of the various Office versions.
Volume licensing—Resources to learn about saving money when more than five Office licenses are needed.
Microsoft License Advisor—Provides an interface to calculate the cost of volume licensing fees.
Office 365 Pricing Plans—Learn what is included in the various Office 365 plans and the per user cost.
http://products.office.com/en-US/business/compare-office-365-for-business-plans
Windows
General information, help, how-to, and more—A starting point to find learning resources for Microsoft Windows.
Google Apps
General information—Learn about Google Apps.
Pricing and features—Provides pricing and feature information.
E-mail
Hosting
CPA.com—AICPA Trusted Business Advisor Solutions provider.
Web Conferencing
Adobe Connect—Web conferencing provided by Adobe.
GoToMeeting—Web conferencing provided by Citrix.
Microsoft Lync—Web conferencing provided by Microsoft.
WebEx—Web conferencing provided by Cisco.
Desktops and Laptops
Dell
Hewlett Packard (HP)
Monitors
Dell
HP
Samsung
View Sonic
Smartphones
Carriers and Distributors
Apple—Get the iPhone for any carrier directly from Apple.
AT&T—National carrier of most smartphones.
Best Buy—Choose from a variety of smartphones with plans from AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon.
Sprint—National carrier of most smartphones.
Verizon—National carrier of most smartphones.
Phones
Apple—Manufacturer of the iPhone.
Research In Motion (RIM)—Manufacturer of the BlackBerry.
HTC—Manufacturer of Android and Windows Mobile smartphones.
Motorola—Manufacturer of Android smartphones.
Samsung—Manufacturer of Android and Windows Mobile smart-phones.
AICPA Resources
Mobile and Remote Computing
www.aicpa.org/interestareas/informationtechnology/resources/cloudcomputing/pages/default.aspx
Tablets
Acer—Manufacturer of Android tablets.
Apple—Manufacturer of iPad tablets.
BlackBerry—Manufacturer of Android tablets.
Dell—Manufacturer of Android tablets.
Lenovo—Manufacturer of Android tablets.
Motorola—Manufacturer of Android tablets.
www.motorola.com/Consumers/US-EN/Consumer-Product-andServices/Tablets
Samsung—Manufacturer of Android tablets.
View Sonic—Manufacturer of Android and Windows tablets.
Chapter 6: Scanning Solutions
Software for Scanning and Organizing
CCH—ProSystem fx Scan—A scanning product that sorts scanned documents into an organized PDF.
Copanion—Gruntworx—A secure, Web-based application that automates the time-consuming tasks of gathering, organizing, and populating client tax data into tax preparation software.
Kofax—VRS Elite—Software that automatically examines documents and applies the correct settings to deliver high quality scanned images.
SurePrep—A cloud application to organize 1040 working papers and documents.
Thomson Reuters—Scanflow—Scans documents in bulk and organizes them with the highest degree of accuracy by leveraging barcode and optical character recognition (OCR) technology.
Hardware
Chapter 7: Document and File Management Systems
CabinetNG—A platform for document management and workflow automation to a wide business spectrum. Cloud or on-premise application.
CCH—ProSystem fx Document—A document management system specifically designed for the CPA firm and integration with the ProSystem fx products. Cloud or on-premise application.
Doc-It—A leading provider of practice-wide document management and archiving solutions. On-premise application.
Office Tools Pro
Thomson Reuters—FileCabinet CS—A document management system that operates like an electronic file cabinet with integration into the CS Professional Suite of products. Cloud or on-premise application.
Thomson Reuters—GoFileRoom—A cloud-based document management application written to take advantage of Microsoft Internet Explorer with integration into FirmFlow and ClientFlow.
Chapter 8: Trial Balance Working Paper Software
CaseWare Working Papers—A highly flexible engagement software that provides you with everything you would expect from an assurance and reporting tool. Engagements are planned, performed, and reviewed entirely on screen, completely eliminating paper.
CCH—ProSystem fx Engagement—An engagement management system specifically designed for the CPA firm and integration with the ProSystem fx products. Cloud or on-premise application.
Thomson Reuters—Engagement CS—A tax workflow and accounting audit management software that easily organizes any professional engagement, from planning and review to final document archiving, ensuring a complete, accurate, and cost-effective audit engagement every time. Cloud or on-premise application.
Chapter 9: Client Portals—Gateway to the Future
CCH—ProSystem fx Portal—A client portal that integrates with the ProSystem fx products.
CPA Site Solutions—An organization that provides client portals in addition to services to give any CPA firm a greater Internet presence.
eMoney Advisors—A client portal for wealth management services.
Microsoft—SharePoint—A customizable portal for a multitude of portal needs.
Thomson Reuters—NetClient CS—A client portal that integrates with the CS Professional Suite of products.
Chapter 10: Workflow Software
CCH—Workstream—Workflow software that integrates with the ProSystem fx products.
Thomson Reuters—FirmFlow—Workflow software that integrates with GoFileRoom.
XCM—An automated workflow solution for the accounting profession.
Chapter 11: Cloud-Based Client Accounting System
Accountants World—A variety of applications from write-up to client accounting.
Bill.com—A low-cost, cloud-based bill management service that streamlines and automates your clients’ accounts payable and receivable processes with complete security and control.
Intacct—A cloud-based, on-demand financial management solution that helps you and your clients work smarter, faster, and more efficiently.
Intuit—QuickBooks Online—Cloud-based version of QuickBooks.
NetSuite—An Oracle product with a wide variety of applications.
Thomson Reuters—Client Bookkeeping Solutions—A simple accounting system that integrates with the CS Professional Suite of products.
Xero—A cloud-based accounting system with integration to many third party websites.
Chapter 12: Security and Disaster Recovery
AICPA Resources
Security
Disaster Recovery Planning
Principles and Practices of Business Continuity: Tools and Techniques
www.cpa2biz.com/AST/Main/CPA2BIZ_Primary/PracticeManagement/PRDOVR~PC_991012/PC-991012.jsp
Firewalls
Encryption
Check Point
PGP (Pretty Good Privacy)
List of Other Encryption Software
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_disk_encryption_software
Password Programs
Kaspersky—Password Manager
http://usa.kaspersky.com/products-services/home-computer-security/password-manager
RoboForm
List of Other Password Programs
http://password-management-software-review.toptenreviews.com/
Password Policies
Malware Prevention
Avast!
AVG (Anti-Virus Guard)
Kaspersky
Lookout Mobile Security
McAfee
Symantec
Trend Micro
Secure USB
IronKey and MXI Security (now owned by Imation Corp.)
Kingston Technology
List of Other Secure USB Drives
Online Backup
Carbonite
Mozy
OpenDrive
SugarSync
List of Other Online Backup Solutions
Help and How To Resources
AICPA—CPA2BIZ
AICPA—Glossary of Cloud Computing Terms Related to Client Accounting Service Delivery
CPA Practice Advisors—A resource that focuses on the need for the CPA practice.
McNellis Compression Planning—A structured process for all your planning needs.
MSDN (Microsoft Developer Network)—Microsoft’s technical support website.
Tech Republic—A resource for any information technology need.
XBRL—eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) is a language for the electronic communication of business and financial data that is set to revolutionize business reporting around the world.
AICPA SOC (Service Organization Controls) References and Resources The AICPA has developed a comprehensive library of resources to assist practitioners in the assessment and evaluation of outsourced service providers, for example, cloud computing service providers.
SOC Reports Information for Service Organizations
SOC Reports Information for CPAs
Service Organization Control (SOC) Reports
SOC Reports Member Toolkit
SOC 1
Comparison of SOC 1, SOC 2, and SOC 3 Reports
AICPA SOC products