Executive Summary
In today’s digital-first landscape, accounting firms face immense pressure to protect sensitive data, ensure constant uptime, and maintain regulatory compliance. Partnering with a specialized managed IT service provider has become a strategic necessity, not just a technical one. Here are the key findings on why firms are making the switch:
Industry Transformation: The managed IT services market reached $297.20 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow to $878.71 billion by 2032, with a robust 15.0% compound annual growth rate[1]. The broader IT services market has already reached $1.5 trillion, accounting for 30% of total global IT spending. [2]
Outsourcing Trend: A remarkable 76% of enterprises now outsource IT operations, with 94% of large organizations utilizing some form of IT outsourcing. For accounting firms specifically, 98% have outsourced work in the last 12 months, with 94% reporting that outsourcing drives profit growth[4].
Always-On Protection: Specialized providers like Verito deliver 24/7/365 monitoring and support through solutions like VeritGuard, ensuring that critical systems remain operational and secure even during nights, weekends, and holidays when cyber threats don’t rest.
Compliance Assurance: Managed IT services help firms achieve and maintain compliance with complex regulations like the FTC Safeguards Rule, GDPR, and CCPA. When combined with dedicated WISP services like VeritShield, firms gain comprehensive protection from significant fines and reputational damage.
Integrated Solutions: Forward-thinking firms are choosing unified platforms like VeritComplete that combine secure hosting with managed IT, eliminating vendor complexity while maximizing security and efficiency.
The Growing IT Challenge for Modern Accounting Firms
As an accounting professional, your focus should be on providing expert financial guidance, not troubleshooting software glitches or worrying about cybersecurity threats. Yet, the increasing reliance on technology has turned IT management into a significant, time-consuming burden. Consider this: 98% of accounting firms now outsource at least some of their work, with 62% outsourcing general ledger management and 50% outsourcing accounts payable/receivable functions[4].
You handle vast amounts of sensitive client data, making your firm a prime target for cybercriminals. At the same time, you must navigate a complex web of compliance requirements, from the FTC Safeguards Rule to IRS Publication 4557. Any system downtime, especially during the chaos of tax season, can lead to missed deadlines, frustrated clients, and lost revenue. Juggling industry-specific applications like CCH, Sage, and Drake adds another layer of complexity that generic IT support simply can’t handle.
This is where managed IT services come in offering a proactive, specialized approach to technology that lets you get back to business. Solutions like VeritGuard provide the 24/7 remote monitoring and expert support your firm needs, while VeritSpace ensures your critical applications run on dedicated, high-performance infrastructure designed specifically for tax and accounting workloads.
What Are Managed IT Services for Accounting Firms?
Managed IT services involve outsourcing your firm’s technology management to a third-party provider that specializes in the accounting industry. This isn’t just a reactive help desk you call when something breaks. It’s a proactive partnership designed to prevent problems, optimize performance, and ensure your technology infrastructure is secure, reliable, and aligned with your business goals.
A dedicated managed services provider (MSP) acts as your outsourced IT department, handling everything from 24/7 network monitoring and cybersecurity to data backup and strategic technology planning. For accounting firms, this often means choosing between standalone IT management (like VeritGuard) or comprehensive solutions that integrate hosting and IT management (like VeritComplete) for maximum efficiency.
Core Benefits of Partnering with a Managed IT Provider
Unmatched Cybersecurity and Compliance
Protecting client financial data is non-negotiable. A specialized MSP provides layered, enterprise-grade security to safeguard your firm’s most valuable asset: trust.
Key security services include:
Proactive Threat Monitoring: 24/7 surveillance through VeritGuard’s Certified-Pro Support Desk to detect and neutralize threats before they can cause damage.
Advanced Security Tools: Implementation of multi-factor authentication (MFA), next-generation firewalls, secure VPNs for remote access, and data encryption all standard with VeritGuard and VeritComplete services.
Compliance Expertise: Guidance and support to ensure your firm meets the stringent requirements of the FTC Safeguards Rule, IRS Publication 4557, and other data privacy laws. VeritShield WISP takes this further with expert-guided WISP development and annual reviews.
Cybersecurity Awareness Training: Educating your staff to recognize and avoid phishing scams and other common attack vectors included with both VeritGuard and VeritComplete.
Reduced Downtime and Enhanced Productivity
Every minute your systems are down is a minute you can’t spend on billable work. Managed IT services focus on maximizing uptime and ensuring your critical applications run smoothly, especially during peak season. VeritSpace’s 99.999% uptime SLA translates to less than six minutes of annual downtime, while VeritGuard’s proactive monitoring identifies and resolves issues before they disrupt workflow.
Furthermore, providers with deep knowledge of accounting software like QuickBooks, Lacerte, CCH, and Sage ensure these tools are always optimized, patched, and available when you need them most. VeritSpace includes dedicated specialists fluent in these applications, providing white-glove migration and ongoing optimization.
Predictable Costs and Scalability
Break-fix IT support leads to unpredictable and often substantial expenses. In contrast, managed IT services operate on a fixed, predictable monthly fee, making it easy to budget for your technology needs. This model eliminates surprise costs for hardware failures or emergency support calls. The financial benefits are clear: 94% of accounting firms report that outsourcing drives profit growth[4].
These services are also inherently scalable. VeritSpace’s peak-season scaling allows you to add computing resources during busy periods and pay only for what you use. As your firm grows or your seasonal needs change, both VeritGuard and VeritComplete can quickly adjust resources to support new staff or increased workloads without requiring massive capital investment.
Secure Support for Remote and Hybrid Work
The modern accounting firm needs the flexibility to work from anywhere. Managed IT services enable secure and efficient remote access to all your applications and data. Through VeritSpace’s Dedicated-Isolation Architecture™ and secure remote gateways, your team can collaborate seamlessly and serve clients from the office, home, or on the road, all while maintaining the highest levels of security. VeritGuard extends this protection to all endpoints with comprehensive remote monitoring and support.
Key Services to Look for in an IT Partner
When evaluating potential providers, ensure they offer a comprehensive suite of services tailored to the unique demands of an accounting practice.
| Service Category | Key Offerings | Benefit to Your Firm | Verito Solution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Support & Monitoring | 24/7/365 U.S.-based help desk, proactive network monitoring, rapid response times | Minimizes downtime and ensures issues are resolved quickly, often before you notice them | VeritGuard’s Certified-Pro 24/7 Remote Support Desk™ |
| Cybersecurity | Managed firewalls, MFA, endpoint protection, email security, security awareness training | Provides a multi-layered defense to protect sensitive client data from evolving threats | Standard in VeritGuard and VeritComplete |
| Compliance | Expertise in FTC Safeguards, IRS 4557, SOC 2, and other regulations | Delivers peace of mind and helps you create an audit-ready security posture | VeritShield WISP for comprehensive compliance |
| Business Continuity | Automated data backups, disaster recovery planning and testing | Ensures your firm can recover and resume operations quickly after any incident | 60-90 day retention included with VeritSpace |
| Application Management | Expertise in hosting and supporting accounting software (QuickBooks, Drake, Lacerte, etc.) | Guarantees your core applications are always available, updated, and performing optimally | VeritSpace specialized support team |
| Strategic Consulting | Technology planning, IT budgeting, and vendor management | Aligns your technology with your long-term business goals for sustained growth | Quarterly reviews with VeritGuard/VeritComplete |
Choosing the Right IT Partner: Why Specialization Matters
Not all managed IT providers are created equal. A generalist MSP may be able to fix a printer or set up a new laptop, but they often lack the deep industry knowledge required to support a modern accounting firm. They may not understand the intricacies of your tax software, the urgency of deadlines, or the specific compliance mandates you face. This specialization gap is critical: tech jobs are growing twice as fast as the overall economy[5], creating a severe talent shortage that makes industry expertise even more valuable.
This is why partnering with a specialist is critical. Verito is purpose-built for tax and accounting firms, with solutions designed from the ground up to address your specific challenges:
VeritSpace offers dedicated, single-tenant hosting that eliminates the “noisy neighbor” issues of shared environments, ensuring consistent performance during peak tax seasons.
VeritGuard delivers comprehensive remote IT management with technicians trained specifically on accounting workflows and compliance requirements.
VeritComplete combines both services into a unified solution with a single invoice and SLA, eliminating vendor finger-pointing.
VeritShield WISP ensures your Written Information Security Plan meets all regulatory requirements with expert guidance and ongoing support.
By choosing a partner that lives and breathes accounting IT, you gain more than just technical support you gain a strategic ally dedicated to your firm’s security, efficiency, and success.
Making the Transition: What to Expect
Switching to managed IT services doesn’t have to be a disruptive process. Verito’s proven migration process ensures a smooth transition:
- Comprehensive Assessment: We evaluate your current infrastructure, identify gaps, and develop a customized plan
- White-Glove Migration: VeritSpace includes full data, application, and profile migration completed in under 48 hours
- Staff Training: Your team receives personalized onboarding to ensure they can leverage all new capabilities
- Ongoing Optimization: Quarterly reviews ensure your technology continues to align with your evolving needs
Key Takeaways
- Managed IT services have become essential for accounting firms to protect data, ensure uptime, and maintain compliance
- Key benefits include enhanced cybersecurity, predictable monthly costs, reduced downtime, and scalable support for firm growth
- Verito’s specialized solutions (VeritSpace, VeritGuard, VeritComplete, VeritShield) address the unique software and regulatory requirements of the accounting industry
- A comprehensive approach combining secure hosting, proactive IT management, and compliance support provides maximum value
- Choosing an industry-focused provider ensures your technology is managed by experts who understand your specific needs, allowing you to focus on serving clients
Ready to offload your IT burdens and gain the peace of mind that comes with expert, 24/7 support?
Schedule Your VeritComplete Demo | Get Your Free VeritGuard Assessment | Start Your Free VeritSpace Trial
References
[1] Fortune Business Insights. (2024). Managed Services Market Size, Share & Trends Report [2032]. https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/managed-services-market-102430 [2] Gartner. (2024, January 17). Gartner Forecasts Worldwide IT Spending to Grow 6.8% in 2024. https://www.gartner.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/01-17-2024-gartner-forecasts-worldwide-it-spending-to-grow-six-point-eight-percent-in-2024 [3] Computer Economics/Avasant Research. (2024). IT Outsourcing Statistics Report. [4] AICPA. (2024, June). Accountant Technology Survey 2024 Report. Firm of the Future. https://www.firmofthefuture.com/news/accountant-tech-survey-2024/ [5] CompTIA. (2024, November). IT Industry Outlook 2025. https://www.comptia.org/content/research/it-industry-outlook-2025
