Security & Data Protection Statement: A Leading Bookkeeper in Security Protocols

Your Data Is Safe

 

As a financial services firm, Skipper Legacy Bookkeeping understands that trust is earned through disciplined data stewardship, not convenience shortcuts. Protecting your financial, payroll, and HR-related information is a core business responsibility, not a feature add-on.

 

Below is how we safeguard your information and why our approach differs from many freelance or transactional bookkeeping providers.

 

How do you protect my financial data?

We prioritize security by using industry-leading, cloud-based accounting and document management platforms, including QuickBooks Online (QBO) and other top-tier accounting systems.

 

Your financial records are:

• Stored in secure, compliant cloud environments

• Managed within systems designed specifically for financial data

• Maintained with clear audit trails and role-based access controls

 

As an experienced QuickBooks ProAdvisor, we follow established best practices for secure setup, access management, and data handling within these platforms.

 

This approach ensures both accessibility and strong security controls without exposing your information to unnecessary risk.

 

Why don’t you have a client portal on your website?

We intentionally do not offer a public-facing client portal on our website due to security and risk management considerations.

 

Client portals:

• Create additional authentication endpoints that are frequent attack targets

• Depend on third-party software, plugins, and user password behavior

• Increase exposure to credential-stuffing, phishing, and misconfiguration risks

 

Guidance from organizations such as the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) emphasizes minimizing externally exposed login systems and reducing attack surfaces wherever possible.

 

Rather than prioritizing convenience over protection, we follow the principle of least privilege—limiting access to sensitive data to only what is necessary and only when required.

 

This is a deliberate security decision, not a technical limitation.

 

Is your website secure?

Yes. Our website uses SSL encryption to protect data transmitted between your browser and our site.

 

It is important to distinguish between:

• Website encryption (SSL) — which protects visitors

• Client data systems — which require far stricter controls

 

Our decision not to host a client portal is about protecting client data, not about website security.

 

How do we exchange documents securely without a portal?

Documents are exchanged through controlled, limited-access methods tied directly to secure accounting and document management platforms.

 

This approach:

• Reduces the number of systems that store your data

• Avoids unnecessary login credentials

• Limits access duration and scope

• Preserves auditability and accountability

 

This aligns with enforcement guidance from the Federal Trade Commission, which has repeatedly emphasized that “reasonable security” includes avoiding unnecessary data collection and access systems.

 

How does company culture factor into security?

Technology alone does not protect data—people and process matter just as much.

 

Security is embedded into our operations and decision-making, including:

• Ongoing awareness of phishing and social engineering risks

• Proper password handling and access controls

• Careful evaluation of how and where sensitive information is shared

 

Many data breaches occur not because systems fail, but because users are manipulated. Maintaining a security-first culture is one of the most effective safeguards available.

 

How do you stay ahead of new security threats?

Cybersecurity is not static. Threats, tools, and tactics evolve constantly.

 

We remain proactive by:

• Monitoring changes in the security landscape

• Evaluating new technologies and risks before adoption

• Updating processes and tools as standards evolve

 

Security decisions are revisited regularly to ensure continued alignment with best practices and regulatory expectations.

 

How does this approach protect me as a client?

 

By avoiding unnecessary systems and limiting exposure:

• Fewer platforms store your sensitive information

• There are fewer points of failure

• The risk of large-scale data exposure is reduced

 

This approach reflects a risk-managed, standards-aligned model more commonly seen in regulated firms than in freelance or volume-based bookkeeping services.

 

Final Commitment

We believe trust is built through intentional restraint, transparency, and accountability.

 

When you work with Skipper Legacy Bookkeeping, your data is protected by:

• Proven, industry-grade platforms

• Deliberate security decisions

• A company culture that treats data protection as a professional obligation

 

If you have specific questions about our security practices, we welcome the conversation.

 

Meredith Skipper
Skipper Legacy Bookkeeping