Cybersecurity for Small Business Accountants

Small businesses continue to be prime targets for cybercriminals due to limited resources, outdated systems, and inconsistent internal controls. This course provides small business accountants and auditors with a practical, nontechnical understanding of modern cybersecurity threats, fraud schemes, and internal control strategies.

Participants will explore common and emerging cyber risks—including ransomware, phishing, supply chain attacks, IoT vulnerabilities, AI‑driven fraud, and social engineering—as well as affordable, achievable cybersecurity measures tailored to small business environments. The course emphasizes legal requirements for safeguarding personal and financial data, working with resistant owners or bookkeepers, and designing internal controls suitable for organizations with limited budgets.

Updated for new frauds in 2026

Who Should Attend
This course would be appropriate for CPAs, CFEs, CMAs, CIAs, MAFFs, CGMAs, CFOs, directors, department managers, auditors, bookkeepers, staff accountants and others working on an internal or external audit team. This course is ideal for accounting and finance professionals responsible for safeguarding financial data and supporting cybersecurity practices within small business environments

Topics Covered

• Cybersecurity risks targeting small businesses in 2026
• Phishing, ransomware, hacking, and supply‑chain attacks
• Internet of Things (IoT) risks and device vulnerabilities
• AI‑driven cyber fraud: deepfakes, synthetic identities, automated phishing
• Internal controls for cybersecurity on a limited budget
• Legal and regulatory requirements for protecting personal information
• Working with small business owners and overcoming resistance to formal controls

Learning Objectives

• Identify the most common cybersecurity risks facing small businesses, including AI‑enabled cyber fraud schemes
• Evaluate internal control strategies to prevent and detect cybersecurity threats in low‑budget environments
• Recognize Internet of Things (IoT) devices and assess associated security vulnerabilities
• Interpret recent cyber fraud statistics including those published by the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
• Explain the fraud triangle theory and its relevance to cyber fraud and internal control failures
• Design cybersecurity awareness and fraud‑risk mitigation procedures small businesses can implement immediately

Level
Basic

Instructional Method
Group: Internet-based

NASBA Field of Study
Accounting (2 hours)

Program Prerequisites
None

Advance Preparation
None