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Verito Welcomes Terry Lemons as Strategic Advisor for Cybersecurity Awareness Month

As Cybersecurity Awareness Month kicks off this October, Verito, a premier cloud hosting and managed IT service provider dedicated to tax and accounting firms, has announced a pivotal addition to its team. Terry Lemons, a former high-ranking figure in the IRS, known for his extensive experience in communications and liaison roles, has joined Verito as a strategic advisor. This move reflects the company's commitment to strengthening its cybersecurity measures amidst a landscape increasingly rife with hacking attempts and data breaches.

The Expertise of Terry Lemons

For over 26 years, Terry Lemons dedicated his career to the IRS, serving as the Chief of Communications and Liaison for more than a decade. During this time, he was instrumental in leading initiatives aimed at combating tax-related identity theft, including the notable Security Summit, which was a collaboration between the IRS, state tax authorities, and tax professionals. Lemons' role at the Summit involved significant communication regarding data security, and he gained a reputation for simplifying complex issues into actionable advice for tax professionals—a skill that Verito seeks to harness in its endeavors.

Understanding the Accidental IT Department

In today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape, tax professionals often find themselves unwittingly assuming IT responsibilities. This phenomenon is what Verito refers to as the “Accidental IT Department.” Many tax preparers, who initially pursued their careers to assist clients with financial matters, now spend a considerable amount of time managing technology, researching regulations, and developing security protocols amidst their client work. With the perpetual emergence of new threats and constantly changing security protocols, it’s clear that firms need easier paths to ensure compliance and protect sensitive data.

Verito aims to alleviate this strain on tax preparers. As stated by Verito's CEO, Jatin Narang, the goal is to remove the burden of IT management from the shoulders of tax professionals, allowing them to focus on what they do best—serving their clients. By having Lemons, who is well-versed in the intricacies of IRS regulations, on board, Verito is enhancing its capability to deliver straightforward and practical security instructions tailored for tax firms.

What Terry Will Bring to Verito

Lemons’ responsibilities at Verito will include:

• - Making Security Guidance Accessible: He will work closely with the Verito team to distill complex security protocols into straightforward actions that firm owners and staff can easily implement.
• - Engaging in Educational Initiatives: Lemons will represent Verito at webinars and panel discussions aimed at enlightening tax and accounting firms and the associations supporting them.

As Lemons himself highlights, “Having spent a substantial portion of my career focused on data security, working with Verito is a natural fit. I admire their dedication to client protection and service excellence.” His passion for safeguarding taxpayer data, coupled with his extensive experience, will undoubtedly bolster Verito’s mission.

Verito’s Commitment to Security

Verito operates on a foundation that prioritizes the security of tax professionals' data. The company provides customized cloud services for running essential applications like Drake, UltraTax CS, Lacerte, and QuickBooks, among others, on private cloud servers. Furthermore, Verito's Managed IT service, known as VeritGuard, is meticulously designed for the tax and accounting sector. Its security infrastructure involves adherence to IRS and FTC regulations, including robust antivirus software, multi-factor authentication on every login, data encryption both in transit and at rest, regular backups, and a 24/7 support monitoring system.

Founded in 2016, Verito has successfully serviced over 1,000 tax and accounting firms, boasting impressive uptime and a high Net Promoter Score (NPS). Their promise is simple yet impactful: it just works—securely and efficiently.

A Bright Future Ahead

As the landscape of tax preparation and compliance grows ever more complex, the need for expert guidance like that offered by Terry Lemons is increasingly vital. His presence at Verito serves not only as an assurance of quality service but also as a strong signal to tax professionals that comprehensive support is available, allowing them to navigate the intricate world of cybersecurity with more confidence. Learn more about Verito and its services at verito.com.