Cybercriminals have shifted focus. In 2025, they’re targeting financial platforms—from QuickBooks and Sage to custom ERP systems used by accounting firms, nonprofits, and professional services.
While these platforms often promise compliance and protection, the real vulnerabilities lie in how they’re configured, monitored, and maintained.
In this blog, we’ll walk through seven common assumptions about financial software security—and unpack the hard truths that businesses must confront in 2025 to stay protected.
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End-to-End Encryption
The Reality in 2025:
Most financial platforms advertise end-to-end encryption, but attackers know to look beyond the obvious. While data in transit may be secure, stored data, system backups, and third-party API calls often lack the same protections.
Where Companies Fall Short:
- Encryption is enabled for emails or live sessions, but backups remain unencrypted
- APIs are left exposed or insufficiently secured with outdated keys
- Platforms rely on default encryption protocols (e.g., outdated TLS versions)
Stay Ahead by Doing the Following:
- Enable encryption on both data in transit and at rest, including backups
- Use tokenized authentication for all API integrations
- Regularly audit and update SSL/TLS configurations to current standards
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Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
The Reality in 2025:
MFA is no longer optional—it’s table stakes. Cybercriminals use phishing, social engineering, and credential stuffing to bypass weak or outdated MFA implementations.
Where Companies Fall Short:
- MFA is enabled for admins only, not enforced organization-wide
- Text-message MFA is still widely used despite its known weaknesses
- Systems lack enforcement for app-based or biometric MFA
Stay Ahead by Doing the Following:
- Enforce MFA across all users and roles, not just privileged accounts
- Upgrade from SMS MFA to app-based, FIDO2, or biometric MFA
- Test for MFA bypass vulnerabilities in legacy platforms
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Role-Based Access Controls (RBAC)
The Reality in 2025:
Many platforms allow over-permissioning by default. A junior employee or part-time contractor can unintentionally become a gateway for system-wide compromise.
Where Companies Fall Short:
- Access levels aren’t revisited after initial setup
- Temporary accounts and shared logins persist long past project deadlines
- There is no process for revoking access during role changes or exits
Stay Ahead by Doing the Following:
- Adopt a least-privilege model across all financial software
- Implement auto-expiry on temporary credentials and guest accounts
- Conduct monthly access reviews and deactivate unused accounts
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Regulatory Compliance ≠ Security
The Reality in 2025:
Passing an audit doesn’t mean your systems are secure. Threats emerge in real-time, but most compliance efforts are reactive and point-in-time.
Recent updates to the FTC Safeguards Rule have expanded compliance obligations for financial institutions, CPAs, and service providers handling sensitive financial data.
Where Companies Fall Short:
- Annual audits are treated as “good enough” security
- Systems lack real-time visibility into policy violations
- Compliance requirements are met in theory, not actively enforced
Stay Ahead by Doing the Following:
- Align tools and workflows with FTC Safeguards Rule, GLBA, SOX, and PCI-DSS
- Use platforms that support real-time audit logging and alerting
- Schedule quarterly internal compliance reviews, not just annual checkups
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Vendor Patch Management
The Reality in 2025:
Relying solely on your software vendor for patches is a major risk. Exploits are often published within days of discovery—long before a vendor rolls out a fix.
Where Companies Fall Short:
- No visibility into when patches are available or applied
- Delayed patching due to concerns about downtime or incompatibility
- No tracking of known CVEs (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures)
Stay Ahead by Doing the Following:
- Track and prioritize patch schedules across all vendors
- Maintain a rollback plan for patch-related disruptions
- Subscribe to threat intelligence feeds to stay updated on vulnerabilities
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Fraud Detection Is Manual or Basic
The Reality in 2025:
Relying on transaction logs or end-of-day reports to detect fraud is outdated. Attackers now test systems with micro-transactions, fake vendors, or timing-based transfers that evade manual detection.
Where Companies Fall Short:
- Fraud is only spotted during reconciliation or audits
- There are no alerts for anomalous spending or vendor behavior
- Staff lacks training on how to interpret or escalate alerts
Stay Ahead by Doing the Following:
- Use platforms with AI or behavior-based fraud detection
- Integrate fraud alerts into SIEM or ticketing systems
- Train finance staff to respond to fraud indicators quickly
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Cloud Infrastructure Is Automatically Secure
The Reality in 2025:
Using a trusted provider like AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud doesn’t mean your setup is secure. Misconfigurations are the #1 cause of cloud-related data leaks.
Where Companies Fall Short:
- Resources are publicly exposed due to overly broad permissions
- Login activity from unusual geographies goes unmonitored
- Vendors are used without verifying their security certifications
Stay Ahead by Doing the Following:
- Set granular IAM permissions and remove unnecessary access
- Use geo-restrictions and monitor for abnormal login behavior
- Work with providers who maintain SOC 2 Type II or ISO 27001 certifications
Financial software may look secure on the surface—but in 2025, configuration, oversight, and ongoing maintenance make the difference between a well-protected system and one that’s already compromised.
Whether you use QuickBooks, NetSuite, Sage, or a custom ERP, it’s no longer enough to “set it and forget it.” A secure setup today won’t hold tomorrow if it’s not actively monitored and maintained.
By understanding what attackers actually look for—and where companies unknowingly leave the door open—you can build a smarter, stronger cybersecurity foundation.
Contact Us Today!