Reg S-P now requires incident response
Amended SEC Regulation S-P requires covered firms to have an incident response program and notify affected clients within 30 days.
IT and security for financial and insurance firms in Greater Boston
From SEC and FINRA exam readiness to client data protection, CMIT Solutions of Boston gives advisory firms, wealth managers and insurance agencies the compliant, resilient technology their clients trust them with.
Examiner-ready by designControls, logs and policies documented before anyone asks.
Local office in NewtonServing Boston, Newton, Waltham and nearby towns- 24/7 monitoring and supportNights, weekends and holidays included
- 900+ CMIT IT professionalsA national network behind your local team
What does managed IT for a financial services firm include?
Managed IT for a financial firm covers 24/7 monitoring and help desk, cybersecurity such as MFA, EDR and email protection, secure remote access for advisors, encrypted backup with retention, vendor oversight, and documentation of controls for SEC Regulation S-P, FINRA rules, the GLBA Safeguards Rule and Massachusetts 201 CMR 17.00.
Firms that hold clients' money and data are held to a higher standard
Regulators, carriers and clients all expect to see how you protect sensitive information.
Exams ask for evidence
SEC and FINRA examiners want written policies and proof that controls work, not just assurances.
Wire fraud targets advisors
Business email compromise and account takeover aim straight at money movement requests.
Advisors work everywhere
Remote and hybrid staff need secure access without creating compliance gaps.
Every layer of IT your firm is examined on
Fully managed IT, delivered with the documentation regulators, auditors and carriers expect.
Managed IT
Proactive monitoring, patching and maintenance across the office and remote advisors.
- 24/7 monitoring and patch management
- Vendor management for CRM and portfolio tools
- Quarterly technology planning
Cybersecurity for client data
Layered defenses around account data and money movement.
- MFA and identity protection
- Email security against wire and payment fraud
- Managed EDR and 24/7 response
Compliance documentation
Written policies and evidence for SEC, FINRA, GLBA and state requirements.
- Written information security program
- Annual risk assessment
- Evidence packs for exams and due diligence
Cloud and secure remote access
Secure access to CRM, portfolio and policy systems from anywhere.
- Microsoft 365 hardening
- Secure remote access with logging
- Legacy server migration
Backup and record retention
Client records and communications backed up and retained to your schedule.
- Encrypted, immutable backups
- Email and Teams archiving
- Tested recovery plans
IT support for advisors and staff
A help desk that understands trading days and client meetings.
- Unlimited help desk
- Priority handling for client-facing issues
- Fast onboarding and offboarding
Client-facing tools
CRM, portfolio management, e-signature and document tools connected and secure.
- CRM and portal integration
- Secure e-signature workflows
- License optimization
Managed AI
AI for research and client communication, with clear rules on what client data it can touch.
- AI readiness assessment
- Safe-use policy
- Staff training
Security built into every plan
Every managed IT plan includes these protections, so the basics are covered from day one.
EDREndpoint detection and response on every device- Email securityFiltering for phishing, malware and impersonation
- DNS filteringBlocks malicious and unwanted websites
- Access managementControlled accounts, permissions and directories
- Backup validationBackups checked so restores actually work
- Disaster recovery planA written plan to get you running again
EDREndpoint detection and response on every device
Email securityFiltering for phishing, malware and impersonation
DNS filteringBlocks malicious and unwanted websites
Access managementControlled accounts, permissions and directories
Backup validationBackups checked so restores actually work
Disaster recovery planA written plan to get you running againThe requirements your firm is examined against
We help you build and document the IT controls behind your compliance program. Your compliance officer stays in charge of policy; we make it work in practice.
| Standard | What it asks of you | What we put in place |
|---|---|---|
| SEC Regulation S-P (amended) | Written safeguards, an incident response program, vendor oversight and client notification within 30 days of certain breaches. | Incident response plan, vendor inventory, logging and documentation. |
| FINRA Rules 4370 & 3110 | Business continuity planning and supervision of electronic communications. | Continuity plan support, archiving and access controls. |
| GLBA / FTC Safeguards Rule | A written information security program with specific technical safeguards. | WISP, MFA, encryption and risk assessment. |
| 201 CMR 17.00 | Massachusetts written information security program requirements. | WISP drafting and supporting controls. |
| Carrier and NAIC-based rules | Security controls insurance carriers and states require of agencies. | Control documentation for appointments and audits. |
Which rules apply depends on your organization. We support your compliance program with technical controls and documentation; we don't provide legal advice.
A practical guide to IT for advisory, wealth and insurance firms
Regulators, carriers and clients all expect evidence that your firm protects sensitive data. These are the controls and habits that make exams and due diligence far easier.
Build around identity
Most breaches at financial firms start with a stolen password or a convincing email. Enforce MFA on email, CRM, custodial portals and remote access, remove shared accounts, and review access every quarter. Our cybersecurity services add email filtering tuned for impersonation and wire fraud, the attacks that cost advisory firms the most.
Turn policies into evidence
Written policies are only half of an exam. Examiners want proof: MFA coverage reports, backup test results, access reviews and an incident response plan that has been exercised. Our compliance team keeps that evidence current throughout the year, so responding to an SEC, FINRA or carrier request is a matter of exporting reports rather than rebuilding history.
Oversee your vendors
Amended Regulation S-P puts more weight on service provider oversight. Keep a list of every vendor that touches client data, what they access, and how they would notify you of a breach. We maintain that inventory as part of your managed IT plan and flag new tools before they become a gap.
Plan for continuity
Business continuity rules expect you to keep serving clients during an outage. Encrypted, tested data backup, cloud access for advisors through our cloud services and a written recovery plan cover most scenarios. CPA practices have their own obligations, covered on our CPA and tax firm page, and in-house finance teams can see our accounting team IT page.
Questions to ask before choosing an IT provider
Ask the provider to show examples of exam evidence they produce, such as MFA coverage and backup test reports. Ask how they support incident response under amended Regulation S-P, how they vet their own vendors, and whether they archive email and Teams for retention. Ask how they protect advisors working remotely. Our IT guidance service helps your compliance officer plan ahead, and our IT support desk understands that a client-facing issue on a trading day can't wait in a queue.
Ready when the exam letter arrives
Exam prep shouldn't be a scramble. We keep the evidence current so you can answer technology questions in days, not weeks.
- Current inventory of systems, vendors and data
- Access reviews and MFA coverage reports
- Incident response plan tested with a tabletop exercise
- Backup and restore test records
- Policy documents mapped to each requirement
Local experts who understand regulated firms
Locally owned and operated in Newton, MA
We work with advisory, wealth management and insurance firms across Greater Boston, and we're ready to sit down with your compliance officer, your examiners or your board.
You get a named local team that learns your people and systems, backed by more than 900 CMIT IT professionals nationwide. We serve Boston, Newton, Waltham, Allston, Brighton, Brookline, Weston, Watertown, Needham, Wellesley and Burlington.
- 275 Grove Street, Ste 2-400, Newton, MA 02466
- (617) 657-1075
How we bring your firm on board
A documented, controlled path, with the same rigor you apply for your clients.
Free assessment
We review your systems, controls and compliance posture.
Documented proposal
A flat-rate plan mapped to your regulatory requirements.
Controlled onboarding
Changes made with change control and no disruption to clients.
Ongoing reporting
Monitoring plus the reports your compliance officer needs.
Can you help us prepare for an SEC or FINRA exam?
Yes. We document your IT controls, access policies and security practices in the format examiners expect, gather evidence such as MFA coverage and backup test records, and can walk through technology findings with your compliance team.
What changed with SEC Regulation S-P?
The 2024 amendments require covered firms to maintain an incident response program, oversee service providers and notify affected individuals within 30 days of certain breaches. We help build the technical side: detection, logging, the response plan and vendor inventory.
Do you help insurance agencies meet carrier security requirements?
Yes. Carriers increasingly require agencies to show controls such as MFA, endpoint protection and backups before appointment or renewal. We put those controls in place and document them so you can answer questionnaires quickly.
How long do we have to keep client records?
Retention periods depend on your regulator and the record type, and your compliance team sets the schedule. We configure backup and archiving, including email and Teams, so records are kept for the required period and can be found and produced.
Can advisors work securely from home or on the road?
Yes. We set up secure, monitored remote access with MFA and managed devices, so advisors can reach CRM, portfolio and policy systems from anywhere without creating a compliance gap.
What happens if client information is exposed?
Our incident response process contains the issue, preserves evidence and supports the client and regulatory notifications your counsel determines are required. Regular tabletop exercises make sure everyone knows their role before a real incident.
Is there a minimum contract length?
Contract terms are agreed during the assessment and put in writing before you commit, so there are no surprises. The goal is a plan your firm is comfortable with long term.
What happens during the free IT assessment?
We review your network, devices, backups, Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace setup and security controls, then give you a written summary of risks ranked by business impact and a clear list of what to fix first. There is no cost and no obligation, and for financial and insurance firms we include the compliance requirements that usually apply to you.
Can you work alongside our in-house IT person?
Yes. Many clients keep an internal IT person and use us to extend their team. We can take on monitoring, security, backups, after-hours coverage or specific projects, so your internal staff can focus on the work that needs someone on site every day.
Is support available on nights, weekends and holidays?
Yes. Systems are monitored 24/7, and you can reach our support desk at any time of day, including nights, weekends and holidays. Urgent issues are handled immediately, and our local team comes on site when a problem needs hands-on work.
Which areas of Greater Boston do you serve?
Our office is at 275 Grove Street in Newton. We support organizations in Boston, Newton, Waltham, Allston, Brighton, Brookline, Weston, Watertown, Needham, Wellesley and Burlington, plus surrounding communities. Remote support covers every location, and on-site visits are scheduled when hardware or a site survey requires it.
Ready for IT that holds up to examination?
Get a free, no-obligation assessment of your firm's technology and controls, with a clear plan for what to fix first.
- Review of your network, devices, backups and security
- Risks ranked by their impact on your day-to-day operations
- Compliance requirements that apply to you
- A written plan for what to fix first
Prefer to talk?(617) 657-1075
Visit us275 Grove Street, Ste 2-400, Newton, MA 02466