Tech Talk

Is your mobile device secure?

In an environment where we work at all hours, away from the office, we need to ensure our mobile devices are secure so we can work efficiently. Take these tips from “4 Quick Tips to Improve Mobile Security,” an article from CGMA. Read the full piece at tinyurl.com/4MobileTips.

1. Keep the device locked, whether by passcode, fingerprint, facial recognition or another method.

2. Install updates, especially those for your device’s operating system, because a phone with an out-ofdate operating system is more vulnerable to hacking.

3. Turn off Wi-Fi when you don’t need it so hackers can’t access your device.

4. Consider giving your IT department access to your device, which could track and remotely erase your device if it is lost or stolen.

EXCELLENT EXCEL... INPUT DATA THE FAST WAY

You or your practice probably still has that client who shows up with a shoebox filled with receipts or stacks of paper forms. In the past, this meant hours of dedicated administrative time handkeying data into the system. Not only is it slow, it’s also prone to error — and firms that understand this spend even more time proofing their data entry.

There’s a solution: scan-and-input software. When you can’t have an all-digital environment, scan-and-input software is the next best thing. Using a desktop scanner, the software can read documents and identify the information you need, transferring it into your accounting or tax software (or into a more useable file to then export into your accounting software). It’s fast, highly accurate and frees up your administrative staff for more productive pursuits. While scan-and-input software is a must for practices transitioning their technology, it’s also good to have in firms that have transitioned fully; the time savings and improved accuracy will help ensure nothing is missed.

Adapted from “3 Tax Technologies You Shouldn’t Ignore,” an American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) INSIGHT blog post. Read the full article at tinyurl.com/3-Tax-Tech.

Naming a cell in Excel (Say that three times fast)

Does your blood pressure ever go up when the same amount should be used throughout a workbook but different amounts were used? For example, auditors have to use the same Individually Significant Item (ISI) materiality throughout their engagements to plan their work. By using the box to the left of the Formula bar, the auditor can help ensure consistency and lower their blood pressure by naming the cell where they entered the ISI.

I recommend just naming the cell “ISI” to make it simple to recall. To name the cell, select the cell with the ISI amount and then click into the box to the left of the Formula bar and type in ISI followed by Enter. It is important that the Enter key is used. (If the Enter key is not used, the cell’s name will not save.) After the name is saved, the auditor can go to any cell within the same workbook and type in =ISI and the amount the auditor entered in the cell named ISI will appear. Finally, if the auditor decreases the amount in the cell named ISI because of increased control risks, all cells referencing it will update with the new amount without an increase in blood pressure.

George D. Strudgeon, CPA, CGFM, is an audit director at the Virginia Auditor of Public Accounts in Richmond. Email him if you have Excel topics you want him to cover.

george.strudgeon@gmail.com connect.vscpa.com/GeorgeStrudgeon