In this practical and eye-opening session, cybersecurity strategist and Navy veteran Matt Tankersley breaks down what every CPA and accounting professional must know about the growing risks of cybercrime — and the real financial and legal costs involved. You’ll explore the top cybersecurity threats facing firms like yours, why attackers increasingly target CPA offices, and what leadership must do to reduce exposure, protect client data, and minimize personal liability.
You won’t walk away with a sales pitch — but you will leave with a clear understanding of how to assess your cyber posture
Objectives: Learn:
* what a defense-in-depth strategy looks like in the real world
* why proactive due care is now a professional obligation.
This session is grounded in real examples, leadership-level insight, and a commitment to helping you stay ahead of risk — before it counts against you.
Prerequisites: none
CPE Availabile: 1 hour
Speaker: Mat Tankersley, CISSP
Matt
is a Navy combat veteran, technology executive, and cybersecurity strategist with over 30 years of experience spanning data infrastructure, telecommunications, internet services, and enterprise IT. As founder of TechOnPurpose™ and creator of TOPCYBER21™, Matt has helped hundreds of small-to-midsize business (SMB) leaders, public sector executives, and IT teams turn complexity into clarity across cyber risk, AI integration, and operational resilience.
He is best known for promoting defense-in-depth strategy, zero trust architecture, and board-level cyber accountability — most notably through his executive primer “Top 7 Cyber Truths Every Senior Leader Must Know.” (cyber7.topcyber21.com) Matt’s leadership blends practical execution with big-picture thinking, guiding organizations through responsible AI adoption and cyber governance in an era of escalating digital threats. Whether briefing leadership teams, contributing to industry panels, or advising executive audiences, he brings sharp insight, steady presence, and actionable clarity to every conversation.