Endpoint Protection for Small Accounting Firms
Each option compared side by side, with real prices and who it's best for
For a small accounting firm, endpoint protection costs between $36 and $185 per computer per year at list price. The cheapest real EDR is Microsoft Defender for Business at $3 per user per month, which is also included in Microsoft 365 Business Premium ($22 per user per month). Firms without in-house IT should pay for 24/7 human monitoring: Huntress Managed EDR lists at $8.99 per endpoint per month, or a managed provider such as IP Solutions (Mishawaka, Indiana) can install, monitor, and respond for you.
Prices are the vendors' published U.S. list prices, checked on their own pricing pages on November 4, 2026. Resellers and managed service providers often sell below list.
Endpoint protection options compared
| Option | List price | Yearly cost, 10-person firm | EDR | 24/7 human monitoring | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Defender for Business | $3 per user / month (annual). Each user covers up to 5 devices. | $360 | Yes | No. Your staff or IT provider watches the alerts. | Firms already on Microsoft 365 that have someone to watch the alerts |
| Microsoft 365 Business Premium (includes Defender for Business) | $22 per user / month (annual) | $2,640 (also covers Office, email, Intune, and MFA policies) | Yes | No | Firms that are buying Microsoft 365 licenses anyway and want device management and MFA in the same license |
| CrowdStrike Falcon Go | $59.99 per device / year. Limit of 100 devices. | $600 | No. Next-generation antivirus only. | No | The smallest offices that want strong antivirus without Microsoft 365 |
| CrowdStrike Falcon Enterprise | $184.99 per device / year | $1,850 | Yes | No. Falcon Complete, the managed tier, is quote-only. | Firms with in-house IT staff who want top-tier EDR and will run it themselves |
| SentinelOne Singularity Complete | $179.99 per endpoint / year. Sold through partners for 5 to 100 workstations. | $1,800 | Yes, with ransomware rollback | No. Managed detection is an add-on. | Firms with an IT person who want automatic ransomware rollback |
| Huntress Managed EDR | $8.99 per endpoint / month (MSRP, 12-month term). Direct purchases have a 50-seat minimum; there is no minimum through an MSP. | $1,079 (bought through an MSP) | Yes | Yes, 24/7 human SOC | Firms with no IT staff that want people watching around the clock |
| IP Solutions managed endpoint protection | Quoted per device after a free review of your office | Quoted | Yes | Yes, SOC-monitored | Northern Indiana firms that want one local team to install, monitor, patch, back up, and respond |
The 10-person column assumes 10 users or 10 devices at list price on annual terms. Microsoft prices are per user; the others are per device. Add licenses for servers and extra laptops.
Which option fits your firm?
- You already use Microsoft 365 and have an IT person: Microsoft Defender for Business. It's the lowest-cost real EDR, and it may already be in your Business Premium license.
- You have no IT staff: pay for monitoring, either Huntress Managed EDR through an MSP or a managed provider. EDR alerts nobody reads do not stop ransomware.
- You have IT staff and want the strongest tools: CrowdStrike Falcon Enterprise or SentinelOne Singularity Complete.
- You are a solo or two-person practice: CrowdStrike Falcon Go or Defender for Business, plus MFA on everything and tested backups.
What accounting firms must have anyway
The FTC Safeguards Rule names tax preparation firms as covered financial institutions. Whatever endpoint product you choose, the Rule requires:
- A written information security program (see IRS Publication 4557 and Publication 5708)
- Multi-factor authentication for anyone accessing customer information
- Encryption of customer information on your systems and in transit
- A Qualified Individual responsible for the program
Firms holding data on 5,000 or more consumers must also run vulnerability scans every six months and an annual penetration test, unless they use continuous monitoring.
How IP Solutions protects accounting firms
IP Solutions, Inc. is an IT CyberDefense contractor in Mishawaka, Indiana, serving Northern Indiana businesses since 2008. Our clients include accounting firms and dental practices, and some have worked with us for nearly 20 years. Managed endpoint protection includes EDR on every workstation and server, SOC monitoring, SIEM log collection, patching, and off-site backup and imaging. We schedule rollouts and changes outside tax season.
Call (574) 259-6000 for a per-device quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best endpoint protection for a small accounting firm?
For most firms under 50 people, the best fit is EDR (Endpoint Detection and Response) with someone watching the alerts 24/7. If you already pay for Microsoft 365, Defender for Business ($3 per user per month) is the lowest-cost EDR. If nobody on staff can respond to an alert at 2 a.m. during tax season, choose a monitored option such as Huntress Managed EDR ($8.99 per endpoint per month) or a managed provider like IP Solutions.
Is the free Windows antivirus enough for an accounting firm?
Usually not. The Microsoft Defender Antivirus built into Windows protects one PC at a time and has no central console, no EDR investigation, and no one watching it. An accounting firm holds Social Security numbers, bank details, and tax returns. It needs centrally managed protection that records what happened on each device and can isolate an infected computer.
Does the FTC Safeguards Rule apply to accounting and tax firms?
Yes. The FTC lists tax preparation firms as covered financial institutions. The Rule requires a written information security program, multi-factor authentication for anyone accessing customer information, encryption of customer data at rest and in transit, and a designated Qualified Individual. Firms that hold information on fewer than 5,000 consumers are exempt from a few provisions, including annual penetration testing, but not from MFA or encryption.
How many endpoint licenses does an accounting firm need?
Count every desktop, laptop, and server that touches client data, including partners' home computers used for remote work. Microsoft Defender for Business is licensed per user, and each user covers up to five devices. CrowdStrike, SentinelOne, and Huntress are licensed per device or endpoint, so a 10-person firm with a file server and five laptops needs 16 licenses, not 10.
Is endpoint protection enough on its own?
No. Endpoint protection stops malware on devices. A firm also needs MFA on email and tax software, tested off-site backups, and staff phishing awareness. Endpoint protection does not recover deleted or encrypted files; backups do. See our device protection, backup and recovery service for the full stack.
Want a per-device quote for your firm? IP Solutions will review your office and recommend the right level of protection.
Contact Us 574-259-6000