No one needs to tell you that when you get rid of a hard drive or whole computer, there'd better not be any traces of confidential client data on it. And simply deleting files doesn't hack it. Drive Erazer, from WiebeTech, can erase a 250MB drive in under two hours, the company says. You just connect it to a drive (with or without a computer) and flip a switch. The Standard version for 3.5" IDE/PATA Drives is $99.95 MSRP; prices go up to $199.95 for other drive types.

You can’t afford to miss a call, but you also can’t stay tethered to your office phone all the time. Virtual PBX is one possible solution. my1voice uses your existing phone equipment, and can connect calls to any phone, whether or not it’s in the office.  Operations are handled over the Web. So small offices can look bigger without investing in pricey PBX system hardware. You still have to pay for your phone lines, and extra minutes can be pricey (the cheapest option is $10/month, with 100 free minutes; 5 cents/minute after that). 30-day free trial; 24x7 customer service.

Messaging is all over our universe – text, twitter, social, and even voice. Making use of this in a business context is under investigation by many sources. Most business use of text messages today centers on brand awareness from large companies selling consumer products. This is an extension of advertising campaigns.

A new service harnesses the text messaging platform for potential uses by CPAs on a business or personal basis. Cherple, www.cherple.com, provides a facility to develop truly interactive text messaging to and from mobile phones. In addition, the text message can even be sent from a computer by accessing Cherple’s website and sending a text message to a cell phone.

CPAs should always explore how to communicate with clients and staff in new and creative ways. For example, personalized text messages can replace blast emails that never get read. Sending a short message enables the receiver to respond and automatically receive an immediate follow on message with text and/or images. This process can facilitate sending images of tax or regulatory forms when the client is away from their computer. Alerts about emergencies requiring immediate response can be set up easily.

One of the great things about Web site developers that work specifically within the accounting profession is that they provide Web content for you. By incorporating things like tax forms and calculators, they provide your clients with a more dynamic and useful web experience. However, this content is rarely date specific and thus often “out-of-date.” While some Web site providers refresh the content periodically, others do not. For those that don’t, a great way to incorporate fresh and automatically updated content is through RSS feeds.