How Professional Firms can benefit from Secure QR codes

In today’s digital age, secure document sharing is crucial for auditors and accountants. This is because of the importance and reliance on these documents by clients for onward processing by authorities and other agencies. This blog post explores the benefits of QR codes for document security, highlighting a real-world example of a successful implementation by a Bangladeshi firm.

The Challenge: Mitigating Risk with High Employee Turnover

Many audit and accounting firms face challenges related to document security, especially with high employee turnover. Sensitive documents like asset verification and/or net worth statements, compliance certificates, tax returns, individual tax audit reports etc for emigration and other purposes (such as for : loans, financial assistance, visas) require robust protection to prevent fraud. Traditional methods can be cumbersome, and the risk of unauthorized access to templates and letterheads can be significant.

The Solution: Qryptal and Secure QR Codes

This is where Secure QR codes come in (see the difference between Secure QR codes and regular QR codes here). Qryptal, helps in document authentication using digitally signed secure QR codes and offers a user-friendly solution that addresses these concerns.The codes capture the information in the document which needs to be guarded against tampering and falsification and the codes are digitally signed by the unique private key of the issuer of the documents. It can have photos, text and/or other information. For verification the corresponding public key is used hence its a PKI based system. Here’s how a Bangladeshi accounting firm leveraged Qryptal’s features:

1. Risk Management: QR codes act as a powerful risk management tool. Each document has a unique QR code linked to a secure verification portal. This ensures only authorized individuals can access and verify the document’s authenticity, even if someone has access to old templates.

2. Streamlined Verification: Clients can easily verify documents using their smartphones by scanning the QR code. This eliminates the need for manual verification processes and reduces turnaround times.

3. Enhanced Security: Qryptal offers secure QR codes that are tamper-evident. Any alteration to the document will invalidate the code, providing an extra layer of protection.

Beyond the Basics: PDF Stamping and User-Friendliness

The Bangladeshi firm has further enhanced document security by adopting Qryptal’s secure PDF stamping feature. This feature embeds the entire document within the QR code, allowing clients to view the complete document upon scanning. This eliminates the need for separate verification instructions, streamlining the process. We even have a whitepaper on PDF stamping for those interested in knowing more about it.

The firm also appreciates the user-friendly interface and affordable pricing plans offered by Qryptal. This highlights the importance of solutions that are easy to implement and integrate with existing workflows, especially for smaller accounting practices. In fact a key point is that the firm was able to sign up and use the system almost instantly without any need to interact with any Qryptal staff for help. The easy design of the system helped them get operational the same day on a self service basis.

Here is the testimonial received from them

Key Takeaways:

This case study demonstrates the effectiveness of Secure QR codes for document security in the accounting industry. Here are the key takeaways:

• Secure QR codes offer a simple yet powerful tool to mitigate the risks associated with document security.

• Qryptal provides a user-friendly platform that integrates seamlessly with existing workflows. Customers can sign up and use the system on a self service basis with excellent support provided as and when required.

• Secure QR codes with features like PDF stamping offer an extra layer of protection and convenience.

• Affordable pricing plans make secure document sharing accessible for accounting firms of all sizes.

• Once third parties and verifiers get the confidence that the information is secure and can be easily verified, they can trust & process the documents quicker which in turn helps the accounting firms get more business by showcasing this as a significant advantage and helping them differentiate.

The Future of Secure Document Sharing

Secure QR codes represent a significant step forward in securing documents for auditors and accountants. As technology has evolved, this makes it easier to provide robust protection for both electronic and physical documents. By embracing QR codes, accounting firms can demonstrate their commitment to data security, build trust with clients, and provide a superior overall experience creating a virtuous cycle of satisfied clients & more business.

Recommended Further Reading

Qryptal for Account Statements

6 Key questions to ask about Secure QR codes for Document Security

Blogpost - PDF Stamping

Whitepaper - PDF Stamping

Blogpost - making bank account statements verifiable for e-visa issuance