Summary: Learn how Osman Accounting Services, a small accounting firm based in Canada, uses NordLayer to protect sensitive client data and support CRA compliance.
Osman Accounting Services was launched in 1984 by Mohammad Osman Yassine and Zakia Elsayed Yassine after they moved from Lebanon to Ontario, Canada. They built their London accounting practice from the ground up and quickly earned the trust of the local community and customers across the country.
Four decades later, the second generation now manages the company. It has expanded to offer property management to clients in Canada and the UAE, all while operating as a fully remote, cloud-based firm. With staff distributed across Canada, and at times in Abu Dhabi and Lebanon, Osman Accounting Services needed a security solution that could protect the sensitive data that is the lifeblood of their client relationships.
We spoke with Osman Yassine, Business Advisor and Tax Specialist, the son of the founders, about how NordLayer helped the firm solve its new security challenges and comply with the strict data protection requirements of the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).
For an accountant, data protection is paramount. As Osman Yassin explains:
"The most important thing about an accountant is securing sensitive data and ensuring privacy. That's the foundation of customer trust”.
This principle was put to the test as the firm evolved. A hacking attempt in 2011 was an early warning. Later, the pandemic and the firm's growth hastened a move from a makeshift "central drive in the living room" to a fully cloud-based system.
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This shift created an urgent security gap. Osman Accounting Services required a solution that could protect their client data and help them meet the privacy and secure data transfer requirements of the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).
"Between moving to the cloud and hiring people in different locations like the UAE or even Lebanon, we realized there was a new security need. We had no VPN before NordLayer; it's the first one we've used."
The team started looking for a business VPN and got a recommendation from Paystone, another local company. But Osman Yassine wanted to test NordLayer himself first.
He signed up for one account and used it while traveling to France, Italy, and Lebanon. He wanted to check personally if NordLayer was reliable.
"I was worried about Lebanon because it's an unstable place, but NordLayer worked just fine. I didn’t have disruptions. There were no issues with connectivity.”
Because NordLayer worked so well, even in a location considered to be unstable, Osman Yassine knew he could trust it. The simple setup was also a huge plus, as the team isn't very technical. After the successful test, they adopted NordLayer for the entire company.
The biggest benefit for Osman was peace of mind. NordLayer’s Business VPN provided a vital security layer. This way, when the team handles everything from client income to estate plans, their connections are encrypted and secure.
A Virtual Private Gateway (VPG) assigned a dedicated IP, located in Canada, enables network access controls. Now remote employees can securely access company resources, whether they are on public Wi-Fi in Canada or working from Abu Dhabi.
"For us, having a VPN—and not just a VPN, but our own server—is important because we want to do everything in our power to protect client data.”
For any Canadian accounting practice, compliance is a high-stakes issue. The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) sets strict obligations on client data, governing everything from secure data transfer to preventing unauthorized access.
This CRA compliance obligation was a source of anxiety for Osman Yassine before the company moved to the cloud. Afterward, it became even more pressing. NordLayer provided an advanced security solution that helps protect the company’s sensitive data and comply with the government's e-file license requirements.
"As soon as we became cloud-based, we were concerned. We always made sure we're protecting client data and looking, and not just meeting the CRA requirements, but trying to exceed them."
For a small business manager juggling multiple roles, the best tool is one that doesn't demand constant attention. NordLayer runs quietly in the background, securing the team without adding technical overhead. This has made things easier for Osman Yassine in terms of day-to-day operations.
"I don't even think about NordLayer when I’m head down in my work. It's in the background. I just make sure everyone's connected to the VPN and sometimes check it. That’s it.”
NordLayer also made remote work easier for the whole company. By providing a stable, centralized access point, it prevents the security issues and lockouts that can happen when employees work from different locations, like their contractor in Abu Dhabi.
"Having a central access point, like a dedicated IP address, means we're not getting security issues. We have a team member in Abu Dhabi, and when she's not connected to NordLayer, she can't access our resources."
After five years of using NordLayer, Osman Accounting Services experienced tangible benefits:
NordLayer’s Business VPN and Virtual Private Gateway with a dedicated IP were the perfect fit for a growing, non-technical family business. It provided a simple, reliable, and yet easy-to-implement solution to their biggest anxiety: client data protection in the cloud and compliance with the CRA requirements.
It also solved their remote access challenges and provided the peace of mind needed to focus on their clients instead of their IT.
“When we collect client data and speak to the government on their behalf, they need to trust us. We don't advertise our security solutions, but integrity is our most important value. NordLayer helps us prove that value and protect their data."
When asked for his advice to other small businesses, Osman Yassine highlights the actual cost of a data breach.
From handwritten ledgers in 1984 to a global, cloud-based firm today, Osman Accounting Services has proved that client trust is everything.
As they grew and moved to the cloud, NordLayer became their easy-to-use security tool to protect that 40-year legacy. It gave them the protection they needed to keep client data secure and maintain their hard-earned reputation.
Worried about securing your own growing team? Get the same peace of mind. Discover the NordLayer plan that's right for your business.
Joanna Krysińska
Senior Copywriter
A writer, tech enthusiast, dog walker, and amateur pastry chef, Joanna grew up in a family of engineers and mathematicians, so a techy mind is in her genes. She loves making complex tech topics less complex and digestible. She also has a keen interest in the mechanics of cybercrime.
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