Case Background

AYW Consulting Pty Ltd is a certified agency recognized by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), and Tax Practitioners Board (TPB). AYW Consulting is also an authorized advisor for the mainstream accounting software Xero, dedicated to helping clients identify and solve accounting and business issues.

The team consists of 12 professional accountants from CPA Australia, with solid expertise. Additionally, AYW runs an annual Youth Mentorship Program offering over 20 tax accounting internship positions, resulting in frequent staff turnover.

The firm’s daily operations heavily rely on multiple government and cloud platforms, including federal ATO, ASIC, various state government websites (e.g., SRO, Revenue NSW, Queensland Revenue Office), accounting software such as Xero and MYOB, corporate email, cloud data access, and various productivity SaaS tools — all without a dedicated IT department.

 

Industry Challenges

Like many small to medium-sized accounting firms, AYW Consulting faces significant challenges as business scales and data processing demands increase rapidly. Accelerated digital transformation and growing cybersecurity threats highlight the following pain points:

• Account Management Chaos and High Risk of Sensitive Data LeakageShared accounts and weak passwords are rampant. Frequent logins and platform switching require employees to reuse simple passwords or share accounts, often without multi-factor authentication (MFA), exposing client information and financial reports to risks from internal errors and external attacks.Residual access for departed staff is another issue due to the lack of centralized permission management, preventing timely revocation of system access for former or temporary employees.

• Compliance Pressure and Legal RisksCPA Australia’s “Cybersecurity Checklist” mandates strict account management, permission hierarchies, and data encryption (at rest and in transit). Small firms without dedicated IT teams struggle to meet complex compliance audits, exposing them to high risks of fines and legal liabilities.

• Customer Trust CrisisAny data breach can cause a loss of client trust, severely damaging the firm’s long-established brand reputation and resulting in direct business losses.

• Conflict Between Efficiency and SecurityTraditional cybersecurity solutions are complex to deploy and maintain, especially for non-IT staff. Combined with small firm realities where employees wear multiple hats, this leads to resistance against new processes, making compliance difficult to implement while maintaining operational efficiency.

 

Solution

MAVIS delivers a tailored Privileged Access Management (PAM) system to enable enterprises to implement a “Zero Trust” security architecture.

To help AYW Consulting tackle challenges in security, compliance, and operational efficiency, MAVIS offers a PAM solution specifically designed for small to medium accounting firms. Integrating the Zero Trust philosophy, it builds a permission management framework focused on identity verification and data access control, significantly enhancing data security and operational productivity.

 

Core Features

1. ABAC Model Combined with Zero Trust Architecture

   Uses Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC) integrated with Zero Trust principles. Permissions are dynamically assigned based on user identity, task requirements, and business attributes, ensuring only authorized personnel access sensitive systems and data, greatly reducing risks of account misuse and unauthorized access.

2. Centralized Credential Management with Automated Login

   Centralizes all account and password credentials on the platform, automating login verification to simplify password management and transmission, preventing shared or reused weak passwords. Supports Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) to boost system security without compromising usability.

3. Comprehensive Operation Auditing and Logging

   Provides detailed access logs, audit trails, and real-time screen recording and playback, ensuring all user actions are traceable. This supports internal audits and regulatory checks such as CPA Australia’s Cybersecurity Checklist, meeting compliance requirements effectively.

4. Desktop Client One-Click Connection with Password Concealment

   Intuitive Desktop client allows users to securely and quickly connect to remote platforms with one click. Administrators pre-configure website and system credentials, so users log in without knowing passwords, enforcing least privilege principles, reducing risk of password leaks or misuse, and minimizing human errors. This feature is especially suitable for users without IT backgrounds to get started quickly, enhancing overall security and user experience.

    

Deployment and Implementation

• Flexible Implementation TimelineDeployment schedules can be adjusted according to company needs, typically taking several weeks to a few months, fitting different organizational plans.

• Zero-Agent Deployment with Rapid OnboardingUses a zero-agent architecture, enabling system launch within approximately 6 minutes, significantly reducing deployment and maintenance costs.

• No Infrastructure Build or Code Modification NeededCustomers don’t need to build infrastructure or modify existing code, lowering technical barriers and risks for implementation.

• Simple Staff TrainingTraining takes only 1 hour, enabling users to quickly become proficient and independently manage daily operations.

 

Results: Integrated Improvement in Security, Compliance, and Efficiency

After fully deploying the MAVIS system, AYW Accounting Firm achieved multiple key outcomes in a short time:

• Secured client data isolation and automated compliance

• Intuitive operation and user-friendly system requiring no IT support for quick onboarding

• Centralized management of critical business system credentials, enabling fast response to personnel changes, audits, or security incidents

• Fully compliant with CPA Australia cybersecurity standards, enhancing overall firm compliance capability

• Prevented account sharing and password misuse, effectively reducing human-related security risks

• Strengthened client trust, demonstrating the firm’s commitment to information security and professional service, increasing market competitiveness

 

Customer Testimonials

“Since adopting MAVIS, we have successfully strengthened internal security management and improved efficiency and compliance without adding IT personnel.”— Allen Wang, Executive Director & Founder, AYW Consulting

“MAVIS solution not only meets compliance requirements but also fits our daily workflows. Security no longer means hassle.”— Annie Yang, Assistant Accountant, AYW Consulting

 

Summary

MAVIS’s vertical domain access solution helped AYW Accounting Firm build an efficient, secure, and compliant identity and access management platform under limited resources, achieving closed-loop protection across people, permissions, and data. In today’s data security-critical environment, MAVIS demonstrates that small and medium enterprises can achieve cybersecurity capabilities on par with large institutions.