I have a printer in mind and it is an all in one. Due to the high volume of scanning I tend to deal with, I'm opting for something with more torque. Actually, equipment has been easy - in part because I can just look around my current workplace and decide what I want to buy.
But I've always had an IT department. So data storage/backups are nothing I've ever had to deal with. Currently, I have very little stored physically on my computer - it's all on the network. I can access the network remotely. But if anyone ever stole my computer, there would be very little for them to access. When I'm on my own, there will be no network, no IT department, no corporate HQ to tell me the best practices for data security/storage.
I never want to be in a situation where I'm forced to write a letter to clients to tell them that their sensitive information may have been compromised because I was a moron and did something dumb with data storage. But I need to balance that with my own ability to easily access it, as well as physical space issues with paper.
Ok, so heres my question.
Whats your budget?
As for a network, with a small enough company, infrastructure and equipment is easy to set up.
Single user direct to infrastructure is actually pretty cheap if there isnt a need for a lot of servers, or excessively crafty R&S design.
You could probably really easily get by with a simple netgear switch with a BYO server, with a BYO NAS solution, or just a "private cloud" solution from WD.
Now if you want to build your own private major practice, with lots of accountants working under you, thats a different story.
None of it would be complicated, and server patching, maintenance, etc would be easy since not enough users to work the systems hard enough, and i could help you negotiate a O&M by hour contract with a local yocal if needed, but honestly, it doesn't seem like you'd need a domain or your own email if its just going to be you from what I can see.
Id say a rackspace account, plus a neat receipt, a good all-in-one, combined with a regular backup scheme will do good by you, and help you stay highly mobile while secure. For protection though I would still suggest a firewall solution. maybe a low end enterprise fortinet or a palo alto firewall. Both get the job done right and allow you to have VPN access to your files and work related materials from anywhere.
As for your network shares, unless you're moving massive amounts of data once you go out on your own, theres no real need for you to worry about needing a network share. Although, again, if you absolutely felt the need to have one, WD can provide that for very little.
For all of that above, with a roughly 80/hr contract retainer for 40 hours annual package with rollover hours, Id say you're looking at roughly 5k-6k max to get completely off the ground, and all IT systems stood up, in place, configured, and you are turn key status.
Estimated costs would be as follows:
Rackspace (email): 120 (3 emails, 40 GB)
Go Daddy (web+hosting): 360
firewall: 800-1500 (depends on features and what vendor you go with)
WD Private cloud network storage: 280
2 removable USB Devices: ~150
Private contract: 3,200
Renewing costs: ~3,700
Total Costs: ~4900-5600.
WIthout the contractor its less than 1k. Depends on if you want that extra safety net or not. Its a very simple system you need, and very low risk for the most part.
Its not untouchable by any means, but it works, gives you what you need, and lets you put multiple security checks in place to access the data. Its no ISO 90001, but it works.
Unless someone gets your specific IP address at your work location, which since your web is hosted is extremely unlikely, there shouldnt be too many concerns. The security through obscurity concept applies heavily in your favor in this instance.
