What security monitoring service is required for Focus Cfo franchisees' business computers?
Focus_Cfo Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
edures surrounding clients where a BAA in place.
ATTACHMENT G TO FRANCHISE AGREEMENT
REQUIRED IT SERVICES (EFFECTIVE AS OF JANUARY 1, 2025)
Focus CFO has the right to modify the provisions of this Attachment upon 30 days prior written notice.
Franchisees are required to maintain the following IT software, services and support on any business computer that is used to access, send or receive email through your Focus CFO issued email, or which is used conduct business in the role of an Area President.
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- An Office 365 license, which includes access to Focus CFO e-mail, Microsoft Office software (Excel, Word, Outlook and PowerPoint), Microsoft Teams video conferencing platform and Microsoft OneDrive file hosting and backup service.
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- Security monitoring service of your business computer(s) for viruses and malware.
Currently, our approved IT vendor, C-Forward provides a recurring subscription package of IT services, which is required for all Franchisees. The C-Forward package includes the IT software, services, and support, above, as well as IT support services related to your email and O365 licensed products, both as issued to you through Focus CFO, on up to five (5) computers or devices per Franchisee. These IT support services are available between the hours of 7:30am EST and 5:30pm EST. After hours emergency support is also available at an additional cost to the Franchisee. In addition to the IT support services above, C-Forward may be able to provide support services for your business-related hardware; however, these services will need to be scoped out ahead of time and provided at an additional cost per hour at the Franchisee's expense.
The current cost of the IT Services to the Franchisee is $30 per pay and will be deducted from the Franchisee's compensation each pay period. For Franchisees who have not yet started to earn compensation, Focus CFO will work with you to cover the cost until you do.
Franchisees can elect to have Microsoft Copilot, Microsoft's Artificial Intelligence platform, included in their subscription. The cost of electing this option is $15 per pay and will be deducted from the Franchisee's compensation each pay along with the required IT Services Fee mentioned above. If the Franchisee has not yet started to earn compensation, Focus CFO will work with you to cover the cost until you do.
Franchisees are never authorized to use a computer that is not monitored per the standards above, or if the computer is infected with any form of virus or malwa
Source: Item 23 — Receipts (FDD pages 37–126)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Focus Cfo Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees must have a security monitoring service on any business computer used to access Focus CFO email or conduct business as an Area President. This service is for monitoring viruses and malware.
Currently, Focus CFO has an approved IT vendor, C-Forward, that provides a required recurring subscription package of IT services for all franchisees. This package includes the necessary security monitoring service, along with other IT software, services, and support. The C-Forward package also includes IT support services related to email and O365 licensed products issued through Focus CFO, covering up to five computers or devices per franchisee. These IT support services are available between 7:30 am EST and 5:30 pm EST, with after-hours emergency support available at an additional cost.
The cost for these IT Services is $30 per pay period, which is deducted from the franchisee's compensation. For franchisees who have not yet started earning compensation, Focus CFO will work with them to cover the cost until they do. Franchisees also have the option to include Microsoft Copilot, Microsoft's Artificial Intelligence platform, in their subscription for an additional $15 per pay period, also deducted from their compensation. Focus CFO reserves the right to modify the required IT services and/or approved vendor.