Risk and Compliance Services
Go beyond traditional compliance solutions with compliance expertise tailored to your needs
Your Trusted Cybersecurity Partner
Businesses turn to us for our ability to guide them in determining requirements, assessing cyber risk and compliance, and developing and deploying efficient cost-effective solutions. While most providers have a “check the box” mentality, our cyber risk and compliance experts take the time to understand, develop, and deliver solutions tailored for your business.
Delivering Exceptional Services to Our Valued Clients
Businesses are facing an ever changing and escalating risk landscape. For example: DoD Contractors have the DFARS regulation that started in 2017, and then needed to prepare for and gain understanding and insight into the CMMC certification, and now must adopt CMMC 2.0 to protect their contracts and maintain their ability to bid on future contracts.
It is imperative for executives and senior management to identify and understand the risks facing their business. Your business needs a team that can act as a trusted advisor and strategist to provide actionable roadmaps that not only improve your security posture and help mitigate risks, but also help develop and govern your Information Security program.
Cyber Risk and Compliance touches every part of a business. In doing so, it serves to provide a firm foundation for sound risk intelligence as well as a way forward to complying with new regulations and security controls.
The Most Common Challenges We Help Businesses Solve
- Ever-evolving regulations across multiple industries (e.g. Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC 2.0) for DoD Contractors)
- Political influences on regulation changes and priorities
- Penalties for lack of compliance and its effect on the organization’s reputation
- Assessing and understanding the current state of their security posture and building a roadmap for improvement
- Building a process for identifying, managing, and mitigating risks proactively
- Prioritizing changes based on risk and compliance requirements
- Quantifying return on compliance: How does this affect their bottom line?
- Transparency across the organization and managing functional silos
- Ensuring data privacy across devices, the organization’s network, and the cloud
- Ensuring all technologies are adhering to compliance requirements and risk management best practices
- Interconnectivity of Risk across the organization
- Highly disruptive ransomware
- Continued security breaches
- New Phishing techniques
- Compliance violations and regulatory actions
- Ever-evolving regulations across multiple industries (e.g. Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC 2.0) for DoD Contractors)
- Political influences on regulation changes and priorities
- Penalties for lack of compliance and its effect on the organization’s reputation
- Assessing and understanding the current state of their security posture and building a roadmap for improvement
- Building a process for identifying, managing, and mitigating risks proactively
- Prioritizing changes based on risk and compliance requirements
- Quantifying return on compliance: How does this affect their bottom line?
- Transparency across the organization and managing functional silos
- Ensuring data privacy across devices, the organization’s network, and the cloud
- Ensuring all technologies are adhering to compliance requirements and risk management best practices
- Interconnectivity of Risk across the organization
- Highly disruptive ransomware
- Continued security breaches
- New Phishing techniques
- Compliance violations and regulatory actions
Delivering Exceptional Services to Our Valued Clients
Businesses are facing an ever changing and escalating risk landscape. For example: DoD Contractors have the DFARS regulation that started in 2017, and then needed to prepare for and gain understanding and insight into the CMMC certification, and now must adopt CMMC 2.0 to protect their contracts and maintain their ability to bid on future contracts.
It is imperative for executives and senior management to identify and understand the risks facing their business. Your business needs a team that can act as a trusted advisor and strategist to provide actionable roadmaps that not only improve your security posture and help mitigate risks, but also help develop and govern your Information Security program.
Cyber Risk and Compliance touches every part of a business. In doing so, it serves to provide a firm foundation for sound risk intelligence as well as a way forward to complying with new regulations and security controls.
The Most Common Challenges We Help Businesses Solve
- Ever-evolving regulations across multiple industries (e.g. Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC 2.0) for DoD Contractors)
- Political influences on regulation changes and priorities
- Penalties for lack of compliance and its effect on the organization’s reputation
- Assessing and understanding the current state of their security posture and building a roadmap for improvement
- Building a process for identifying, managing, and mitigating risks proactively
- Prioritizing changes based on risk and compliance requirements
- Quantifying return on compliance: How does this affect their bottom line?
- Transparency across the organization and managing functional silos
- Ensuring data privacy across devices, the organization’s network, and the cloud
- Ensuring all technologies are adhering to compliance requirements and risk management best practices
- Interconnectivity of Risk across the organization
- Highly disruptive ransomware
- Continued security breaches
- New Phishing techniques
- Compliance violations and regulatory actions
- Ever-evolving regulations across multiple industries (e.g. Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC 2.0) for DoD Contractors)
- Political influences on regulation changes and priorities
- Penalties for lack of compliance and its effect on the organization’s reputation
- Assessing and understanding the current state of their security posture and building a roadmap for improvement
- Building a process for identifying, managing, and mitigating risks proactively
- Prioritizing changes based on risk and compliance requirements
- Quantifying return on compliance: How does this affect their bottom line?
- Transparency across the organization and managing functional silos
- Ensuring data privacy across devices, the organization’s network, and the cloud
- Ensuring all technologies are adhering to compliance requirements and risk management best practices
- Interconnectivity of Risk across the organization
- Highly disruptive ransomware
- Continued security breaches
- New Phishing techniques
- Compliance violations and regulatory actions
Top-Notch Complete Solutions
Today’s dynamic global business environments demand that you adapt quickly to changing regulations and to mitigate emerging risks. As business objectives are forced to become consistent with regulations, risk and compliance strategists should ensure that your security posture and strategy also align with regulations, governance models, and policies.
Our cyber risk and compliance solutions help to first understand risk tolerance and gaps, and then provide a plan of action to mitigate risks, achieve compliance, and maintain security posture through a Continuous Monitoring Strategy.
Tailored to your needs
Solutions that go beyond traditional compliance solutions helping to reduce risk, increase compliance, and address cybersecurity challenges unique to your business.
Identifies gaps in your organizational security posture based on your organization’s compliance requirements.
Identifies, evaluates, and estimates levels of risk to your organization and determines an acceptable level of risk.
Continuously collaborates with you and your organization to ensure that your cybersecurity program is being maintained within compliance regulations and that security controls are monitored continuously. Ongoing reviews and assessments will help to ensure that controls that are not fully implemented are on track for mitigation, as well as ensuring that implemented controls are maintained and reviewed.
Creates a standard designed to assist with managing the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data and critical infrastructure.
Allows organizations to leverage top-tier security experts with CISO-level experience for security strategy sessions and guidance.
Ensures that cybersecurity concerns are incorporated into your Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery planning to minimize costs, protect data, and streamline a timely and effective response to any kind of attack.
Creates a policy development workflow and review process formulated around what governs an organization to ensure regulatory compliance.
Creates a framework that ensures information security strategies are aligned with and support business objectives, are compliant with applicable laws and regulations, and that integrate with an organization’s governance at the highest levels.
Identifies gaps in your organizational security posture based on your organization’s compliance requirements.
Identifies, evaluates, and estimates levels of risk to your organization and determines an acceptable level of risk.
Continuously collaborates with you and your organization to ensure that your cybersecurity program is being maintained within compliance regulations and that security controls are monitored continuously. Ongoing reviews and assessments will help to ensure that controls that are not fully implemented are on track for mitigation, as well as ensuring that implemented controls are maintained and reviewed.
Creates a standard designed to assist with managing the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data and critical infrastructure.
Allows organizations to leverage top-tier security experts with CISO-level experience for security strategy sessions and guidance.
Ensures that cybersecurity concerns are incorporated into your Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery planning to minimize costs, protect data, and streamline a timely and effective response to any kind of attack.
Creates a policy development workflow and review process formulated around what governs an organization to ensure regulatory compliance.
Creates a framework that ensures information security strategies are aligned with and support business objectives, are compliant with applicable laws and regulations, and that integrate with an organization’s governance at the highest levels.
Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification
The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) program enhances cyber protection standards for companies in the DIB. It is designed to protect sensitive unclassified information that is shared by the Department with its contractors and subcontractors. The program incorporates a set of cybersecurity requirements into acquisition programs and provides the Department increased assurance that contractors and subcontractors are meeting these requirements.
In September 2020, the DoD published an interim rule to the DFARS in the Federal Register (DFARS Case 2019-D041), which implemented the DoD’s initial vision for the CMMC program (“CMMC 1.0”) and outlined the basic features of the framework (tiered model, required assessments, and implementation through contracts). The interim rule became effective on November 30, 2020, establishing a five-year-phase-in period.
In March 2021, the Department initiated an internal review of CMMC’s implementation, informed by more than 850 public comments in response to the interim DFARS rule. This comprehensive, programmatic assessment engaged cybersecurity and acquisition leaders within DoD to refine policy and program implementation.
In November 2021, the Department announced “CMMC 2.0,” an updated program structure and requirements designed to achieve the primary goals of the internal review:
- Safeguard sensitive information to enable and protect the warfighter
- Dynamically enhance DIB cybersecurity to meet evolving threats
- Ensure accountability while minimizing barriers to compliance with DoD requirements
- Contribute towards instilling a collaborative culture of cybersecurity and cyber resilience
- Maintain public trust through high professional and ethical standards
If you hope to do business as a DoD contractor or subcontractor, there will be a requirement for CMMC on affected contracts in the solicitation and in any Requests for Information (RFIs) before the contract is awarded. This is for the protection of Federal Contract Information (FCI). If your company expects to work with Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), your company must be CMMC Level 2 certified or higher before the contract is awarded. This framework maps to NIST SP 800-171. CMMC Level 3, or “Expert” level is currently under development and will be based on a subset of NIST SP 800-172.
It starts with a look at the type of work you do, the future work you expect to be involved in, and in-depth look at the state of your information system environment. Every company is unique, and every company’s needs are unique. There is no one-size-fits-all approach. It doesn’t matter if your company size is one person or 100,000 people strong. It doesn’t matter if you are working out of your home or working across multiple states. We have the depth and breadth of experience to address your needs. As former DoD employees and former DoD contractors, we have a unique insight into the governance, risk, and compliance requirements and process needed for CMMC.
The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) program enhances cyber protection standards for companies in the DIB. It is designed to protect sensitive unclassified information that is shared by the Department with its contractors and subcontractors. The program incorporates a set of cybersecurity requirements into acquisition programs and provides the Department increased assurance that contractors and subcontractors are meeting these requirements.
In September 2020, the DoD published an interim rule to the DFARS in the Federal Register (DFARS Case 2019-D041), which implemented the DoD’s initial vision for the CMMC program (“CMMC 1.0”) and outlined the basic features of the framework (tiered model, required assessments, and implementation through contracts). The interim rule became effective on November 30, 2020, establishing a five-year-phase-in period.
In March 2021, the Department initiated an internal review of CMMC’s implementation, informed by more than 850 public comments in response to the interim DFARS rule. This comprehensive, programmatic assessment engaged cybersecurity and acquisition leaders within DoD to refine policy and program implementation.
In November 2021, the Department announced “CMMC 2.0,” an updated program structure and requirements designed to achieve the primary goals of the internal review:
- Safeguard sensitive information to enable and protect the warfighter
- Dynamically enhance DIB cybersecurity to meet evolving threats
- Ensure accountability while minimizing barriers to compliance with DoD requirements
- Contribute towards instilling a collaborative culture of cybersecurity and cyber resilience
- Maintain public trust through high professional and ethical standards
If you hope to do business as a DoD contractor or subcontractor, there will be a requirement for CMMC on affected contracts in the solicitation and in any Requests for Information (RFIs) before the contract is awarded. This is for the protection of Federal Contract Information (FCI). If your company expects to work with Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), your company must be CMMC Level 2 certified or higher before the contract is awarded. This framework maps to NIST SP 800-171. CMMC Level 3, or “Expert” level is currently under development and will be based on a subset of NIST SP 800-172.
It starts with a look at the type of work you do, the future work you expect to be involved in, and in-depth look at the state of your information system environment. Every company is unique, and every company’s needs are unique. There is no one-size-fits-all approach. It doesn’t matter if your company size is one person or 100,000 people strong. It doesn’t matter if you are working out of your home or working across multiple states. We have the depth and breadth of experience to address your needs. As former DoD employees and former DoD contractors, we have a unique insight into the governance, risk, and compliance requirements and process needed for CMMC.
Preparing for CMMC compliance
Writing policies, deploying solutions, and instituting the necessary changes within your business will take considerable time. Depending on your current environment and security posture, your company should plan for six months to a year to achieve compliance at level two.
As a Registered Provider Organization fully listed in the CMMC-AB Marketplace, we stand ready to provide expertise, guidance, and services for you during this journey to CMMC compliance.
First, you need to know where you are before you create the roadmap of where you need to be. We will assess your current environment, provide a detailed report of the gaps within and create an actionable Plan of Actions & Milestones (POA&M) and help you develop your System Security Plan (SSP).
Many organizations might have created an SSP and POA&M, however, because of a lack of resources available have been unable to take steps to work on the POA&M and improve their security posture. Our Virtual Compliance Manager (VCM) will help you develop a roadmap and manage your compliance and implementation activities to ensure they meet the requirements of the controls from the NIST SP 800-171 and CMMC. The VCM is your expert “right-hand man” to help keep the projects updated and ensuring they are completed to increase the cybersecurity maturity of your organization.
A key component of increasing your security posture and cybersecurity maturity is having a Continuous Monitoring Strategy in place. Our Managed Security Service (MSSP) will help continuously monitor your environment 24/7 for the peace of mind of meeting many of the controls. This is important in that it validates controls that are in place to ensure that they are functioning properly. It provides a deeper visibility into your infrastructure with continuous monitoring.
As part of the roadmap developed by the VCM, understanding the maturity of the organization is key. Just putting policies and procedures in place is not enough. An organization will need to show processes that are repeatable. For example: an Incident Response Plan and Business Continuity procedure may be in place, but if it is never tested for effectiveness, the maturity level of the organization will be affected. A maturity model assessment will help you understand the level of maturity you are at now and what needs to be done for the desired state of the company.
First, you need to know where you are before you create the roadmap of where you need to be. We will assess your current environment, provide a detailed report of the gaps within and create an actionable Plan of Actions & Milestones (POA&M) and help you develop your System Security Plan (SSP).
Many organizations might have created an SSP and POA&M, however, because of a lack of resources available have been unable to take steps to work on the POA&M and improve their security posture. Our Virtual Compliance Manager (VCM) will help you develop a roadmap and manage your compliance and implementation activities to ensure they meet the requirements of the controls from the NIST SP 800-171 and CMMC. The VCM is your expert “right-hand man” to help keep the projects updated and ensuring they are completed to increase the cybersecurity maturity of your organization.
A key component of increasing your security posture and cybersecurity maturity is having a Continuous Monitoring Strategy in place. Our Managed Security Service (MSSP) will help continuously monitor your environment 24/7 for the peace of mind of meeting many of the controls. This is important in that it validates controls that are in place to ensure that they are functioning properly. It provides a deeper visibility into your infrastructure with continuous monitoring.
As part of the roadmap developed by the VCM, understanding the maturity of the organization is key. Just putting policies and procedures in place is not enough. An organization will need to show processes that are repeatable. For example: an Incident Response Plan and Business Continuity procedure may be in place, but if it is never tested for effectiveness, the maturity level of the organization will be affected. A maturity model assessment will help you understand the level of maturity you are at now and what needs to be done for the desired state of the company.
Managed Security Services Designed for Compliance
- Security Operations as a Service (SOC-as-a-Service)
- Managed Vulnerability Management Services
- Managed User Awareness Training
- Managed Phishing with User Awareness
- Managed Endpoint Security
- Managed Firewall Services
- Managed Email Security Services
- Managed Incident Response
VCM
Our Virtual Compliance Manager (VCM) will help you and your organization develop a roadmap, manage your compliance and implementation activities to ensure they meet the requirements of controls from any cybersecurity framework including:
- CMMC
- NIST SP 800-171
- NIST 800-53
- CIS 20
- HIPAA
- FFIEC
- NIST CSF
The VCM is your expert “right-hand man” to keeping your projects updated, compliant and ensuring they are completed to increase the cybersecurity maturity of your organization.
Connect with us today.
If you are interested in learning more, drop us a line. We’re here to help.