Security & Compliance

Cybersecurity consulting is a professional service that helps organizations identify, assess, and mitigate security risks across their digital infrastructure. It includes security assessments, penetration testing, vulnerability management, compliance auditing, incident response planning, and security architecture design. A cybersecurity consultant evaluates your current security posture, identifies gaps, and provides actionable recommendations to protect your business from cyber threats while ensuring regulatory compliance.

Cybersecurity is critical because data breaches cost businesses an average of $4.45 million per incident, according to IBM's 2023 report. Beyond financial losses, breaches damage customer trust, disrupt operations, and can result in regulatory fines. Small and medium businesses are increasingly targeted because they often lack robust defenses. Proactive security investments typically cost 10-20 times less than recovering from a breach, making cybersecurity essential for business continuity and competitive advantage.

A security assessment begins with scoping to define systems, networks, and applications to evaluate. I then conduct automated vulnerability scans and manual testing to identify weaknesses. This includes reviewing configurations, access controls, network architecture, and code security. The assessment produces a detailed report with risk-prioritized findings, exploitation scenarios, and remediation recommendations. Typical assessments take 2-4 weeks depending on scope, followed by a presentation of findings and remediation planning.

All industries handling sensitive data require cybersecurity compliance, but regulations vary by sector. Healthcare organizations must comply with HIPAA, financial institutions with PCI-DSS, SOX, and DORA (in the EU). Companies handling EU citizen data need GDPR compliance, while government contractors require FedRAMP or CMMC. E-commerce, SaaS providers, and any business processing payments or personal data benefit from SOC2 certification to demonstrate security commitment to customers and partners.

Cybersecurity consulting costs vary based on scope and complexity. Basic vulnerability assessments start around $5,000-15,000, while comprehensive penetration testing ranges from $15,000-50,000. Ongoing security management and compliance programs typically cost $3,000-15,000 monthly. While these investments may seem significant, they pale compared to breach costs averaging millions in damages, legal fees, and lost business. I provide customized quotes based on your specific needs and risk profile.

A thorough security audit typically takes 2-6 weeks depending on organization size and complexity. The initial assessment phase requires 1-3 weeks for scanning, testing, and analysis. Report preparation and findings presentation add another week. Remediation timelines vary based on identified issues—critical vulnerabilities should be addressed within days, while architectural improvements may take 3-6 months. I provide phased remediation plans prioritizing highest-risk items for immediate action.

Security assessments require varying access levels depending on scope. For external testing, I need network ranges and target URLs. Internal assessments require VPN access or on-site presence, plus credentials for authenticated scanning. For comprehensive audits, I need access to documentation, network diagrams, security policies, and interviews with key personnel. All access is governed by a formal scope agreement and NDA. I follow strict ethical guidelines and never access systems outside the defined scope.

Proactive security focuses on preventing incidents through continuous monitoring, regular assessments, security awareness training, and implementing defense-in-depth controls before attacks occur. Reactive security responds to incidents after they happen—containing breaches, investigating root causes, and recovering systems. While both are necessary, proactive security is far more cost-effective. Organizations with proactive programs detect breaches 74 days faster and save an average of $1.76 million per incident compared to reactive-only approaches.

Security services deliver measurable improvements including reduced vulnerability counts, faster incident detection times, and compliance certification achievement. Typical outcomes include 70-90% reduction in critical vulnerabilities within 6 months, mean time to detect (MTTD) improvements from weeks to hours, and successful compliance audits. You'll also gain documented security policies, trained staff, incident response capabilities, and executive-ready security metrics demonstrating ROI and risk reduction to stakeholders.

Yes, I offer continuous security monitoring using SIEM platforms, intrusion detection systems, and log analysis to identify threats in real-time. This includes 24/7 alert monitoring, threat intelligence integration, and automated response for common attack patterns. For incident response, I provide documented procedures, runbooks, tabletop exercises, and on-call support for active incidents. Retainer agreements ensure rapid response when security events occur, minimizing damage and recovery time.

Getting started is straightforward. First, we have a discovery call to understand your business, current security posture, compliance requirements, and concerns. I then propose a scoping document outlining assessment objectives, methodology, timeline, and investment. Once approved, we sign an engagement agreement and NDA, schedule the assessment window, and I begin with minimal disruption to your operations. The entire onboarding process typically takes 1-2 weeks before active testing begins.

I follow industry-standard methodologies including OWASP Testing Guide for web applications, PTES (Penetration Testing Execution Standard) for comprehensive assessments, and NIST SP 800-115 for technical security testing. Testing covers OWASP Top 10 vulnerabilities, authentication flaws, authorization bypasses, injection attacks, and business logic errors. For infrastructure, I use Kali Linux tools including Nmap, Metasploit, and Burp Suite. All testing follows responsible disclosure practices with clear rules of engagement.