Cybersecurity GRC Consulting

Cybersecurity Consulting

Part-time remote cybersecurity GRC consulting available after hours.

Risk Management

Expert advice for cybersecurity governance and compliance challenges.

1. Developing and Implementing Robust IT Security & Risk Governance Programs:

• Challenge: Many organizations struggle with establishing a comprehensive and effective IT security and risk governance program that aligns with business objectives and addresses the evolving threat landscape.

• Expert Advice: We can assist in assessing your current IT Security & Risk Governance Program and developing a tailored framework that incorporates industry best practices (e.g., COBIT, COSO, HITRUST) and regulatory requirements relevant to national and global operations. This includes defining clear roles and responsibilities, establishing risk assessment methodologies, and implementing continuous monitoring processes. Experience includes working with various frameworks such as COBIT, COSO, and HITRUST, which are essential for robust governance.

2. Achieving and Maintaining Regulatory Compliance Across Multiple Jurisdictions:

• Challenge: National and global businesses face a myriad of compliance requirements, including TAC 202, PCI, SOX 404, GLBA, HIPAA, and FDICIA. Ensuring adherence across diverse operational environments can be daunting.

• Expert Advice: Leveraging expertise in various compliance standards, we can guide your organization through the complexities of achieving and maintaining compliance. This includes:

  • Policy and Procedure Development: Updating policies, procedures, supporting documentation, and action plans to meet specific regulatory requirements. Experience includes achieving HITRUST certification, a healthcare security and privacy framework, and addressing SOC 2, SOC 1, and PCI requirements.

  • Audit Management: Managing communications with external and internal auditors and assisting with audit responses and requests.

  • Risk Management: Implementing and assessing proper security and privacy controls to protect sensitive data. This includes managing risks related to the use, processing, storage, and transmission of information and the systems and processes used for those purposes.

3. Enhancing Security Architecture and System Development Life Cycle (SDLC) Processes:

• Challenge: Ensuring that security is embedded throughout the IT architecture and SDLC, especially for diverse systems like AS400 and Oracle, is critical for preventing vulnerabilities.

• Expert Advice: We can provide IT Security Architecture Assessment services, including for AS400 and Oracle environments. Furthermore, we can help integrate security into your System Development Life Cycle / Change Management processes to proactively identify and mitigate risks. Experience includes developing processes to document and monitor results of internal and external scans to track timely remediation of vulnerabilities.

4. Effective Communication and Collaboration with Stakeholders:

• Challenge: Bridging the gap between technical security teams, executives, and other stakeholders is essential for effective cybersecurity governance.

• Expert Advice: Background includes extensive experience managing communications with external and internal auditors, company executives, and information technology managers. We can also represent your organization to external parties and foster collaborative working relationships.

5. Advisory Services for Data Analysis, Process Improvement, and Project Management:

• Challenge: Organizations often need support in analyzing security data, improving processes, and managing cybersecurity projects effectively.

• Expert Advice: We offer IT advisory services on data analysis, governance, risk, and compliance, controls documentation, process improvement, security frameworks, policies, plans, and project management and coordination. This includes developing standardized processes and providing objective assessments to improve controls and operational efficiency. Also familiar with tools such as ACL, TeamMate, SPLUNK, Nexpose, and Service Now.

Governance Support

Assistance with cybersecurity governance and compliance frameworks.

Governance Support includes:

• Developing and Assessing IT Security & Risk Governance Programs: We can assist in evaluating your current IT security and risk governance programs, identifying gaps, and recommending improvements to align with industry best practices and regulatory requirements. This includes advising on frameworks such as COBIT, COSO, and HITRUST.

• Achieving and Maintaining Compliance with Key Regulations and Frameworks:

  • Healthcare (HIPAA, HITRUST): For global healthcare organizations, we can provide guidance on achieving and maintaining HITRUST certification, a critical healthcare security and privacy framework. We also have extensive knowledge of HIPAA compliance.

  • Financial (PCI, SOX 404, GLBA, FDICIA): For national and global financial institutions, I offer expertise in complying with PCI (Payment Card Industry), SOX 404 (Sarbanes-Oxley Act), GLBA (Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act), and FDICIA requirements. Experience includes SOX-404 testing for a national bank adhering to FFIEC control requirements.

  • Other Compliance (TAC 202): I am also proficient in navigating other compliance standards like TAC 202 for state of Texas agencies.

• Implementing IT Security Policies, Standards, and Frameworks: We can provide guidance on the development and implementation of robust IT security policies, standards, and frameworks tailored to your organization's specific needs and global footprint. This includes advising on security frameworks such as COBIT.

• System Development Life Cycle (SDLC) / Change Management Integration: We can advise on integrating security best practices throughout your System Development Life Cycle and change management processes, ensuring security is built-in from the ground up for both national and international deployments.

• Managing Communications with Auditors and Executives: We have extensive experience managing communications with external and internal auditors, as well as company executives and information technology managers, facilitating smooth audit processes and clear reporting on security posture. This includes providing IT responses to numerous client audit requests and surveys.

• Incident Response and Vulnerability Management: We can offer advice on developing incident response training materials and establishing processes to document and monitor results of internal and external scans for timely remediation of vulnerabilities across your global infrastructure.

Has a soothing communications style that along with his knowledge and business experience make him an asset to any information technology corporate governance team.

Anil M.

★★★★★