Services / Security Advisory

Ongoing Security Advisory for Iowa Businesses

Security advisory gives your business an experienced security advisor to call when questions come up, without hiring a full-time security leader. We help you answer questionnaires, evaluate new systems and vendors, and make sure the right security work gets done in the right order.

Sound familiar?

You don't have a security person on staff, but security questions keep coming up.
An insurer or customer sent a security questionnaire and nobody owns the answers.
You're about to adopt a new system or vendor and want to know if it's safe.
An assessment gave you a list of fixes and you need help working through it.

Advisory support gives you someone you can call who already knows your environment.

What's included

Remediation planning and validation

Turning assessment findings into a realistic plan for your team, then confirming that each fix actually closed the gap.

Questionnaires and vendor reviews

Help answering cyber insurance and customer security questionnaires honestly, and reviewing the security of vendors you're considering.

Secure configuration reviews

A second set of eyes on new systems, cloud services, and remote access before they go live.

Tooling and vendor selection

Independent advice on which security tools and services are worth paying for. We don't resell products, so the recommendation is about what fits your business.

Policies and procedures

Practical recommendations for the written policies and procedures your business needs, including the documented security program that Iowa's HF553 safe harbor law calls for.

How it works

1. Start with an assessment

Advisory work usually follows an initial project, such as a security posture review or vulnerability assessment, so we know your environment and your priorities from day one.
2. Agree on scope and cadence

We agree on how much support you need, how you'll reach us, and whether recurring testing such as periodic vulnerability scans should be included.
3. Ongoing support

Bring questions as they come up. We help you prioritize, review new systems and vendors, and confirm that fixes actually worked.

Pricing

Advisory pricing depends on how much support you need, how often, and whether recurring testing is included. Contact us for pricing. Most clients start with a security posture review or vulnerability assessment.

Who it's for

Small and mid-sized businesses without dedicated security staff
IT teams and managed IT providers who want a security specialist to lean on
Owners who need a trusted answer to "is this safe?" before making a decision
Businesses that have completed an assessment and want help following through

Advisory work is led by GPEN, GCIH, and GSEC certified consultants. We are independent. We don't manage your IT or sell security products, so our advice is about what your business needs.

Security advisory questions

Is this the same as a virtual CISO?

It covers much of what small businesses look for in a virtual or fractional CISO, sized for organizations that don't need a full-time security leader. You get an experienced advisor who knows your environment and helps you decide what to do next, without the cost of a senior hire.

Do we need to start with an assessment?

Usually, yes. Advisory work is typically offered after an initial project, such as a security posture review or vulnerability assessment, so our advice is based on what your environment actually looks like.

What kinds of questions can we bring?

Anything security related that comes up in the course of running your business. Common examples include insurance and customer questionnaires, whether a new system or vendor is safe to adopt, how to fix something an assessment found, and which security investments to make next.

Can recurring testing be part of it?

Yes. Recurring work such as periodic vulnerability scans or assessments can be built into an advisory arrangement, so your security is checked on a regular schedule rather than once.

How is pricing set?

Pricing depends on how much support you need and how often, and on any recurring testing that's included. We scope it with you after an initial conversation. Contact us for pricing.

Ready to find out where you stand?

Tell us what's prompting the question. We'll come back with a few questions of our own, not a sales pitch.

Find Out Where You Stand