Cybersecurity Audit Services

Comprehensive security audits from a CMMC Registered Practitioner Organization with over two decades of experience protecting businesses across the Triangle.

What Is a Cybersecurity Audit?

A cybersecurity audit is a thorough, systematic evaluation of your organization's information systems, security policies, and technical infrastructure. It is a comprehensive health checkup for your business technology. The purpose is to identify weaknesses in your defenses before an attacker does, verify that your security controls actually work, and confirm that you meet the regulatory standards your industry demands.

A real audit examines how your people interact with your systems, whether your policies are being followed in practice, and whether the technology you have deployed is configured correctly and kept up to date. It looks at the full picture of your security posture, from the physical locks on your server room doors to the encryption protecting your customer data in transit.

For businesses in the Raleigh-Durham area, where the concentration of defense contractors, healthcare organizations, financial firms, and technology companies makes the region a prime target for cybercriminals, regular security audits are a fundamental cost of doing business.

Our Audit Methodology: The 4-Pillars Approach

Petronella Technology Group's proprietary 4-Pillars methodology provides a comprehensive assessment that goes beyond automated scanning. We test your people, processes, and technology across all 7 OSI layers to deliver a complete picture of your security posture.

Audit Types We Perform

  • Network Security Assessments -- Full evaluation of your network architecture, firewall configurations, segmentation, and access controls
  • Compliance Audits -- CMMC, HIPAA, NIST 800-171, PCI-DSS, SOC 2, ISO 27001, and GDPR compliance verification
  • Vulnerability Assessments -- Systematic identification of known vulnerabilities across your infrastructure
  • Penetration Testing -- Simulated attacks to validate the effectiveness of your security controls
  • Cloud Security Reviews -- Assessment of your cloud configurations, identity management, and data protection practices
  • Policy and Process Review -- Evaluation of your documented security policies against actual implementation
  • Social Engineering Testing -- Phishing simulations and physical security testing to assess human factors

What You Receive

Every audit concludes with a detailed report that includes an executive summary for leadership, a technical findings section with severity ratings, specific remediation recommendations prioritized by risk, a roadmap for improving your security posture over time, and evidence documentation suitable for compliance submissions. We walk you through every finding and ensure you understand both the risk and the path to resolution.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should my business have a cybersecurity audit?

At minimum, annually. Organizations in regulated industries or those handling sensitive data should consider semi-annual audits. Additionally, audits should be performed after any significant infrastructure changes, security incidents, or changes to regulatory requirements.

How long does a cybersecurity audit take?

The timeline depends on the scope and complexity of your environment. A focused assessment for a small business might take one to two weeks. A comprehensive audit for a larger organization with multiple compliance requirements may take four to six weeks.

Will an audit disrupt our operations?

We design our audits to minimize business disruption. Most assessment activities can be conducted during normal business hours without impacting your operations. Any testing that might affect system availability is scheduled during maintenance windows with your approval.

What compliance frameworks do you audit against?

We perform audits against CMMC, NIST 800-171, NIST CSF, HIPAA, PCI-DSS, SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR, and other frameworks as needed. As a CMMC Registered Practitioner Organization (RPO), we have specialized expertise in defense contractor compliance.

Request Your Free Security Consultation

Not sure where your security stands? Our team will assess your current posture and give you a clear, honest picture of your risks.

Schedule Your Audit

Or call: 919-348-4912

Why Choose Petronella Technology Group

Petronella Technology Group has been a trusted IT and cybersecurity partner for businesses across Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Cary, Apex, and the Research Triangle since 2002. Led by CEO Craig Petronella, a Licensed Digital Forensic Examiner, CMMC Certified Registered Practitioner, and MIT-certified professional in cybersecurity, AI, blockchain, and compliance, PTG brings deep expertise to every engagement.

With BBB accreditation since 2003 and more than 2,500 businesses served, PTG has the experience and track record to deliver results. Craig Petronella is an Amazon number-one best-selling author of books including "How HIPAA Can Crush Your Medical Practice," "How Hackers Can Crush Your Law Firm," and "The Ultimate Guide To CMMC." He has been featured on ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, and WRAL, and serves as an expert witness for law firms in cybercrime and compliance cases.

PTG holds certifications including CCNA, MCNS, Microsoft Cloud Essentials, and specializes in CMMC 2.0, NIST 800-171/172/173, HIPAA, FTC Safeguards, SOC 2 Type II, PCI DSS, GDPR, CCPA, and ISO 27001 compliance. Our forensic specialties include endpoint and networking cybercrime investigation, data breach forensics, ransomware analysis, data exfiltration investigation, cryptocurrency and blockchain analysis, and SIM swap fraud investigation.

How PTG Managed IT Services Work

PTG managed IT services provide businesses with a complete technology management solution that replaces or supplements in-house IT staff. Our approach begins with a thorough technology assessment and documentation of your entire IT environment, including hardware, software, network infrastructure, cloud services, and security controls. This creates a comprehensive baseline that enables proactive management and rapid troubleshooting when issues arise. We document everything so that your technology environment is never dependent on a single person's knowledge.

Our proactive monitoring systems watch your servers, workstations, network equipment, and cloud services around the clock, identifying and resolving potential problems before they impact your business. Automated alerts notify our team of hardware failures, software errors, security events, backup failures, and performance degradation. Many issues are detected and resolved automatically through our management platform, while others are escalated to our technicians for manual intervention. This proactive approach typically prevents more than eighty percent of the IT problems that plague businesses relying on reactive support models.

When your employees need help, our help desk provides responsive support through multiple channels including phone, email, chat, and remote desktop assistance. Our technicians are experienced professionals who resolve most issues on the first contact, minimizing downtime and keeping your team productive. For issues that cannot be resolved remotely, we dispatch on-site technicians throughout the Research Triangle area. Our ticketing system tracks every request from submission to resolution, providing full transparency into support activities and response times.

Beyond day-to-day support, PTG provides strategic technology guidance through our virtual CIO and virtual CISO services. Our technology advisors work with your leadership team to develop IT roadmaps, evaluate technology investments, plan for growth, and align technology strategy with business objectives. Regular technology reviews ensure that your infrastructure remains current, secure, and capable of supporting your business as it evolves. This strategic partnership ensures that technology serves as a competitive advantage rather than a source of frustration and unexpected costs.

Our Approach to Cybersecurity

At Petronella Technology Group, cybersecurity is not just about installing antivirus software or setting up a firewall. We take a comprehensive, layered approach to security that addresses people, processes, and technology. Our methodology is built on industry-standard frameworks including NIST Cybersecurity Framework, CIS Controls, and MITRE ATT&CK, ensuring that your security program is aligned with the same standards used by Fortune 500 companies and government agencies. Every engagement begins with a thorough assessment of your current security posture, followed by a prioritized remediation roadmap that addresses your most critical risks first.

Our security operations team provides continuous monitoring through our Security Information and Event Management platform, which correlates events across your entire environment to detect threats in real time. When a potential threat is identified, our analysts investigate and respond immediately, often containing threats before they can cause damage. This proactive approach dramatically reduces the risk of successful cyberattacks and provides the rapid response capability that is essential in today's threat landscape.

We believe that employee awareness is one of the most important layers of defense. Human error remains the leading cause of data breaches, and no amount of technology can fully compensate for untrained employees. PTG provides comprehensive security awareness training programs that educate your team about phishing, social engineering, password security, data handling, and incident reporting. Our training programs include simulated phishing campaigns that test employee readiness and identify areas where additional education is needed, helping organizations build a strong security culture from the ground up.

Beyond prevention, PTG prepares organizations for the reality that breaches can occur despite the best defenses. Our incident response planning services help businesses develop, document, and test response procedures so that when an incident does occur, your team knows exactly what to do. From tabletop exercises to full incident simulations, we ensure that your organization is prepared to respond quickly and effectively, minimizing damage, preserving evidence, and meeting all regulatory notification requirements within required timeframes.

Additional Questions and Answers

What does managed IT services include?
Managed IT services from PTG include proactive network monitoring and management, help desk support, server and workstation maintenance, patch management, backup and disaster recovery, cybersecurity monitoring, vendor management, hardware procurement, and strategic IT planning. Our managed services are designed to provide businesses in Raleigh, Durham, and the Research Triangle with a complete IT department at a predictable monthly cost, eliminating the overhead and risk of managing technology infrastructure in-house while ensuring your systems remain secure, updated, and optimized for peak performance.
How is managed IT different from break-fix IT support?
Break-fix IT support is reactive, meaning you only call for help when something breaks, and you pay per incident or per hour. Managed IT services are proactive, with continuous monitoring, preventive maintenance, and strategic planning designed to prevent problems before they occur. Managed IT typically results in significantly less downtime, better security, more predictable costs, and improved technology alignment with business goals. PTG managed IT clients experience up to seventy percent fewer emergencies and greater productivity compared to break-fix arrangements, with flat monthly pricing that eliminates unexpected repair bills.
What is the average response time for IT support requests?
PTG provides tiered response times based on issue severity. Critical issues affecting business operations receive immediate response, typically within fifteen minutes. High-priority issues are addressed within one hour. Standard requests are handled within four business hours. Our help desk is staffed by experienced technicians who can resolve most issues remotely, with on-site support available throughout the Research Triangle when needed. We maintain detailed service level agreements with transparent reporting so you always know how your technology environment is performing and how quickly issues are being resolved.
Can PTG support both Windows and Mac environments?
Yes, PTG provides managed IT services for Windows, Mac, and Linux environments, as well as hybrid environments that include multiple operating systems. Our technicians are certified and experienced in managing diverse technology ecosystems, including Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Apple Business Manager, and various line-of-business applications. We also support mobile device management for iOS and Android devices, ensuring comprehensive coverage for modern business environments. Whether your team uses desktops, laptops, tablets, or smartphones, PTG has the expertise to keep everything running smoothly and securely.
What is included in backup and disaster recovery services?
PTG backup and disaster recovery services include automated daily backups of servers and workstations, encrypted offsite and cloud backup storage, regular backup verification and testing, documented disaster recovery plans, and rapid restoration capabilities. We use enterprise-grade backup solutions that support both image-based and file-level recovery with retention policies tailored to your business and compliance requirements. Our disaster recovery planning includes business impact analysis, recovery time and recovery point objectives, and regular tabletop exercises to ensure your organization can recover quickly from any disruption.

PTG Service Areas

Petronella Technology Group delivers a comprehensive suite of technology and cybersecurity services to businesses throughout the Research Triangle. Our managed IT services provide proactive monitoring, maintenance, and help desk support that keeps your technology running smoothly and your team productive. We handle everything from server management and workstation support to cloud migrations and network infrastructure, giving you a complete IT department without the overhead of hiring in-house staff.

Our cybersecurity services protect your business from the constantly evolving threat landscape. We offer security risk assessments, vulnerability scanning, penetration testing, security awareness training, endpoint detection and response, email security, and managed SIEM monitoring. For businesses that need to meet regulatory requirements, our compliance consulting services cover CMMC, NIST, HIPAA, SOC 2, PCI DSS, GDPR, CCPA, ISO 27001, and FTC Safeguards Rule compliance with gap assessments, remediation planning, policy development, and audit preparation.

PTG also provides digital forensics and incident response services for businesses and law firms dealing with data breaches, cybercrimes, and litigation support. Our forensic lab handles computer and mobile device forensics, network forensics, cryptocurrency investigation, and electronic discovery. Craig Petronella provides expert witness testimony and forensic consulting for attorneys across North Carolina. Additionally, our cloud services team manages migrations to and ongoing operations in Microsoft Azure, AWS, Google Cloud, and private cloud environments.

Our emerging technology practice helps businesses leverage artificial intelligence, blockchain, and automation securely and compliantly. From custom AI development and secure inference hosting to AI compliance consulting and blockchain security, PTG ensures that organizations can adopt new technologies without compromising security or regulatory standing. We combine deep technical expertise with practical business insight to deliver technology solutions that drive real results for businesses of all sizes in the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area.

Ready to Get Started?

Contact Petronella Technology Group today for a free consultation. Serving Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, and the Research Triangle since 2002.

919-348-4912 Schedule a Free Consultation

5540 Centerview Dr., Suite 200, Raleigh, NC 27606