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, an NC Licensed Digital Forensics Examiner (License# 604180-DFE), CMMC Certified Registered Practitioner, Cybersecurity Expert Witness, Hyperledger Certified, 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.

The PTG Compliance Process

Achieving and maintaining regulatory compliance requires a structured, repeatable process. PTG has developed a proven compliance methodology refined over more than two decades of helping businesses navigate complex regulatory requirements. Our process begins with a comprehensive gap assessment that evaluates your current policies, procedures, and technical controls against the specific requirements of your target framework. This assessment identifies exactly where your organization stands and what needs to be done to achieve compliance.

Following the gap assessment, PTG develops a prioritized remediation roadmap that outlines every action item needed to close identified gaps. We categorize items by risk level and effort required, allowing organizations to address the most critical deficiencies first while planning for longer-term improvements. Our consultants work alongside your team to implement technical controls, develop required policies and procedures, create employee training programs, and establish the documentation and evidence collection processes needed to demonstrate compliance during audits and assessments.

Compliance is not a one-time project but an ongoing commitment. Regulations evolve, threats change, and business environments shift. PTG provides continuous compliance monitoring services that track your compliance status in real time, alert you to emerging gaps, and ensure that your security controls remain effective. We conduct regular internal audits, update policies as regulations change, and prepare your organization for external audits or assessments. Our goal is to make compliance a natural part of your business operations rather than a periodic scramble to meet audit deadlines.

For organizations subject to multiple compliance frameworks, PTG takes a unified approach that maps overlapping requirements across frameworks. Rather than implementing separate programs for each regulation, we build a comprehensive security and compliance program that satisfies multiple requirements simultaneously. This integrated approach reduces costs, eliminates redundant processes, and provides a clearer picture of your overall security and compliance posture, making it easier to manage ongoing obligations and demonstrate compliance to auditors, clients, and business partners.

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 compliance frameworks does PTG help businesses implement?
PTG helps businesses implement and maintain compliance with a wide range of frameworks including CMMC 2.0, NIST 800-171 and 800-172, HIPAA, FTC Safeguards Rule, SOC 2 Type II, PCI DSS, GDPR, CCPA, and ISO 27001. Our compliance consultants work with organizations in Raleigh, Durham, and the Research Triangle to assess current gaps, develop remediation roadmaps, implement required controls, create policy documentation, and prepare for third-party audits or assessments. We take a unified approach that addresses multiple frameworks simultaneously to reduce duplication of effort.
How long does it take to achieve compliance certification?
The timeline varies significantly depending on the framework, organization size, and current security maturity. HIPAA compliance can often be achieved in three to six months with dedicated effort. CMMC Level 2 certification typically requires six to twelve months of preparation. SOC 2 Type II requires a minimum audit observation period of six months. ISO 27001 implementation generally takes six to twelve months. PTG helps organizations develop realistic timelines and prioritize the most critical controls to achieve compliance as efficiently as possible while building a sustainable long-term security program.
What happens if a business fails a compliance audit?
Failing a compliance audit can result in financial penalties, loss of business contracts, reputational damage, and in some cases, legal liability. HIPAA violations can result in fines ranging from one hundred dollars to fifty thousand dollars per violation, up to one and a half million dollars annually per violation category. CMMC non-compliance means losing eligibility for Department of Defense contracts. PCI DSS non-compliance can result in increased transaction fees and loss of payment processing capabilities. PTG helps businesses avoid these consequences through thorough pre-audit preparation, gap assessments, and continuous compliance monitoring.
What is the difference between SOC 2 Type I and Type II?
SOC 2 Type I evaluates the design of your security controls at a specific point in time, providing a snapshot of your security posture. SOC 2 Type II evaluates both the design and operating effectiveness of your controls over a period of time, typically six to twelve months. Type II is considered more rigorous and valuable because it demonstrates that your controls consistently work as intended over an extended period. Most enterprise clients and partners require SOC 2 Type II reports when evaluating vendors. PTG helps organizations prepare for and maintain both types of SOC 2 compliance.
Can one compliance framework satisfy multiple regulatory requirements?
Yes, many compliance frameworks share overlapping controls and requirements. Implementing NIST 800-171 provides a strong foundation for CMMC 2.0 compliance. ISO 27001 maps to many SOC 2 and HIPAA requirements. The NIST Cybersecurity Framework aligns with virtually all other frameworks. PTG takes a unified compliance approach, helping organizations implement controls that satisfy multiple frameworks simultaneously. This integrated strategy reduces duplication of effort, lowers costs, and creates a more cohesive security program that addresses all applicable regulatory requirements without redundant processes or documentation.

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

HIPAA Compliance

HIPAA IT Security Risk Assessment

Your medical practice is required by law to comply with HIPAA. Our Four Pillars Security Risk Assessment identifies vulnerabilities, evaluates your compliance posture, and provides a clear remediation roadmap.

Non-Compliance Can Crush Your Medical Practice

HIPAA violations carry fines starting at $100 per incident and scaling to $50,000 or more per violation category. For medical practices in Raleigh, Durham, Cary, and Chapel Hill, the consequences extend beyond monetary penalties to include reputational damage, loss of patient trust, and potential criminal prosecution. The OCR (Office for Civil Rights) conducts audits and investigates complaints -- and practices that lack a documented security risk assessment are found to be out of compliance by default.

The Four Pillars Assessment

Our comprehensive assessment examines four critical areas of your practice's IT security: network infrastructure, data backup and disaster recovery, security policies and procedures, and employee training. We identify gaps, prioritize risks, and deliver an actionable remediation plan that puts your practice on the path to compliance.

What We Evaluate

Network & Infrastructure

We examine firewall configurations, network segmentation, wireless security, patch management, and endpoint protection to identify vulnerabilities that could expose protected health information.

Data Backup & Recovery

We verify that your backup systems are functioning correctly, test restore procedures, and ensure your disaster recovery plan can get your practice back online after an incident.

Security Policies & Procedures

We review your written policies against HIPAA requirements including access control, sanction policies, emergency operations, facility security, BYOD policies, and more.

Employee Training

We assess whether your staff has received adequate security awareness training and understands their HIPAA responsibilities, including how to handle ePHI and recognize phishing attempts.

Power Protection

We evaluate whether your servers and critical systems have adequate power protection against the nine common power problems that can cause data corruption and hardware failure.

Compliance Documentation

We verify the existence and completeness of required documentation including Business Associate Agreements, written information security policies, and incident response procedures.

Policies & Procedures Required by HIPAA

In addition to Business Associate Agreements, your practice needs documented policies covering:

  • Written Information Security Policy
  • Disaster Recovery Plan
  • Sanction Policy
  • Emergency Operations Policy
  • Network Security Policy
  • Access Control Policy
  • Computer Use Policy
  • Equipment Disposal Policy
  • Termination Policy
  • Security Incident Response
  • Facility Security Plan
  • BYOD Policy

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a HIPAA security risk assessment really required?

Yes. The HIPAA Security Rule explicitly requires covered entities and business associates to conduct a thorough risk assessment. The OCR has cited the lack of a risk assessment as the most common finding in breach investigations and audits.

How long does the assessment take?

The assessment typically takes a few days depending on the size and complexity of your practice. We schedule it to minimize disruption to your daily operations and patient care.

What happens after the assessment?

We deliver a detailed report of findings, risk ratings, and a prioritized remediation plan. Our team can then assist with implementing the recommended changes, from policy development to technical controls.

Does this apply to small practices?

Yes. HIPAA applies to all covered entities regardless of size. Small practices in Raleigh, Durham, and across the Triangle face the same compliance requirements as large health systems, and the fines apply equally.

Can you help us become fully HIPAA-compliant?

Absolutely. Beyond the initial assessment, Petronella Technology Group provides ongoing compliance services including policy development, employee training, technical remediation, and annual reassessments to maintain your compliance posture.

Who leads the assessment?

Our assessments are led by Craig Petronella, a CMMC Registered Practitioner and cybersecurity expert with decades of experience helping medical practices in the Triangle navigate HIPAA requirements. Craig is the author of "How HIPAA Can Crush Your Medical Practice."

Find Out If Your Practice Is HIPAA-Compliant

Schedule a call to discuss your practice's compliance status and learn how our Four Pillars Assessment can protect you from costly violations.

Schedule Your HIPAA Assessment

Call 919-348-4912

Petronella Technology Group, Inc. • 5540 Centerview Dr., Suite 200, Raleigh, NC 27606