Security Risk Assessment for Raleigh-Durham Businesses

Uncover your organization's security vulnerabilities and build a clear roadmap to compliance with a comprehensive security risk assessment from Petronella Technology Group.

Schedule Your Assessment Call 919-348-4912

What Is a Security Risk Assessment?

A security risk assessment is a systematic process of identifying, evaluating, and prioritizing the risks to your organization's information systems and data. Whether you need a basic security overview or a thorough audit aligned with HIPAA, NIST, GDPR, or PCI-DSS requirements, Petronella Technology Group delivers clear, affordable cybersecurity reports that help you understand exactly where you stand.

Our assessment goes beyond automated scanners. We evaluate your people, your policies, and your technology against the attack strategies that have caused significant damage to organizations across every industry. The most devastating compromises are rarely caused by the types of problems that vulnerability scanners alone will find -- they stem from weak processes, insufficient training, and policy gaps that require expert analysis to detect.

Who Needs a Security Risk Assessment?

  • Healthcare organizations that must comply with HIPAA and protect electronic protected health information (ePHI)
  • Legal firms handling privileged and confidential client data
  • Financial services companies subject to SEC, FINRA, and PCI-DSS requirements
  • Federal contractors that must demonstrate NIST 800-171 and CMMC compliance
  • Any business that has experienced a security incident or suspects a breach
  • Organizations in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, and RTP seeking to strengthen their security posture

How PTG Delivers Your Assessment

Our security risk assessment methodology is built on NIST best practices and is tailored to the specific needs and regulatory requirements of your organization:

Threat-Focused Analysis

We evaluate your environment through the lens of real-world threats, identifying the attack vectors most likely to impact your specific industry and infrastructure.

People & Policy Review

We test your team's awareness and your organization's policies against current social engineering tactics and attack strategies.

Technology Assessment

We evaluate firewalls, endpoint protection, network configurations, backup systems, and cloud services for vulnerabilities and misconfigurations.

Compliance Mapping

Your assessment is mapped to the relevant regulatory frameworks -- HIPAA, NIST, PCI-DSS, GDPR, or CMMC -- so you know exactly where you stand.

Actionable Reporting

You receive a detailed report with executive summary, findings, risk ratings, and a prioritized remediation plan with practical steps.

Remediation Support

PTG can help you implement the recommended fixes, from technology upgrades to policy development and employee training.

Benefits of a Security Risk Assessment

  • Gain a clear understanding of your vulnerabilities and where attacks are most likely to occur
  • Determine whether your existing defenses are adequate against real-world threats
  • Expose high-risk vulnerabilities that need immediate attention
  • Build security awareness across management and staff
  • Receive an unbiased, third-party perspective on your security posture
  • Create a documented compliance trail for auditors and regulators
  • Develop a practical roadmap for continuous security improvement

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a security risk assessment and a penetration test?
A security risk assessment evaluates your overall security posture including policies, procedures, and technology controls. A penetration test is a targeted exercise where ethical hackers attempt to exploit specific vulnerabilities. Both are valuable -- the risk assessment provides the big picture, while pen testing validates specific defenses.
How long does a security risk assessment take?
The timeline depends on the size and complexity of your organization. A small business assessment can typically be completed in one to two weeks, while larger organizations may require three to four weeks for a thorough evaluation.
Is a security risk assessment required for HIPAA compliance?
Yes. The HIPAA Security Rule requires covered entities and business associates to conduct a thorough risk assessment of the potential risks and vulnerabilities to the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of electronic protected health information (ePHI). This is one of the most commonly cited areas in HIPAA audits.
What happens after the assessment is complete?
You receive a detailed report with prioritized findings and remediation recommendations. PTG can then help you implement the recommended changes through our managed IT services, or you can use the report to guide your internal IT team's efforts.
Do you offer assessments for businesses outside the Raleigh-Durham area?
Yes. While we are headquartered in Raleigh, NC and specialize in serving Triangle-area businesses, we conduct security risk assessments for organizations nationwide through a combination of on-site and remote assessment techniques.

Take the First Step Toward Stronger Security

Contact Petronella Technology Group today to schedule your security risk assessment and gain the clarity you need to protect your organization.

919-348-4912 Get Started

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

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.

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.

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.

Additional Questions and Answers

What are the most common cybersecurity threats facing businesses today?
The most common cybersecurity threats include ransomware attacks, phishing and social engineering, business email compromise, insider threats, and supply chain attacks. Ransomware alone costs businesses billions of dollars annually, with the average ransom demand exceeding two hundred thousand dollars. Phishing remains the primary attack vector, responsible for over ninety percent of successful breaches. PTG helps businesses in Raleigh, Durham, and the Research Triangle defend against all of these threats through layered security controls, employee training, and continuous monitoring provided by our managed security operations center.
How often should a business conduct cybersecurity assessments?
Best practices recommend conducting comprehensive cybersecurity assessments at least annually, with vulnerability scans performed quarterly or monthly. Businesses in regulated industries such as healthcare, finance, and government contracting may need more frequent assessments to maintain compliance with frameworks like HIPAA, PCI DSS, CMMC, and SOC 2. PTG provides ongoing security assessment services that help organizations identify and remediate vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by threat actors, using industry-standard tools and methodologies aligned with NIST Cybersecurity Framework guidelines.
What is the difference between a vulnerability assessment and penetration testing?
A vulnerability assessment systematically scans your network, systems, and applications to identify known security weaknesses and misconfigurations. A penetration test goes further by actively attempting to exploit those vulnerabilities to determine the real-world impact of a breach. Both are essential components of a mature cybersecurity program. PTG offers both services, providing detailed reports with prioritized remediation recommendations tailored to your specific environment and risk profile. Our penetration testing team uses the same techniques as real-world attackers to give you an accurate picture of your security posture.
How can small businesses afford enterprise-grade cybersecurity?
Small and mid-sized businesses can achieve enterprise-grade security through managed security service providers like PTG. Rather than hiring a full in-house security team costing hundreds of thousands of dollars annually, businesses can leverage PTG's expertise, tools, and twenty-four-seven monitoring at a fraction of the cost. Our managed security packages are designed specifically for SMBs in the Research Triangle, providing comprehensive protection including endpoint detection and response, SIEM monitoring, email security, and compliance management at predictable monthly costs that fit small business budgets.
What should a business do immediately after discovering a data breach?
Upon discovering a data breach, businesses should immediately activate their incident response plan, isolate affected systems to prevent further data loss, preserve all evidence for forensic analysis, notify legal counsel, and begin documenting the timeline of events. Depending on the type of data compromised, regulatory notification requirements under HIPAA, state breach notification laws, or other frameworks may apply with strict deadlines. PTG provides incident response services and digital forensics to help businesses contain breaches, investigate root causes, fulfill all notification obligations, and implement measures to prevent future incidents.

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