CMMC & Security Training in Raleigh-Durham

Prepare your team with incident response training and security awareness education. Petronella Technology Group provides comprehensive cybersecurity training for organizations across the Triangle.

Cybersecurity Training for CMMC Readiness

Achieving and maintaining CMMC compliance requires more than technical controls -- it demands a workforce that understands cybersecurity best practices and knows how to respond when incidents occur. Petronella Technology Group provides comprehensive training programs that cover both incident response preparedness and ongoing security awareness for organizations in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, and the Research Triangle.

Our training programs are designed to be practical, engaging, and relevant to the real threats your team faces every day. Whether you are preparing for CMMC certification or simply want to reduce your organization's risk, our training delivers measurable results.

Incident Response Training

When a security incident occurs, your team's response in the first minutes and hours can make the difference between a contained event and a catastrophic breach. Our incident response training covers:

  • How to identify and classify security incidents
  • Proper initial response procedures and escalation paths
  • Evidence preservation and chain of custody requirements
  • Communication protocols during active incidents
  • Containment, eradication, and recovery procedures
  • Post-incident analysis and lessons learned
  • Tabletop exercises simulating real-world scenarios

Security Awareness Training

Human error causes the vast majority of data breaches. Simple mistakes -- clicking a phishing link, sharing a password, or connecting to an unsecured Wi-Fi network -- can compromise your entire organization. Our security awareness training covers:

  • Identifying phishing emails and malicious website links
  • Creating and managing strong passwords
  • Protecting personally identifiable information (PII)
  • Recognizing social engineering tactics
  • Safe use of personal devices with company data (BYOD)
  • Physical security for portable media and devices
  • Phone scam awareness
  • Wi-Fi security best practices

Our Training Approach

Cloud-Based Portal

Self-paced online training that employees can complete on their own schedule with progress tracking for administrators.

Engaging Content

Interactive videos, real-world examples, and quizzes that keep employees interested and reinforce learning.

Testing & Certification

Employee testing and training certificates that document compliance for audit purposes.

Regular Updates

Content is continuously updated to address emerging threats and evolving attack techniques.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is security awareness training required for CMMC?
Yes. CMMC requires organizations to provide security awareness training to all users. The specific requirements depend on your target CMMC level, but all levels require some form of security awareness education.
How often should training be conducted?
We recommend annual security awareness training with quarterly reinforcement through simulated phishing exercises and security tips. Incident response tabletop exercises should be conducted at least annually.
Can training be customized for our organization?
Yes. We tailor our training programs to your industry, your specific compliance requirements, and the threat landscape relevant to your organization.
Do employees receive certificates upon completion?
Yes. Employees who complete the training receive certificates, and administrators get detailed reports showing completion status and assessment results for compliance documentation.
Can training be delivered on-site?
Yes. We offer both online self-paced training and on-site instructor-led sessions for organizations in the Raleigh-Durham area.

Train Your Team to Be Your First Line of Defense

Contact Petronella Technology Group to implement cybersecurity training that reduces risk and supports CMMC compliance.

919-348-4912 Schedule Training

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, 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.

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