SystemExperts™ is different from other network security consulting firms. One difference is that we don't hire "consultants." We hire experts who have established long-term, successful track records actually doing IT work, not just talking about it. For some, that meant designing and developing sophisticated middleware technologies or applications. For others, it meant planning, implementing, and managing large production data centers.
The differences, which you will immediately recognize, fall into two broad categories:
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In the world of network security, not all problems are equal. Based on our understanding of our clients' businesses, we distill problems to their root causes. We help them to prioritize and to focus on solving the problems that could jeopardize the business itself. Most network security consulting firms get themselves mired in the technical trivia and are unable to help their clients to see the big picture.
In large companies and in small, we invariably find one or more members of the technical staff who genuinely know what they are doing. Unlike so many network security consulting firms, our methodology enables us to build on the client's strengths. Once we have a sense of the client's level of technical skill, we tailor our recommendations, so that the client will be successful in improving its security.
We shift the burden away from the client and onto ourselves. We make sure we can handle this burden by hiring only expert network security consultants. That allows us to produce outstanding results with little preparation. We believe that IT network security is more than just technology and that security cannot be separated from the business. That's why we have assembled a team of network security consultants who are well-rounded business people, experienced project leaders, and outstanding technologists.
Our business is characterized by long-term relationships with our clients. We are a privately held company and have no outside investors imposing external revenue or profitability goals. This gives us the freedom to do what is best for our clients. They appreciate the difference of working with genuine network security experts who are committed to earning a long-term partnership with them by over-delivering and providing unmatched personal attention.
Unlike most IT network security consultants, we are not afraid to tell our clients what they need to know but don't necessarily want to hear. We have no vested interest in any software company, hardware company, services company, or any particular solution. We recommend what's appropriate for you.
We make it easy for clients to hire us by using a one and a half page contract. Like our technical reports, it contains all the essential elements but without the legal hand waving. Then, we write Statements of Work that make it crystal clear exactly what measurable work product clients will get for the professional fees they pay.
Too many network security consulting firms come in with a standard set of predetermined recommendations and they fail to take into account what actually drives any particular client's business. Our methodology starts by focusing on our client's business. Only when you understand how the systems and networks are used, the value and sensitivity of the information on them, and the client's budget and time constraints, can you even begin to make meaningful technical recommendations.
Our reports are typically eight to fifteen pages. They provide straight answers to the important questions and concrete prioritized recommendations. We challenge ourselves to produce findings and recommendations that are concise, easy to understand, and straightforward to implement - and our clients appreciate it.
The very name "Security Audit" sets the wrong tone for most security projects. Audits generally focus on finding and cataloging symptoms, not causes, and are first and foremost about assessing blame. Also, inherent in that name is an adversarial relationship that undermines rather than supports problem resolution. All of our methodologies are structured to ensure that we work as a partner with our clients to make things better.
Our methodologies are designed to minimize the burden they put on our clients. Invariably, whenever clients hand us detailed system or network diagrams, that is a prelude to hours spent discussing how one part or another has subsequently changed or was never implemented the way the diagram indicated. We find that if we have the right people in a room, they can draw whatever diagrams we need on a whiteboard to a sufficient level to explore the security issues. Similarly, relying on clients to provide detailed information by filling out questionnaires is usually not productive. Too often they just don't know the answers to the critical questions, and we find many of the other answers they provide to be wrong. Given that reality, we don't waste our clients' time on that type of preparation.
We have conducted hundreds of projects where we sequentially met with key players to gather requirements, priorities, or even to learn how an existing system worked. In almost every case, people within an organization have conflicting views about essential matters (e.g., What is important and why? Who makes what decisions? How do things really work?). Unlike most network security consulting firms, we recognize the situation for what it is; the consultant knows less about the client's business than the client does, and yet, in most consulting methodologies, it is the consultant who chooses which conflicting point of view to accept. Our Workshop methodology enables our clients to efficiently recognize and resolve such conflicts in real time instead of merely pointing out where conflicts exist.
Our methodology produces insightful results quickly and economically. There are no administrative or external process-management staff involved. Consulting dollars are efficiently transformed into consulting findings and recommendations.
Peace of mind at an affordable price - You'll be able to sleep at night knowing a team of our network security experts is on your side and watching your back.
Cost-effective compliance services in HIPAA, PCI, and ISO 27002 - working with you to achieve business-practical results.
We’re different – a long term perspective pervades everything we do: quality and responsiveness; staffing and business practices; fixed price engagements; experts and only experts.
Compliance with regulations and contracts is forcing organizations to develop documented security policies.