Cybersecurity Challenges for SMBs and Nonprofits
Today’s cybersecurity landscape presents unique challenges for small and mid-sized organizations. Three forces are driving unprecedented risk:
- The Industrialization of Cybercrime
Cybercrime has become a global industry. Well-funded criminal networks are expanding their reach, increasingly targeting small and mid-sized organizations because they are easier to exploit. - Enterprise-Focused Cybersecurity Firms
Most cybersecurity providers focus on servicing large, for-profit enterprises. Their pricing and service models often leave SMBs and nonprofits underserved and unprotected. - AI-Powered Cybercrime
Artificial Intelligence tools are enabling more criminals, from anywhere in the world, to launch convincing phishing campaigns and fraud schemes at scale.
The 501CISO Solution
501CISO was designed to meet these challenges head-on, with a model built specifically for SMBs and nonprofits:
- Purpose-Built for SMBs and NPOs
A specialized cybersecurity solution focused on protecting smaller organizations that are often overlooked by traditional providers. - Framework Tuned to Your Reality
We apply a proven cybersecurity framework—expanded and tuned to the needs of SMBs, nonprofit data types, realistic budgets, and cloud-centric operations. - Affordable and Accessible
We deliver cost-effective services that meet organizations where they are. Cost should never be a barrier to improving cybersecurity.
501CISO can provide your organization:
- Fractional Chief Information Security Officer Services (CISO)
- A full baseline cybersecurity risk assessment
- HIPAA compliance assessments
- PCI compliance assessments
- Continually updated roadmap to direct IT staff
- Internal IT staff and third-party vendor management
- Security Policies and Procedures
- Phishing Testing and Training Best Practices
- Executive-level and Board-level communication of your risk position and strategy
- Support during security incidents
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CISO Leadership Services for Small & Medium Nonprofits
What You Get:
- Affordable cybersecurity leadership designed for nonprofits with limited IT resources.
- CyberSafe assessments that provide a clear, prioritized roadmap for improvement.
- Policies templates and best practices tailored for small teams.
- Staff training best practices on phishing, password hygiene, and safe practices.
- Vendor and technology evaluations to ensure appropriate protections.
Benefits to Your Organization:
- A stronger security foundation without unnecessary complexity or cost.
- Easy-to-understand action items that reduce organizational risk.
- Increased staff awareness and safer day-to-day operations.
- Management of your MSP to ensure proper remediation of control gaps.
- Greater confidence for leadership, boards, and funders.
Fractional CISO Services for Large Nonprofits
What You Get:
- Part-time, ongoing cybersecurity leadership without the cost of a full-time hire.
- Strategic planning and oversight to align cybersecurity with organizational goals.
- Direct guidance and oversight for IT teams and managed service providers.
- Risk assessments, compliance monitoring, policies, and incident response preparation.
- Regular reporting and briefings for executives and the board.
Benefits to Your Organization:
- Expert CISO leadership that strengthens governance and accountability.
- Improved alignment between cybersecurity, operations, and mission priorities.
- Reduced risk of breaches, fines, or reputational damage.
- Clear visibility into your cybersecurity program’s maturity and progress.
PCI Compliance Consulting
What You Get:
- PCI DSS gap assessments and remediation roadmaps.
- Support completing Self-Assessment Questionnaires (SAQs).
- Guidance on selecting and managing compliant payment processors.
- Training for staff who handle credit card transactions.
Benefits to Your Organization:
- Simplified compliance process tailored to nonprofit use cases.
- Reduced liability from data breaches or noncompliance.
- Increased donor trust through secure payment practices.
- Peace of mind knowing you meet industry requirements.
HIPAA Compliance Consulting for Medical Organizations
What You Get:
- HIPAA Security Risk Assessments (SRAs) aligned with regulatory expectations.
- Customized policies and procedures for handling protected health information (PHI).
- Workforce training to ensure staff understand compliance responsibilities.
- Support with incident response planning and breach notification procedures.
- Ongoing monitoring and compliance check-ins.
Benefits to Your Organization:
- Confidence that you’re meeting HIPAA’s security and privacy standards.
- Reduced risk of costly fines, penalties, or reputational harm.
- Clear policies and training that empower staff to do the right thing.
- Stronger trust with patients, partners, and regulators.
Cybersecurity Thought Leadership & Speaking Services
What You Get:
- Keynotes and breakout sessions at conferences and association events.
- Executive briefings tailored for boards and senior leadership.
- Webinars and workshops for staff awareness and training.
- Topics include: industrialization of cybercrime, managing MSPs, staff cyber responsibilities, and practical nonprofit risk management.
Benefits to Your Organization:
- Increased awareness of cyber risks across leadership and staff.
- Engaging, accessible presentations that make cybersecurity approachable.
- Stronger organizational culture of security and accountability.
- Positioning your nonprofit as forward-thinking and cyber-aware.
Satisfied Customers and Partners
Get Started Now
Get a complete understanding of your current cybersecurity risk, clarity on your priorities and roadmap to your secure future.
501CISO services are provided by ClearTone Consulting. Brian Scott, CISSP, founder and president of ClearTone Consulting, has a 37-year technology career with the last 22 years in the CIO/CISO role. He has 24 years of experience in working with SMB’s, associations and nonprofit, and medical organizations. He has led large technology teams (up to 85 staff) within organizations including significant focus on cybersecurity, having overseen compliance with HIPAA, PCI, SSAE-18 SOC 2, CIS and NIST control frameworks.
Brian is a Certified Information System Security Professional accredited through ISC2.
Plan Features
Service | Description | Small Organization | HIPAA Organization | Medium to Large Organization |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Fractional CISO | Cybersecurity expertise to assess current status and create actionable security roadmap |  | | |
SMB Cybersecurity Assessment | A tailored security assessment that covers the essentials for the small to medium sized organization | | ||
HIPAA Safeguards Assessment | Risk assessment to cover the HIPAA Security Rule Requirements | | ||
Cloud Configuration Review | Complete review of security configuration against best practices for Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace | | | |
Hardware/Software Security Management Plan | Development of security-centric best practices for deploying, managing, and decomissioning end user devices | | | |
Phishing Testing and Training Best Practices | Review and best practice recommendations on phishing testing and training of staff | | | |
Security Policies | Comprehensive set of needed cybersecurity policy templates | | | |
Incident Response Plan | Development of cybersecurity incident response plan to guide your team | | | |
Cyber Insurance Procurement Support | Support in preparation for and responding to cyber insurance questionaires | | | |
Cyber Training Evaluation and Recommendation | Review of current training program and recommendations for improvements | | | |
Staff Annual Cybersecurity Training Program | A comprehensive, real-teim 1 hour traning program to help elavate staff knowledge of cyber risks and responsibilties. | | | |
Comprehensive Cybersecurity Maturity Assessment | Complete assessment based off the Center for Internet Security (CIS) Controls v8 | | ||
Continual Assessment Updates | Continual trending of your up-to-date cyber risk position so you’ll never have to pay for an entire assessment again | | ||
IT Team Remediation Plans | Detailed description of remediation plans for all outstanding tasks | | ||
Quarterly Executive Status Reports | Quarterly executive reports indicating current status, improvements over time, upcoming priorities | | ||
Security Roadmap | 3-, 6-, and 12-month roadmap for security improvements | | ||
Task Prioritization | Continually evolving list of top priorities for your IT team or vendors | | ||
IT Team and THIRD-PARTY Vendor Management | Project management oversight of security projects to maintain focus and accountability | | ||
GDPR/CCPA Guidance and Support | Consultation on maintaing compliacne with GDPR, CCPA and other US State privacy laws | | ||
Discounted rate for additional security services | 30% discount for additional project hours | |
Plan Benefits
- Peace of mind that comes from transparency
- Low cost that fits your organization’s budget
- Compliance to HIPAA, PCI, GDPR, and more
- Complete clarity to your organization’s cyber-maturity
- Time savings for your staff
- Improvement of your phishing testing and training program
- Clear cyber-risk status for your leadership or board
- Insight to your pace of improvement of cyber defense
- Time savings for your IT staff
- Improvement of your phishing testing and training program