Compliance Auditing Services
Payment Card Industry (PCI), Healthcare (HIPAA), Banking (GLBA, FFIEC), Critical Infrastructure (e.g. NIST 800-171), CMMC .....
Compliance Made Easier
Compliance isn't a once-and-done project—it's a continuous process requiring constant vigilance. Organizations must regularly refine policies, validate that security controls are working as intended, and stay on top of recurring obligations. From keeping records current to running periodic reviews, monitoring corrective actions, and preparing for audits, the workload is relentless. Add in shifting regulations and evolving standards, and it's easy to see why compliance can feel overwhelming.
That's where Contextual Security Solutions comes in. We lighten the load by helping you understand not just what each control requires, but why it matters and how it fits your unique operations. We keep you aligned with the daily, monthly, quarterly, and annual tasks your industry expects. Our team provides practical advice on implementing controls effectively, helps optimize your compliance processes, and makes sure critical items don't slip through. When regulations shift, we get you ready before the deadline hits. Simply put, we make compliance work for you.
Context Matters
At Contextual Security Solutions, we pair every client engagement with dedicated compliance and security consultants who stay with you throughout your project. This hands-on approach has been our standard practice since we opened our doors in 2012. Whether you need clarity on segmentation testing under PCI DSS 4.0.1 (requirement 11.4.5), guidance interpreting HIPAA Breach Notification training requirements (§164.530(b)), or help understanding the scope of NIST 800-171 requirement 3.1.9, you'll have an experienced team at your side. Our practice managers bring decades of expertise across the full compliance landscape—including PCI DSS, PCI SAQ, HIPAA, NIST 800-53, NIST 800-171, NIST CSF, ISO 27001, ISO 27002, and CMMC. Solid security begins with knowing, excels by doing.
IT Manager
Large Retail Merchant
PCI Compliance Auditing and Certification Services
Your Trusted Partner in Payment Card Security
As a Qualified Security Assessor Company (QSAc) since 2012, we bring over a decade of specialized expertise in PCI DSS compliance to organizations of all sizes and across every industry. From major retail enterprises with extensive multi-location footprints to service providers handling the storage, transmission, or processing of cardholder data, to mid-sized organizations embarking on their first formal compliance journey beyond basic SAQ completion—we've guided them all.
What Sets Us Apart
Our distinction lies in the caliber of our team. Every one of our Qualified Security Assessors (QSAs) combines audit expertise with deep technical backgrounds. This dual competency enables us to deliver astute, practical guidance even in the most complex environments. We don't just check boxes—we understand your infrastructure, anticipate challenges, and provide solutions that work in the real world.
Our Service Offerings
Gap Analysis | Unsure of your current compliance posture? Our comprehensive gap analysis validates your scope, identifies which PCI DSS requirements apply to your specific environment, and charts the most efficient path forward. Ideal for organizations seeking clarity before beginning their compliance program.
SAQ Assistance | For companies that regularly self-attest their compliance, we provide expert third-party validation to ensure you're accurately meeting all requirements. Our QSAs review your self-assessment questionnaire responses, verify your interpretations, and confirm your compliance posture with confidence.
Level 1 Merchant Certification | As a QSAC, we perform the comprehensive third-party attestations required for Level 1 merchants and service providers. Our thorough assessment process results in the official Report on Compliance (ROC) and Attestation of Compliance (AOC) needed to satisfy card brand requirements.
PCI General Consulting | For everything in between, our QSAs offer flexible consulting services spanning all domains of the PCI DSS framework. Whether you need guidance on segmentation strategies, scoping assistance, remediation planning, or preparation for your upcoming assessment—we're here to help.
Beyond the Framework
We have compliance experts with years of demonstrated experience on the technical side. We don't just answer controls—we learn and truly understand your cardholder data environment (CDE). With that knowledge and experience comes not only a strong commitment to being in your corner and reporting fairly, but infrastructure acumen that takes you beyond where the controls are and prepares you for where information security is going.
When you work with us, you gain more than auditors. You gain partners invested in your security, your success, and your ability to protect what matters most—your customers' trust.
Ready to strengthen your PCI compliance program? Contact us today to discuss how we can support your organization's unique needs.
Healthcare (HIPAA) Compliance Assessment
Is Your Protected Health Information Really Secure?
Each year, medical organizations nationwide experience breaches of electronic protected health information (ePHI). What's even more troubling? Thousands of organizations share the same vulnerabilities, they just haven't been exploited yet. Could yours be one of them? How confident are you in where your protected health information resides, how it's safeguarded, and whether your defenses will hold?
Discover Where Your Data Actually Lives
Many healthcare auditing firms claim to conduct comprehensive HIPAA Security Rule, Breach, and Privacy reviews. But when they're finished, can you truly say you know where all your protected health information is stored, how it's maintained, and what protections are actively working to keep it safe?
Our HIPAA Audit Protocol takes a different approach. We conduct an exhaustive examination of your people, processes, technologies (including EHR/EMR systems), and environments. We identify and evaluate risks to your ePHI, then provide actionable recommendations that give you genuine confidence in your patient data security.
Partner with Experts Who Stand Beside You
Unlike auditors who simply deliver a report and move on, we're committed to being your ally throughout the remediation process. Our team provides in-depth briefings tailored to C-suite executives, technical staff, and board members alike. We've guided leading medical organizations and healthcare retailers through complex remediation plans, delivering practical, actionable advice that resonates with both technical and non-technical teams.
CMMC Readiness Audit & Assessment Services
Achieve CMMC Compliance and Win DoD Contracts with Confidence
Navigating the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) requirements doesn't have to be overwhelming. Whether you're a prime contractor, subcontractor, or supplier in the Defense Industrial Base, we provide the expert guidance and technical assessments you need to achieve certification and maintain your competitive edge in the DoD marketplace.
Comprehensive CMMC Support
From initial education to certification readiness, we support you at every stage of your CMMC journey:
- CMMC Education & Consulting - We help you understand CMMC requirements, determine your target level, and develop a clear roadmap to certification tailored to your organization's size and complexity.
- Gap Assessments - Our thorough evaluations identify exactly where your current security posture falls short of CMMC requirements, providing you with a prioritized action plan to close gaps efficiently.
- Technical Security Assessments - We conduct the detailed security assessments required within the CMMC framework, including system security plan reviews, penetration testing, vulnerability assessments, and control validation.
Technical Expertise That Makes the Difference
What sets us apart is our team's deep technical background. Our assessors don't just check boxes, they understand the complex technical environments defense contractors operate in. This expertise allows us to provide practical, implementable guidance on even the most challenging gaps, from network segmentation and encryption to access controls and incident response.
We speak your language, whether you're dealing with legacy systems, cloud environments, or hybrid infrastructures, and we deliver solutions that work in the real world while meeting CMMC standards.
Ready to Start Your CMMC Journey?
Don't let CMMC requirements keep you from pursuing DoD contracts. Contact us today to discuss your certification needs and learn how we can help you achieve compliance efficiently and effectively.
SOC 2 Readiness Assessment
SOC 2 Audit Readiness Assessment
Prepare your organization for a successful SOC 2 audit with our comprehensive readiness assessment. We evaluate your current security posture against SOC 2 Trust Services Criteria and provide a clear roadmap to certification.
What We Deliver
Our assessment identifies gaps between your existing controls and SOC 2 requirements, giving you actionable insights to remediate issues before engaging with an auditor. We conduct a thorough evaluation of your policies, procedures, and technical controls across all relevant Trust Services Criteria—Security, Availability, Processing Integrity, Confidentiality, and Privacy.
Our Approach
We begin with a scoping session to understand your systems, services, and business objectives. Our team then performs document reviews, interviews with key personnel, and technical assessments of your infrastructure and processes. We map your existing controls to SOC 2 requirements and identify areas requiring remediation or enhancement.
Key Deliverables
- Gap analysis report detailing deficiencies and compliance status
- Prioritized remediation roadmap with implementation timelines
- Control matrix mapping your controls to Trust Services Criteria
- Executive summary for stakeholders and leadership
- Ongoing consultation during remediation phase
Why Choose Our Assessment
We reduce audit costs by ensuring you're truly ready before formal examination begins, minimizing findings and accelerating your path to compliance.