--- title: "Cybersecurity & Compliance for SMBs | Bytes Unlimited" description: "SANS-aligned cybersecurity and compliance services for SMBs — PCI DSS readiness, security awareness training, CIS Controls IG1 baselines, vulnerability assessments, and incident response planning. Delivered by a SANS SSAP and GIAC GSLC certified practitioner with deep PCI DSS operational experience." canonical: https://www.bytesunlimited.com/services/security/ --- SECURITY & COMPLIANCE # Cybersecurity & Compliance for SMBs PCI DSS readiness, threat modeling, security awareness training, vulnerability assessments, and incident response planning — SANS-aligned and delivered by a SANS SSAP and GIAC GSLC certified practitioner. Anthony held the PCI Qualified Integrator and Reseller (QIR) credential through 2023; the operational PCI DSS experience that earned it continues to shape every engagement. Risk-based, not checkbox-based. [Get Started](/contact/) [All Services](/services/) WHAT'S INCLUDED ## Core capabilities * ![](/icons/icon-compliance.svg) ### PCI DSS readiness & audits SAQ selection, gap analysis, scope reduction, and remediation roadmaps for any business handling card payments. Our deepest compliance area — Anthony was certified as a Qualified Integrator and Reseller (QIR, 2022-2023) and the operational depth continues through current client work. * ![](/icons/icon-training.svg) ### Security awareness training Practical, role-based training that changes end-user behavior. SANS SSAP-certified programs with quarterly phishing simulations, role-targeted scenarios (finance gets wire-fraud, IT gets credential phishing), and digestible follow-up. * ![](/icons/icon-security.svg) ### CIS IG1 baseline & general hygiene CIS Controls v8.1 Implementation Group 1 baseline for clients without a specific compliance regime in scope. Also covers SOC 2 readiness for SaaS / B2B clients with their own SOC 2 program. Defensible security posture for cyber-insurance underwriting. * ![](/icons/icon-security.svg) ### Incident response & vulnerability management IR runbooks, tabletop exercises, and on-call retainers so you know exactly who calls whom and what gets pulled offline when something happens. Periodic vulnerability scanning plus reasoned prioritization — fix what actually matters first, not whatever the scanner screamed about loudest. WHY IT MATTERS ## Security isn’t a product There is no buy-one-thing-and-be-safe answer to cybersecurity. Security is a discipline: a threat model that names what you're protecting, a set of controls that match the threats, and an ongoing review loop to keep them honest. Anyone selling you a single SKU as the complete answer is selling something else. We work top-down from your business risk — what would actually hurt this business if compromised — and bottom-up from the practical controls (MFA, patching, backups, awareness, monitoring) that materially move the needle. The result is a smaller, defensible stack of controls instead of a tool-chain you didn't need. FIND YOUR PATH ## Which framework applies to you? ### PCI DSS If you take card payments you’re in scope regardless of size — the only question is which SAQ tier. We handle SAQ selection, scope reduction, and gap analysis; Anthony held the PCI Qualified Integrator & Reseller (QIR) credential through 2023 and the operational depth continues. The biggest lever is shrinking scope so the tier itself drops to a simpler one. ### CIS Controls IG1 No regulatory hook? This is our default baseline — CIS v8.1 Implementation Group 1, a manageable set of foundational controls sized for SMBs. It overlaps PCI and SOC 2 fundamentals, so it scales up cleanly if a regime later applies. ### SOC 2 readiness For SaaS / B2B vendors: we map current controls to the Trust Service Criteria, document the gaps, and build a remediation roadmap for a first Type I — or support your existing SOC 2 program as a vendor. ### Underwriting-ready posture For a cyber-insurance renewal: MFA, patching, backups, awareness, and IR — the controls underwriters now require. We get you to a defensible, attestable posture, with CIS IG1 as the usual backbone. COMMON QUESTIONS ## Frequently Asked Questions What's the difference between a security audit and an assessment? Assessments are informal and broader — a structured review of your environment against a framework, useful for getting your bearings. Audits are formal and scoped against a specific standard (PCI DSS SAQ A, B, etc., or HIPAA Security Rule subpart) with documented evidence. Most SMBs need an assessment first; only some need a formal audit. Do you handle PCI DSS Self-Assessment Questionnaires (SAQs)? Yes — this is our deepest compliance area. Anthony was certified as a PCI Qualified Integrator and Reseller (QIR) in 2022 and the operational experience that earned the credential continues to inform PCI work today. Most SMBs that take card payments are eligible for an SAQ — we'll walk you through which one applies based on your processing model (hosted checkout, point-of-sale, etc.), close the gaps, and prepare the documentation. The biggest leverage is usually scope reduction — structuring the payment flow so the SAQ tier itself drops to a simpler one. What if we don't have a specific compliance regime in scope? We default to CIS Controls v8.1 Implementation Group 1 as a general baseline. CIS IG1 is a manageable set of foundational security controls designed for SMB-sized organizations that don't have a specific regulatory hook but still need defensible posture — for cyber-insurance underwriting, for B2B contract requirements, for general operational maturity. The controls overlap heavily with PCI DSS and SOC 2 fundamentals, so the work scales up cleanly if a specific regime later applies. Do you support SOC 2 readiness work? Yes — typically for SaaS or B2B clients who have their own SOC 2 program and need us as a supporting vendor, or for clients pursuing a Type I report for the first time. We map current controls against the relevant Trust Service Criteria, document the gaps, and build a remediation roadmap that fits a realistic audit-readiness timeline. Do you offer incident response retainers? Yes, for existing managed clients. The retainer covers a defined number of IR hours per quarter plus a 24/7 emergency line. For non-clients, we'll do IR work hourly at our standard engineering rate. How is security awareness training delivered? A mix of short on-demand modules (15-20 minutes), monthly email-based phishing simulations, and quarterly reporting on results. We tune content to the roles in your org so finance gets wire-fraud scenarios, IT gets credential-phishing, and so on. What about HIPAA risk assessments? Yes — the HIPAA Security Rule requires a documented risk analysis covering administrative, physical, and technical safeguards. We run the assessment, document findings, and build a corrective-action plan. HIPAA work is typically scoped per engagement for healthcare-vertical clients rather than offered as a marketing leader; the BAA carries real legal liability that we want both sides to enter deliberately. We're a small business. Do we really need formal compliance work? If you take card payments, you're in PCI DSS scope regardless of size — the question is which SAQ tier. If you handle protected health information, HIPAA applies regardless of headcount. For other businesses, formal compliance is optional but the underlying hygiene (MFA, backups, patching) is not — which is what CIS IG1 covers as a general baseline. ## Ready to talk about Security & Compliance? First conversation is always free. Tell us what you're trying to solve and we'll scope a fit. [ Get In Touch ](/contact/) [ Explore Services ](/services/) ## Sitemap - [Site map](https://www.bytesunlimited.com/sitemap.md) - [llms.txt](https://www.bytesunlimited.com/llms.txt) - [Canonical URL list](https://www.bytesunlimited.com/sitemap.xml)