SecurityMetrics - Detailed Review
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SecurityMetrics - Product Overview
Introduction to SecurityMetrics
SecurityMetrics is a leading provider of data security and compliance solutions, founded in 2000. Here’s a brief overview of its primary function, target audience, and key features:Primary Function
SecurityMetrics specializes in protecting businesses from data breaches and ensuring compliance with various security standards such as PCI DSS, HIPAA, GDPR, and HITRUST. Their primary function is to detect vulnerabilities, prevent cyber threats, and help organizations maintain a strong security posture.Target Audience
The target audience for SecurityMetrics includes a wide range of businesses, particularly those in the retail industry. According to the data, 59% of their customers are in the United States, and 22% are in the United Kingdom. The majority of their clients are small to medium-sized businesses with 1-10 employees and revenues between $1 million and $10 million, although they also serve larger enterprises.Key Features
Vulnerability Detection and Remediation
SecurityMetrics Pulse is a key tool that detects vulnerabilities and prioritizes their resolution based on risk levels. It provides a ranked action list of vulnerabilities, segmented by threat level, and categorizes them into areas such as outdated software, design flaws, network misconfigurations, and unsupported OS.Compliance Services
SecurityMetrics offers comprehensive compliance services, including PCI audits, HIPAA audits, GDPR audits, and HITRUST audits. They simplify the PCI assessment process with clear communication and meeting deadlines, ensuring businesses comply with payment card industry standards.Advanced Endpoint Protection
Their endpoint security solutions protect against malware, ransomware, exploits, and viruses. This includes anti-ransomware technology that detects and stops malicious encryption processes, enhancing attack trend analysis.Penetration Testing and Forensics
SecurityMetrics provides award-winning penetration testing using ethical hacking methodologies to identify vulnerabilities. Their forensic investigators help organizations recover from data breaches and security incidents, minimizing breach impact and maintaining reputation.Webpage Integrity Monitoring (WIM)
WIM technology detects web skimming attacks by simulating purchases on webpages and identifying malicious JavaScript. This solution is crucial for ecommerce businesses to protect against data theft during checkout processes.Training and Consulting
SecurityMetrics offers workforce training and IT consulting services to address compliance and security requirements. Their trainings are customizable to meet the specific needs of different businesses.Threat Intelligence and Monitoring
The SecurityMetrics Threat Intelligence Center provides ongoing monitoring and analysis of threats. The Pulse dashboard offers real-time information on the security environment and guides users on next steps to reconcile threats. By leveraging these features, SecurityMetrics helps businesses of all sizes protect their data, achieve compliance, and maintain a secure network environment. SecurityMetrics - User Interface and Experience
User Interface
The user interface of SecurityMetrics is designed to be user-friendly and intuitive. Here are some notable features:
- Merchant Portal: The platform offers an easy-to-use merchant portal, which is a central hub for managing various security and compliance tasks. This portal is described as simple to navigate, reducing the time merchants need to become compliant.
- Clear Reporting: SecurityMetrics Pulse, for instance, provides an executive-level summary report that includes a rating of network security health, a list of locations sending data to the Threat Intelligence Center, and a risk breakdown of vulnerabilities. This report is presented in a clear and organized manner, making it easy for users to track their progress and identify areas needing attention.
- Prioritized Vulnerability Lists: The SecurityMetrics Pulse dashboard compiles vulnerabilities into a ranked action list, categorizing them by threat level and segmenting them by location. This helps users focus their security efforts on the most critical issues first.
Ease of Use
The ease of use is a significant focus for SecurityMetrics:
- Simplified SAQs: The PCI program offered by SecurityMetrics includes simplified Self-Assessment Questionnaires (SAQs), which make the compliance process easier for merchants to manage.
- 24/7 Support: The platform is supported by a 24/7 support team, ensuring that users have immediate assistance whenever they need it. This support is crucial for resolving issues quickly and maintaining a smooth user experience.
- Automated Scans: Tools like SecurityMetrics Mobile and Webpage Integrity Monitoring (WIM) allow users to perform scans with the push of a button, automatically searching for and identifying malicious threats and vulnerabilities. This automation simplifies the security monitoring process.
Overall User Experience
The overall user experience is enhanced by several factors:
- Customization and Scalability: SecurityMetrics solutions are scalable and customizable for businesses of all sizes, ensuring that the tools fit the specific needs of each user.
- Guided Remediation: After identifying vulnerabilities, SecurityMetrics provides guided remediation steps, including detailed lists of found vulnerabilities and remediation instructions. This helps users address security issues effectively.
- Continuous Monitoring: Features like automatic scans and notifications in SecurityMetrics Mobile ensure that users can maintain ongoing security without constant manual intervention. This continuous monitoring helps in keeping the devices and webpages secure over time.
In summary, SecurityMetrics focuses on creating a user interface that is intuitive, easy to use, and supportive, with clear reporting, automated scans, and continuous monitoring features that enhance the overall user experience.
SecurityMetrics - Key Features and Functionality
SecurityMetrics Key Features and Functionalities
SecurityMetrics offers several key features and functionalities, particularly in their AI-driven products, that are designed to enhance and streamline cybersecurity efforts. Here are the main features and how they work:Compromised Network Identification and Notification
SecurityMetrics Pulse includes a feature that identifies and notifies users about compromised networks. This involves continuous monitoring of the network to detect any vulnerabilities or threats. Once identified, the system alerts the user, ensuring prompt action can be taken to secure the network.Tracking Progress and Risk Breakdown
The SecurityMetrics Pulse dashboard provides an executive-level summary report that includes a rating of the network security health based on identified vulnerabilities. It also lists all locations sending data to the Threat Intelligence Center and offers a risk breakdown of newly discovered, persistent, and resolved vulnerabilities. This helps users track their progress and focus on the most critical issues.Remediation and Compliance Reporting
After identifying vulnerabilities, SecurityMetrics assists in remediation and retesting. Once the issues are resolved, they submit the Attestation of Compliance (AOC) and Report on Compliance (ROC) to relevant parties, such as card brands or merchant banks, ensuring compliance with various security standards like PCI, HIPAA, and GDPR.Prioritized Vulnerability List
SecurityMetrics Pulse generates a prioritized list of vulnerabilities discovered through various sensors. This list is compiled and ranked by a Threat Intelligence Center Analyst, categorizing vulnerabilities by threat level and type (e.g., outdated software/services, design flaws, network misconfigurations, and unsupported OS). This helps users focus on the most critical vulnerabilities first.Advanced Endpoint Protection
The endpoint security feature protects locations from malware, ransomware, exploits, and viruses. Using anti-ransomware technology, it detects and stops malicious encryption processes from spreading across the network. Data from these protections is sent to the SecurityMetrics Threat Intelligence Center to enhance attack trend analysis.AI-Driven Threat Detection and Alert Triage
SecurityMetrics leverages AI to enhance threat detection and alert triage. AI tools automatically prioritize alerts, filter out false positives, and ensure that analysts focus on real security issues. This streamlines the triage process, improving accuracy and efficiency. For example, AI can quickly detect suspicious and malicious activity in large codebases, a task that previously required many man-hours.Shopping Cart Inspect Tool
For e-commerce businesses, the Shopping Cart Inspect tool combines forensic tools with human analysis to identify malicious or suspicious issues in the checkout process. AI helps in quickly detecting these issues, reducing the time and complexity involved in identifying the source of data breaches.External Vulnerability Scanning
SecurityMetrics offers external vulnerability assessment tools that use AI to identify external network vulnerabilities. These tools allow for flexible scanning schedules, detailed scanning reports, and the ability to group and label scan targets by location or network type. AI integration helps in continuously updating the scan engine to identify top risks such as misconfigured firewalls, malware hazards, and remote access vulnerabilities.Integration with Security Operations Center (SecOps)
SecurityMetrics operates a PCI-certified Security Operations Center (SecOps) that integrates AI technologies to support managed security services. This includes automated alert triage, threat hunting, and compliance mandates, ensuring that businesses can detect, prioritize, and respond to threats efficiently.Conclusion
In summary, SecurityMetrics’ AI-driven products are designed to automate and enhance various aspects of cybersecurity, from vulnerability detection and remediation to compliance reporting and endpoint protection. These features leverage AI to improve the accuracy, efficiency, and speed of security operations, making it easier for businesses to maintain robust cybersecurity. SecurityMetrics - Performance and Accuracy
Performance
SecurityMetrics Pulse, their primary tool, is designed to detect vulnerabilities and help organizations prioritize their resolution. Here are some performance highlights:
- Vulnerability Detection and Prioritization: SecurityMetrics Pulse uses various sensors to identify vulnerabilities, which are then compiled into a ranked action list by the Threat Intelligence Center. This helps focus security efforts on the most critical and compromised locations.
- Remediation and Compliance: After identifying vulnerabilities, the tool facilitates remediation and retesting. Once resolved, SecurityMetrics submits the necessary compliance reports (Report on Compliance and Attestation of Compliance) to relevant parties, such as card brands or merchant banks.
- Endpoint Protection: The tool includes advanced endpoint protection features that safeguard against malware, ransomware, exploits, and viruses. It uses anti-ransomware technology to detect and stop malicious encryption processes, enhancing overall network security.
Accuracy
The accuracy of SecurityMetrics Pulse can be assessed through several aspects:
- Threat Intelligence: The tool leverages a Threat Intelligence Center to analyze data from various sensors, ensuring that the vulnerabilities identified are accurate and prioritized based on risk level.
- Risk Breakdown: The system provides a detailed risk breakdown of newly discovered, persistent, and resolved vulnerabilities, which helps in accurate tracking and management of security threats.
- Continuous Monitoring: SecurityMetrics Pulse offers real-time monitoring and updates, ensuring that the security posture is continuously assessed and improved. This real-time data helps in making accurate and timely decisions regarding security.
Limitations and Areas for Improvement
While the information provided does not detail specific limitations, here are some general considerations:
- Data Availability: For the metrics and reports to be accurate, the data must be readily obtainable. If there are challenges in collecting consistent and reliable data, it could impact the accuracy and usefulness of the metrics.
- Integration and Compatibility: The effectiveness of SecurityMetrics Pulse also depends on its integration with existing systems and tools. Any compatibility issues or difficulties in integrating with popular IDEs, repositories, or other security tools could be an area for improvement.
- User Training and Support: The accuracy and performance of the tool can also be influenced by the level of training and support provided to the users. Ensuring that users are well-trained and supported can enhance the overall performance and accuracy of the tool.
Conclusion
In summary, SecurityMetrics Pulse appears to be a comprehensive tool for detecting and managing vulnerabilities, with a strong focus on accuracy and performance. However, its effectiveness can be further enhanced by ensuring seamless integration with other systems, reliable data collection, and adequate user training and support.
SecurityMetrics - Pricing and Plans
Pricing Structure for SecurityMetrics PCI Compliance Services
Pricing for Small Businesses
SecurityMetrics offers PCI compliance services for small businesses starting at $399 per year. Here are the features included in this plan:- External Vulnerability Scan (1 IP)
- Online PCI Self Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ)
- Online compliance reporting portal
- Non-compliance notification
- Compliance reporting to merchant processor
- Compliance certificate
- PANscan® (Card discovery software for 1 machine)
- Service warranty (Up to $100,000 reimbursement in case of a breach)
- Security Awareness Training (1 seat)
Discounts and Partnerships
Price discounts are available depending on the merchant processor you use, due to SecurityMetrics’ relationships with various merchant processors.Additional Fees for Non-Compliance
For merchants who are non-compliant, there is a monthly fee of $29.95. This fee is intended to encourage merchants to achieve compliance.Monthly Subscription Through Partners
If you are using a service like Limo Anywhere Pay, the SecurityMetrics PCI compliance program may be included with a $9.95 per month fee. This fee includes access to compliance tools, vulnerability scans, and breach protection. If you choose to use a third-party compliance service, you will still need to use SecurityMetrics for reporting and managing your PCI compliance, but the monthly fee will not be assessed.Features Across Plans
Here are some common features across the plans:- Streamlined dashboard
- Guided Self-Assessment Questionnaires
- Breach protection
- Quarterly vulnerability scans
- Online security awareness tools
No Free Options
There are no free options available for the full suite of PCI compliance services. However, SecurityMetrics does offer various educational resources such as webinars, blogs, and a free security academy, which can be beneficial for general knowledge but do not replace the compliance services.Summary
In summary, SecurityMetrics provides a comprehensive PCI compliance program with a clear pricing structure, starting at $399 per year for small businesses, and additional fees for non-compliance or through partner programs. The services include a range of tools and support to help merchants achieve and maintain PCI compliance. SecurityMetrics - Integration and Compatibility
Integration and Compatibility of SecurityMetrics
Integration with Merchant Accounts
SecurityMetrics integrates seamlessly with merchant accounts, particularly those using Limo Anywhere Pay. Once a merchant account is established, SecurityMetrics is notified and creates an account for the user, providing a welcome email with login details and access to the compliance portal.Compatibility with Various Compliance Needs
SecurityMetrics offers a range of services that are compatible with different compliance requirements, including PCI DSS, HIPAA, and GDPR. For PCI compliance, they provide tools such as the Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ), quarterly vulnerability scans by an Approved Scanning Vendor (ASV), and breach protection. These tools are designed to work across various business types, ensuring that all necessary compliance steps are met.Platform and Device Compatibility
While the specific details on device compatibility are not extensively outlined, SecurityMetrics’ services are generally accessible through an online portal. This portal allows users to manage their compliance, fill out SAQs, schedule vulnerability scans, and access other security tools. Given the web-based nature of these services, they are likely compatible with most modern devices and browsers, although specific device compatibility may vary.Ecommerce Solutions
For ecommerce businesses, SecurityMetrics offers the Shopping Cart Monitor, which uses Webpage Integrity Monitoring Technology to ensure compliance with PCI requirements. This solution is integrated into the ecommerce checkout process, helping to detect and prevent breaches such as card skimming.Support and Training
SecurityMetrics provides comprehensive support, including 24/7 assistance for account, SAQ, and scan technical issues. They also offer workforce training and educational resources to help businesses comply with various security and compliance standards. This support ensures that businesses can integrate SecurityMetrics’ tools effectively into their existing systems and workflows.Conclusion
In summary, SecurityMetrics is designed to be a one-stop-shop for compliance and security needs, integrating well with merchant accounts and various compliance requirements. While detailed information on specific device compatibility is limited, the web-based nature of their services suggests broad compatibility across modern devices and platforms. SecurityMetrics - Customer Support and Resources
Customer Support
SecurityMetrics is known for its friendly and informative customer service. Here are some key aspects of their support:Large In-House Call Center
They have the largest in-house call center in the payments industry, handling over 135,000 calls each month. This ensures that customers can quickly get the help they need.
Technical Support
As part of their services, SecurityMetrics provides technical support to help customers address any issues or questions they may have regarding their security and compliance solutions.
Communication Channels
Customers can be contacted through email, phone, or fax to notify them of changes in their compliance status or services, ensuring they are always informed.
Additional Resources
SecurityMetrics offers several resources to help customers manage their data security and compliance effectively:PCI Compliance Services
These services include vulnerability scanning, self-assessment questionnaires, and access to scan results. They also provide tools like PANscan® and PIIscan® to find unencrypted credit card numbers and personally identifiable information on computer systems.
Forensic Investigations
SecurityMetrics’ PCI Forensic Investigators (PFI) help organizations quickly recover from breaches and minimize the impact on their reputation.
Training and Workforce Education
They offer customized training programs to address various compliance and security requirements, ensuring that the workforce is well-equipped to handle security challenges.
Vulnerability Scanning and Penetration Testing
Regular vulnerability scanning and penetration testing help identify and mitigate potential security threats, keeping the customer’s data safe.
Threat Intelligence
SecurityMetrics Pulse helps detect compromises and secure business locations, providing real-time threat intelligence to protect against cyber threats.
Compliance and Security Tools
SecurityMetrics provides a variety of tools to help businesses comply with industry standards such as PCI, HIPAA, and GDPR. These include:HIPAA Solutions
Comprehensive security services to help organizations comply with HIPAA requirements efficiently.
HITRUST Assessments
Assistance in completing HITRUST assessments to ensure data security and compliance, saving time and resources.
Overall, SecurityMetrics offers a comprehensive suite of customer support options and resources to ensure that businesses can manage their data security and compliance needs effectively. SecurityMetrics - Pros and Cons
Advantages
Comprehensive Compliance Solutions
SecurityMetrics offers extensive support for compliance with standards such as PCI and HIPAA. They provide professional guidance, making the compliance process easier to manage and implement.
User-Friendly Interface
The tools provided by SecurityMetrics are praised for their user-friendly interface, which helps merchants and organizations with little or no PCI understanding to comply with the necessary criteria.
Technical Expertise
SecurityMetrics is recognized for its excellent technical expertise, which is crucial for managing and controlling security strategies. Their reporting tools and technical support are highly valued by their clients.
Proactive Security Measures
While not explicitly detailed on the SecurityMetrics website, the broader context of AI in security suggests that integrating AI can help in proactive security measures, such as predicting and preventing cyber threats, which is a common benefit of AI-driven security tools.
Disadvantages
Limited AI-Specific Information
The SecurityMetrics website does not provide detailed information on their AI-driven products specifically. This lack of transparency makes it difficult to assess the full range of benefits and challenges associated with their AI tools.
Potential for AI-Generated Threats
Although not directly related to SecurityMetrics, the use of AI in security can also introduce new risks, such as the creation of complex malicious code by AI tools, which could be a concern for any organization using AI in their security setup.
Data and Privacy Concerns
AI-driven security tools often require vast amounts of data to function effectively, which can raise privacy concerns and the need for careful data management to avoid potential issues.
Summary
In summary, while SecurityMetrics offers strong support for compliance and technical expertise, there is a lack of detailed information on their specific AI-driven products. Additionally, the broader use of AI in security introduces both benefits and challenges that need to be carefully considered.
SecurityMetrics - Comparison with Competitors
When Comparing SecurityMetrics with Other AI-Driven Security Tools
When comparing SecurityMetrics with other AI-driven security tools in the auditing and compliance category, several key features and differences stand out.
SecurityMetrics Unique Features
- Comprehensive Vulnerability Scanning: SecurityMetrics offers advanced external vulnerability assessment tools, including Perimeter Scans and ASV Scans, which are particularly useful for PCI compliance and identifying external network vulnerabilities such as misconfigured firewalls, malware hazards, and remote access vulnerabilities.
- Remediation and Compliance Support: SecurityMetrics provides extensive support for remediation, including 24/7 technical support and the submission of Reports on Compliance (ROC) and Attestations of Compliance (AOC) to relevant parties.
- Threat Intelligence and Endpoint Protection: The platform includes a Threat Intelligence Center that helps in identifying and mitigating threats, along with advanced endpoint protection against malware, ransomware, and other exploits.
- Executive-Level Reporting: SecurityMetrics offers an executive-level summary report that includes a network security health rating, a list of locations sending data to the Threat Intelligence Center, and a breakdown of newly discovered, persistent, and resolved vulnerabilities.
Potential Alternatives and Comparisons
AI Security Tools
- SentinelOne: Known for its advanced threat hunting and incident response capabilities, SentinelOne is a strong alternative for organizations focusing on proactive threat detection. It offers low complexity and a clear pricing model ($69.99 per endpoint), but may not provide the same level of compliance support as SecurityMetrics.
- Vectra AI: Vectra AI is best for hybrid attack detection and response, offering moderate complexity. It is more focused on detecting and responding to threats across cloud, network, and on-premises environments, but pricing is available only upon request.
- Darktrace: Darktrace excels in neutralizing novel threats and has high complexity. While it is highly effective in detecting unknown threats, it does not offer the same level of compliance and remediation support as SecurityMetrics.
Compliance and Auditing Tools
- Cookiebot: As a major competitor in the auditing and compliance category, Cookiebot dominates with a 93.88% market share. However, it is more focused on cookie compliance and data privacy rather than the comprehensive security and vulnerability scanning offered by SecurityMetrics.
- Transcend and ISNetworld: These tools also operate in the auditing and compliance space but have significantly lower market shares. They may offer different features, but they do not match the breadth of security services provided by SecurityMetrics.
Key Differences
- Focus on Compliance: SecurityMetrics is highly specialized in compliance mandates such as PCI, HIPAA, and GDPR, making it a strong choice for organizations needing to meet these standards. Other tools, while offering AI-driven security, may not have the same level of compliance support.
- Vulnerability Scanning: The detailed vulnerability scanning and reporting capabilities of SecurityMetrics set it apart from more general AI security tools that focus on threat detection and response without the same level of vulnerability assessment.
- Endpoint Protection: SecurityMetrics includes advanced endpoint protection features, which are crucial for preventing malware and ransomware attacks. This is a key aspect that distinguishes it from tools that are more focused on network or cloud security.
In summary, while other AI-driven security tools offer strong threat detection and response capabilities, SecurityMetrics stands out due to its comprehensive approach to vulnerability scanning, compliance support, and endpoint protection, making it a valuable choice for organizations with stringent security and compliance requirements.
SecurityMetrics - Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions about SecurityMetrics
1. What is the purpose of the SecurityMetrics Pulse dashboard?
The SecurityMetrics Pulse dashboard is designed to provide an executive-level summary of your network security health. It includes a rating of your network security based on identified vulnerabilities, a list of locations sending data to the Threat Intelligence Center, and a risk breakdown of newly discovered, persistent, and resolved vulnerabilities. This dashboard helps you track your progress and guides you on the next steps to reconcile any threats.
2. How does SecurityMetrics use AI for security?
SecurityMetrics leverages AI in several ways to enhance security. For instance, AI is used to identify and predict potential security threats by analyzing network data traffic patterns. This predictive capability allows for preemptive security measures, such as detecting digital invasions, isolating infiltrated systems, and initiating defensive actions without manual intervention. Additionally, AI enhances endpoint protection by detecting and stopping malicious processes like ransomware and malware.
3. What types of vulnerabilities does the SecurityMetrics vulnerability scan identify?
The SecurityMetrics external vulnerability assessment tools identify various types of vulnerabilities, including misconfigured firewalls, malware hazards, remote access vulnerabilities, backdoors, buffer overflows, denial of service, and SQL injection issues specific to web applications. These scans help ensure compliance with standards like PCI DSS, HIPAA, and GDPR.
4. How does SecurityMetrics assist with compliance requirements?
SecurityMetrics helps customers achieve compliance with various standards such as PCI DSS, HIPAA, and GDPR. They provide automated scanning schedules to ensure compliance deadlines are met, and their security specialists assist in identifying specific compliance requirements before scanning. After remediation and retesting, SecurityMetrics submits the necessary compliance reports, such as the Report on Compliance (ROC) and Attestation of Compliance (AOC), to the relevant parties.
5. What kind of support does SecurityMetrics offer for vulnerability remediation?
SecurityMetrics offers 24/7 technical support to help customers remediate identified vulnerabilities. Their support staff assists in understanding the vulnerabilities and provides guidance on how to close the most threatening gaps. The service includes help for false positives and extensive support to ensure compliance and security requirements are met.
6. How does the SecurityMetrics Threat Intelligence Center contribute to security efforts?
The SecurityMetrics Threat Intelligence Center plays a crucial role in compiling and ranking vulnerabilities discovered through various sensors. Analysts from the center create a prioritized list of vulnerabilities, segmented by threat level, which helps focus security efforts on the most critical issues. This center also enhances attack trend analysis by receiving data from endpoint security measures.
7. Can SecurityMetrics help with biometric-based verification?
While SecurityMetrics primarily focuses on network and endpoint security, the broader use of AI in security can include biometric-based verification. However, specific details on whether SecurityMetrics offers biometric verification services are not provided. Generally, AI can enhance biometric verification through advanced scrutiny of biometric data, such as face identification, fingerprint examination, and voice recognition.
8. How often can I perform vulnerability scans with SecurityMetrics?
SecurityMetrics offers different scanning options. The ASV Scan allows for unlimited rescans during the contract period, while the Perimeter Scan is credit-based, allowing you to buy and use scan credits as needed. This flexibility enables you to scan your network targets frequently, especially after changes to your network.
9. What kind of reporting does SecurityMetrics provide for vulnerability scans?
SecurityMetrics provides detailed scanning reports that list the target, vulnerability type, service affected (e.g., https, MySQL), and the severity of each vulnerability (low, medium, high). These reports can be downloaded in PDF or Excel format, which can be sorted by columns to facilitate remediation efforts.
10. Does SecurityMetrics offer any specific certifications or qualifications?
Yes, SecurityMetrics holds several certifications and qualifications, including being a PCI certified Qualified P2PE Assessor (P2PE QSA), Approved Scanning Vendor (ASV), Qualified Security Assessor (QSA), and Certified Forensic Investigator (PFI). They also provide managed security services with over 20 years of experience in data security and compliance.