A virtual Chief Information Security Officer is an outsourced executive who sets security strategy, policies, and governance without the cost of hiring a full-time CISO.

How long does SOC 2 readiness take?

Typical SOC 2 readiness engagements take 6–12 months depending on maturity and remediation needs.

Do you provide managed detection and response?

FWS partners with MDR/MSSP providers and offers managed security services and vendor-managed detection options as part of our ongoing programs.

Does Framework Security perform post-incident forensics?

Yes — we provide incident response and digital forensics to investigate root cause, scope, and remediation after breaches or ransomware.

What is SOC 2 and why would we need it?

SOC 2 is an independent audit that shows your company protects customer data using strong security and operational controls. Many enterprise customers make it a contract requirement before they’ll sign.

What is NIST CSF 2.0?

It’s a framework from NIST that organizes cybersecurity into six functions: Govern, Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, and Recover. It’s often used as a roadmap to measure maturity and prioritize improvements.

How do SOC 2 and NIST CSF fit together?

NIST CSF can guide how you build your security program; SOC 2 is the external attestation you can hand to customers. Companies often use both: CSF internally, SOC 2 for external proof.

If you don’t have senior security leadership but need to meet compliance requirements, manage risk, or respond to customer security reviews, a vCISO is a practical option.

What’s the difference between a vulnerability assessment, penetration test, and red team?

A vulnerability assessment is a broad scan for weaknesses. A penetration test is a scoped simulation where testers exploit issues to show real-world impact. A red team is a full adversary simulation, often across multiple attack paths, designed to test detection and response.

How often should we do security testing?

At least once a year and whenever systems change significantly. More frequent testing is recommended for internet-facing applications or regulated industries.

What happens if we fail a pentest?

There is no 'pass/fail.' You get a report showing vulnerabilities, their severity, and how to fix them. After remediation, a retest confirms the issues are closed.

Do you help with regulatory frameworks other than SOC 2?

Yes, common ones include CIS 18, NIST, ISO 27001, HIPAA, PCI DSS, and others depending on your industry requirements.

Where do we start if we’re new to security programs?

Schedule a call with us to determine your organization’s best path forward.

What’s included in your vCISO packages?

Tiered options include governance, risk management, compliance roadmap, AI risk strategy, and quarterly QBRs. Each tier can bundle SOC 2 readiness and pentesting.

How fast can we achieve SOC 2 with Framework Security?

Timelines vary by maturity; many clients reach readiness in weeks and complete audits within a quarter when remediation items are addressed promptly.

Do you offer AI risk assessments?

Yes. We evaluate AI/ML use cases, data handling, third‑party/LLM risks, and control governance, and deliver a prioritized mitigation plan.

Texas SB 2610 & the Safe Harbor for Cybersecurity: What Your SMB Needs to Know

Introduction

Starting September 1, 2025, Texas’ new law, SB 2610, goes into effect — creating a “safe harbor” from punitive (exemplary) damages for small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) that maintain compliant cybersecurity programs.

For SMBs operating in Texas, this law is a game-changer. At Framework Security, our mission is to help you understand what it takes to qualify — and how to build a defensible cybersecurity program that protects both your business and your reputation.

Understanding SB 2610

SB 2610 adds Chapter 542 to the Texas Business & Commerce Code.

In short:
If a qualified Texas business experiences a data breach, it can avoid punitive damages in a lawsuit — but only if it had, at the time of the incident, a cybersecurity program that meets the law’s defined standards.

**What SB 2610 Doesn’t Do**

It does not grant immunity from compensatory damages, class actions, or regulatory enforcement.
It does not create a new cause of action; it only affects damage exposure in existing suits.

So, think of it as a legal shield — not a force field.

Who Qualifies for Safe Harbor

To benefit from SB 2610’s safe harbor protections, a business must:

Be based in Texas or under Texas jurisdiction
Employ fewer than 250 people
Own or license sensitive personal or identifying information
Maintain a cybersecurity program that meets the statutory criteria at the time of the breach

What a “Qualified” Cybersecurity Program Looks Like

Under the statute, your cybersecurity program must include administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to:

Protect sensitive or personal data
Prevent threats or hazards to data integrity
Mitigate risks of unauthorized access or acquisition that could cause identity theft or fraud

Framework Alignment

Your program must be based on a recognized cybersecurity framework, such as:

NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF)
CIS Controls
ISO/IEC 27001
Or a combination of frameworks

Scaling by Business Size

The law scales its cybersecurity expectations based on your organization’s size:

Employee Count / Minimum Requirement

Fewer than 20- Simplified controls (e.g., password policies, basic security awareness training)

20–99- Implementation of at least CIS Controls Implementation Group 1

100–249- Adoption of a recognized cybersecurity framework (e.g., NIST CSF, ISO/IEC 27001)

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Why This Matters for Your Business

1. Risk Reduction

A compliant program dramatically reduces your exposure to punitive damages following a breach.

2. Legal Defensibility

Having a documented, framework-based program gives your legal team the evidence needed to demonstrate due diligence.

3. Market & Reputational Advantage

Adhering to recognized cybersecurity standards signals maturity and trustworthiness — strengthening relationships with customers, partners, and investors.

4. Regulatory Alignment

If your business already complies with standards like HIPAA, GLBA, or PCI DSS, those frameworks can often map directly to SB 2610 requirements.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Even well-intentioned SMBs can miss the mark. Watch out for:

Reactive adoption: Safe harbor only applies if controls were in place before the breach.
Weak documentation: You must be able to prove your program was implemented, maintained, and updated.
Framework “checkboxing”: Claiming compliance isn’t enough — you must demonstrate real, ongoing implementation.
Outdated frameworks: Falling behind on version updates can invalidate your compliance.
Ignoring data sensitivity: Headcount alone doesn’t define risk — data sensitivity does.

Your SB 2610 Compliance Roadmap

Here’s a practical, actionable roadmap to build and maintain a compliant cybersecurity program:

Inventory & Classify Data – Identify where personal and sensitive data is stored.
Conduct a Risk Assessment – Evaluate threats, vulnerabilities, and business impact.
Select Your Framework – Choose one aligned with your size and industry.
Perform a Gap Analysis – Compare your current state against framework requirements.
Implement Controls – Apply administrative, technical, and physical safeguards.
Document Everything – Policies, training, logs, risk assessments, audits.
Test & Audit Regularly – Validate through pen-testing, vulnerability scans, and audits.
Update with Framework Changes – Stay aligned as standards evolve.
Develop an Incident Response Plan – Prepare for breach scenarios in advance.
Engage Legal & Leadership Review – Ensure board-level awareness and legal defensibility.

The Bottom Line

Texas SB 2610 rewards proactive cybersecurity — not perfection. For SMBs, it’s an opportunity to transform security from a cost center into a competitive advantage.

At Framework Security, we help Texas businesses build defensible, compliant, and framework-aligned cybersecurity programs that protect your data — and your bottom line.

Ready to Get Compliant?

Framework Security can help you:

Assess your current program against SB 2610 requirements
Map controls to NIST, CIS, or ISO frameworks
Build documentation and defensibility
Train your team and prepare for audits

Contact us today to start your SB 2610 readiness assessment.

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