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.

What is the Difference between a Gap Analysis and Cybersecurity Framework Assessment?

In today’s digital landscape, cyberattacks, ransomware, and data breaches are increasing in frequency and sophistication. As organizations rely more heavily on technology to drive operations, protect sensitive data, and maintain business continuity, it is critical to continuously evaluate and strengthen their information security posture.

Two essential components of a strong cybersecurity program are a Gap Assessment (Gap Analysis) and a Cybersecurity Assessment. While these terms are often used interchangeably, they serve distinct purposes within a mature risk management strategy.

In this article, we’ll break down the differences between a gap assessment and a cybersecurity risk assessment, explain how they align with frameworks like NIST, and help you determine which approach best fits your organization’s needs.

What Is a Gap Assessment?

A Gap Assessment (also called a Gap Analysis) is a structured process used to compare an organization’s current security posture against a desired future state — often defined by a regulatory requirement, industry benchmark, or cybersecurity framework such as:

NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF)
NIST SP 800-53
ISO 27001
CIS Controls
HIPAA Security Rule
PCI-DSS

The purpose of a gap assessment is to identify deficiencies in security controls, policies, procedures, and governance processes that prevent the organization from meeting its target standard.

Key Objectives of a Gap Assessment

Identify gaps between existing and required security controls
Benchmark against NIST or other compliance frameworks
Evaluate risk management processes
Assess governance, policies, and documentation
Develop a structured remediation roadmap

What Does a Gap Assessment Include?

A typical gap assessment involves:

Review of security policies and procedures
Evaluation of administrative, technical, and physical controls
Interviews with stakeholders and IT leadership
Mapping existing controls to framework requirements
Identifying control deficiencies and compliance gaps

The output is typically a formal report that includes:

Control-by-control gap findings
Risk-level scoring
Recommended remediation steps
A prioritized remediation roadmap

A gap assessment is particularly valuable when preparing for audits, regulatory compliance, cyber insurance underwriting, mergers and acquisitions, or strengthening overall cybersecurity governance.

What Is a Cybersecurity Assessment?

A Cybersecurity Assessment is a broader and more technical evaluation of an organization’s overall security posture. It goes beyond documentation review and focuses on identifying real-world vulnerabilities that could lead to cyberattacks, system compromise, or a data breach.

This assessment often includes hands-on testing and technical analysis to evaluate the effectiveness of existing security controls.

Key Objectives of a Cybersecurity Assessment

Identify exploitable vulnerabilities
Conduct a formal risk assessment
Evaluate threat exposure
Test defensive capabilities
Strengthen incident response and business continuity planning

What Does a Cybersecurity Assessment Include?

Depending on scope, a cybersecurity assessment may involve:

Vulnerability scanning
Penetration testing
Cloud security review
Network architecture analysis
Endpoint security evaluation
Identity and access management (IAM) review
Social engineering simulations
Incident response capability testing

The result is a comprehensive risk report that includes:

Identified vulnerabilities
Risk ratings and impact analysis
Likelihood of exploitation
Prioritized mitigation recommendations
Strategic and tactical improvement guidance

A cybersecurity assessment helps organizations understand their true exposure to modern threats and whether their defenses can withstand sophisticated attacks.

Gap Assessment vs. Cybersecurity Assessment: Key Differences

Although both processes strengthen information security and support proactive risk management, they differ in scope, depth, and objectives.

1. Focus

Gap Assessment: Compares current security controls to a defined framework or benchmark (e.g., NIST).
Cybersecurity Assessment: Evaluates real-world technical vulnerabilities and threat exposure.

2. Scope

Gap Assessment: Primarily documentation, governance, and control alignment.
Cybersecurity Assessment: Technical testing, system validation, and operational security effectiveness.

3. Purpose

Gap Assessment: Achieve compliance, improve governance, and build a remediation roadmap.
Cybersecurity Assessment: Reduce breach risk, prevent cyberattacks, and improve defensive resilience.

4. Depth

Gap Assessment: Strategic and framework-based.
Cybersecurity Assessment: Tactical and technical.

5. Output

Gap Assessment: Compliance gap report + remediation roadmap.
Cybersecurity Assessment: Vulnerability findings + prioritized risk mitigation plan.

How NIST and Risk Management Tie Into Both

Both assessments support a mature cybersecurity program aligned with the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, which is built around five core functions:

Identify
Protect
Detect
Respond
Recover

A gap assessment typically maps your current security posture to these functions to identify control gaps.

A cybersecurity risk assessment evaluates whether your implementation of those controls effectively protects against modern threats.

Together, they strengthen enterprise-wide risk management, improve business continuity, and reduce the likelihood of regulatory penalties or a costly data breach.

Which Assessment Does Your Organization Need?

The right approach depends on your goals:

Choose a Gap Assessment if you:

Need to align with NIST, ISO, or other frameworks
Are preparing for compliance or audit
Want to benchmark your current security posture
Need a structured remediation roadmap

Choose a Cybersecurity Assessment if you:

Want to identify exploitable vulnerabilities
Need a formal risk assessment
Suspect weaknesses in your infrastructure
Want to proactively defend against cyberattacks

Many organizations benefit from performing both. A gap assessment provides strategic direction, while a cybersecurity assessment validates operational effectiveness.

Strengthening Your Security Posture

In today’s threat landscape, organizations cannot afford reactive security. Whether you begin with a gap assessment, a comprehensive cybersecurity risk assessment, or both, the goal remains the same:

Improve security controls
Reduce breach risk
Enhance risk management maturity
Protect sensitive data
Ensure operational continuity

By regularly evaluating your current security posture against recognized benchmarks like NIST, and by testing defenses against real-world threats, your organization can move from reactive defense to proactive resilience.

Cybersecurity is not a one-time project — it is an ongoing commitment to protecting your business, your customers, and your reputation.

‍